Page 56 of Unbearable

Here.

My ex-boyfriend, Jared. The one that cheated on me with not just one, but multiple, womenwas here.

We kept our relationship fairly casual, both with our own individual lives that kept us busy, but we were definitely exclusive. I wasn’t someone who wanted to sleep with someone that was sleeping with other people. At least, not knowingly.

Trent saw the change in my expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Um…” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “That’s my ex,” I said, pointing to him with my eyes, which Trent followed.

He scowled, his jaw tightening. “I’m assuming you didn’t part on good terms.”

“Nope. Definitely not. He cheated on me.” I laughed, because masking with laughter was a special skill of mine. “Repeatedly.” I sighed.

And then Jared started to walk right toward us.

Trent leaned over to whisper into my ear, and the hairs all over my body stood. “Play along.” He grabbed my waist and pulled me into him.

Heat radiated from his fingertips, and suddenly I was dizzy.

So fucking dizzy.

“Dotty James. It’s good to see you. Are you here for the wedding?” Jared asked.

“Yes… we are.” I gave a weak smile, spinning my champagne glass at the stem.

Trent reached out his hand. “Trent Akers. Good friend of the groom and Dotty’s boyfriend.”

I chose that exact moment to take a sip of my drink and almost spit it all over Jared. Although he would have deserved it. Clearing my throat, I looked up at Trent, who gave me a wink, his dimple on display.

I hated that charming, stupid wink. And that fucking dimple.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were dating again.” Jared looked at me.

“Yup.” I pulled Trent close to me in an awkward side hug that definitely did not look convincing. I didn’t know why he even cared. It had been over a year since we broke up, and I could guarantee he had entertained plenty of women since then.

Trent took my slight hug as an opportunity to spin me to face him. “It took me long enough to convince her to go out with me. But eventually, she couldn’t resist my charm anymore,” he said, his tone so possessive that it probably would have sent me into a spiral if I wasn’t already in one.

He grabbed my chin, lifting it so I had no choice but to look directly at him. All my brain cells ceased to exist as his eyes flared with something I couldn’t place. His fingers rubbed my chin, causing a jolt to run down my spine. His touch felt as if electricity coursed through my veins. Iforced a weak smile, hoping to mask the butterflies fluttering in my chest as Jared scowled at us both.

“Yeah…” I cleared my throat, looking back at Jared. “Trent here is quite the charmer.”

Trent’s grip on my chin tightened ever so slightly, pulling my gaze back to him. His eyes locked onto mine again with an intensity that sent a rush of heat flooding through me.

“I just can’t resist her,” he whispered, almost too quietly for Jared to hear, even though he was the person the words were directed at.

He was significantly better at acting like this was real than I was.

Jared cleared his throat. “Daisy is my cousin. Small world, it seems, and Mark is a good guy.”

“Small world, indeed.” Trent gave a flat smile, seemingly dismissing him. He looked back at where the strap from my dress had fallen down my shoulder.

The tips of his fingers slowly teased the space between my shoulder and the dainty strap, lifting it back in place. His eyes tracing his careful movements.

Jared cleared his throat. “Well, it was good to see you, Dotty, and nice to meet you, Trent.” Trent nodded as Jared walked away.

Classical music filled the room, and wedding guests still lingered about. Trent and I found ourselves swept up in a whirlwind of conversation and laughter. I knew he had a life over the last ten years, but I didn’t realize he would know almost everyone. Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Trent’s friends approached.

“Akers, there you are! And you must be the lovely Dotty James.” The bronze-skinned gentleman grabbed myhand and placed a kiss on it. “I’m Daniel Creasy. Very nice tofinallymeet you.”

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