Page 30 of Rejected Pretend Mate

Chapter 12 - Weslie

I glanced across the bar towards April. She was standing next to Riley ordering at the bar. Sandy wasn't working tonight, so it was one less issue to worry about. I was grateful because I didn't want a repeat of the other night playing over again.

"You're staring," Cayden nudged me in the ribs, and I quickly looked away back towards the group. It was just Cayden, Owen, Miles, and myself with the girls tonight. Ashley and Laura smiled at us.

"You really just can't keep your eyes off her, can you?" Ashley asked, leaning onto Owen. "It's so sweet. You really do love her."

"I remember those days," Laura said, looking at Miles, who looked offended. His jaw dropped open slightly as he stared at her.

"I still look at you like that." He wrapped his arm around Laura, pulling her close. "I think I'm blessed every morning. I get up and am grateful every time we go to bed."

Laura smiled ear to ear. He pulled a hand up, poking him on the nose. "I know. I just wanted to see the look in your eyes."

I glanced back at Riley and April. She was more relaxed tonight, which was good. I knew April enough to tell the difference between when she was forcing herself and when she was actually having a good time. I knew her fake smile, and tonight, her smile was real.

"You think she's getting settled now?" Owen asked, taking a swig out of his drink. "It's been almost two months now. I know the transition can be difficult sometimes."

I shrugged. "A little, but I think it's going to take longer to fully let herself think she's part of this place now. I know that it took me a while before I felt like I belonged here."

I glanced at her and saw how carefree she was looking tonight. I knew she used to be so much more when we were younger. She was down for anything and everything. She was adventurous and wild. And now.

I knew she double-checked the front door. I knew she tensed up when I arrived home and didn't announce myself. I saw how her eyes scanned a space when we went out or how she swallowed when she was nervous.

I hated how much she'd changed; I knew it was because of Ivan. Just saying his name made her go a little paler, and her shoulders tensed up. Her eyes bounced around, looking for him, and she looked utterly defeated. I hated it. I hated how much she changed, how different she was.

I curled my hands into fists, pissed we still hadn't found him. How was it that he could just pop in and pop out without us noticing him? Had we all become lacking? Or was he just that sneaky? I wanted to know where he was, but there was no sign of him. It was like he disappeared into thin air.

April and Riley turned, each holding two beers in their hands. April laughed, and her face lit up. My shoulder relaxed slightly as she spoke. She looked happy.

Ivan wasn't here, so I wasn't going to let the thought of him ruin tonight. She was having a good time, and I wanted it to continue that way. I wanted both of us to have a fun time.

"I got us beers," April said as she swung back into her seat. She leaned into me heavily, sighing as she did.

I glanced around the room, seeing that people were noticing us. I knew they always looked at our group in general when we went out because of everything we did for the town, but tonight, they were watching us—watching our relationship.

I knew that people would be looking, and we needed it. Once people saw us, word would start to travel, and Ivan would get the news. I had no idea how he was going to react, but hopefully, he would get that she was taken.

I wrapped an arm around her, tucking her even closer. I kissed the top of her head as I reached for my drink. I inhaled her scent, having missed it over the past few days. She's been leaving the house so early that her smell wasn't in the bathroom when I got up.

"So, April, how has working at the school been going? Is Rebecca nice? I hear she can be a hard ass sometimes."

April laughed, shaking her head. "No, she's actually pretty reasonable. She handles the students extremely well, and she's been pretty lenient with me, not knowing as much as the person in my position would need to. I'm really enjoying myself. Which kind of surprised me because I didn't think I was going to."

Laura tilted her head onto Miles's shoulder. "What are you going to do when she comes back? Is there any other position open there?"

April waved her hand, unsure. "We haven't gotten that far yet. I still have another ten weeks to figure that out. She had mentioned that the middle school principal might be looking for an assistant, but that's still in the air. The lady running it right now is still thinking about retirement."

Laura rolled her eyes. She ran her tongue over her teeth, shaking her head. "Oh, Jesus, she needs to retire. She is just a cranky old bitch."

Riley raised an eyebrow at this. "How would you know?"

Miles scratched behind his ear. A nervous laugh left him. "We had to pick Micheal up from school a couple of months ago because he got in trouble."

This was news. I felt my eyebrows raise at this. "What did he do? Micheal? We're talking about the same kid, right? The kid that knows more manners than your husband?"

Laura laughed, and Miles rolled his eyes. "low blow, man."

Laura patted Miles on the arm and looked at me. "Yeah, he punched a kid."

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