Page 26 of Caught in a Bad Fauxmance
“Apparently.”
“Technically, my sister hid your stuff,” I add. “Not me.” No shame in throwing Maya under the bus if it saves my ass tonight.
The three of us turn at the sound of an exaggerated groan, watching Julian flop into the chair beside me.
“Well, if it isn’t the traitor,” Henry greets.
Julian shrugs out of his suit jacket and loosens his tie the second he’s seated. “What now?”
“You didn’t tell us we’d have to babysit Dickwad Báez for you.”
“Calm down, it was five minutes,” Julian replies. It was a lot longer than five minutes, but I’m in no position to argue. At least I have him to defend me if that waiter tracks me down. “And it wouldn’t kill you to play nice for once.”
Henry scowls, crossing his arms like a toddler on the brink of a tantrum. “I’m not the one who’s fake dating him, so why do I have to pretend to like him?”
“I’m right here, you know.” No one pays attention to me.
“He’s better than Liam,” Stella mutters.
Henry scoffs. “No way. Liam’s chill.”
Stella and Julian exchange wary expressions. It makessense that Henry and Liam are friends. They’re a match made in frat bro heaven.
But the mention of Liam brings an unsettling silence to the table. Stella doesn’t turn back to her phone. She peers at Julian while Henry huffs like a gassy baby.
The only thing more painful than being surrounded by Seo-Cookes is being surrounded by silence. Foolishly, I take a stab at breaking the ice. “Is your mom here?”
One second everyone stiffens, the next they’re staring me down. Stella’s jaw drops while Henry’s face reddens. And I can’t even bear to meet Julian’s eye. No one says anything, the air between us shifting from awkward to tense enough to suffocate me.
“I…I’m sorry,” I sputter, even though I don’t know what I’m apologizing for.
Slowly, Stella and Henry turn to their brother. They wait until the cellist finishes off their latest piece, using the light smattering of applause to cover up the sound of the tirade they launch into, talking over one another and taking turns smacking Julian on the shoulder or over the head.
“What is wrong with you?!”
“You didn’t tell him?!”
“What kind of fake boyfriend are you?!”
“This is like New Boyfriend 101!”
“Can you both shut up?!” Julian shouts after Stella nearly pokes his eye out with her acrylic nails.
We’ve earned ourselves enough dirty looks that they give up without protest, settling back in their seats with furrowed brows and pink cheeks.
“C’mon.” Julian grabs my hand and tugs me toward the entrance. “I’ll drive you home.”
“Really?” I look around in confusion but let him pull me along. “That’s it?” Not that I don’t want to get out of here ASAP, but it’s barely been an hour.
“We saw Liam. You got your free food. No reason to stick around.” Julian halts so suddenly I almost run into him. “Unless you want to stay?”
Instead of replying, I push right past him and head straight for the exit.
“Well, don’t lookthatexcited to get out of here,” he whispers once he catches up to me.
Considering his ex may be trying to get me forcibly removed from this party, and his siblings are apparently pissed at me, it’s in our best interest to haul ass.
We grab my stuff from the coat check, then navigate throughthe sea of sports cars and convertibles until we get toan Audi so white and pristine, I’d be terrified to ever take it out of the garage. I climb into the backseat, taking my extra clothes out of my backpack while Julian slides into the driver’s seat.
