Page 57 of How to Ruin Your Ex's Wedding
“Tabatha didn’t know,” I tell Hunter. “I use an alias and a disguise when I work as Matthew Hanhauser. I never told her about it.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Hunter’s tone is haughty. “That this isn’t some kind of ploy to get—”
“Yes, I do expect you to believe it,” I interrupt. I don’t know what he was going to say, but I have a feeling it would not have been kind to Tabatha if he continued. And she doesn’t deserve that.
“Why?” he asks me.
“Why would I lie about it?”
He makes a sound, like he doesn’t believe me.
“Revenge. Okay? My plan was to get the worst pictures possible of her through this whole process,” I admit, being as honest as I possibly can.
He rears, pulling his arm back.
He’s going to try and hit me.
I sidestep and grab his wrist as he throws his punch, wrapping his arm behind his back and yanking it up. “There’s no need for violence, man. No reason why we can’t talk about this like civilized folk. I swear to you, Tabatha is one hundred percent innocent in this. No one knew about the alias except my best friend, Gregor.”
“Gregor?” he parrots.
“Yeah, Gregor Stravinsky. He’s the only person who knew I used an alias.”
“You’re friends with Gregor Stravinsky?” Hunter confirms.
I just said that, didn’t I?
“Yes.”
“Can you get him to come to the wedding?” His voice is excited, the complete opposite of his tone a minute ago.
“Your wedding? I don’t know. Sure, I guess.” I let his arm go and he turns to face me.
“Okay, you do that. Find me another photographer today, and I’ll forgive this transgression.”
Forgive?
Anger surges through me. Who the fuck is this guy to sayhe’llforgiveme? Then I see Tabby’s face, she looks distraught. If I’m honest with myself, I don’t want her to suffer because I was a dick. I hold my hand out to him. “Deal.”
We shake on it.
“Good,” Hunter says. He turns to Liza. “You make sure to get the contact information from him for the new photographer. I expect them to start immediately. Same terms as before.” She nods in response.
He turns back to me. “I presume getting the rights to the photos you’ve taken thus far will not be an issue.”
I wave a hand at him. “You got it, man. No problem.”
And finally, he turns to Tabatha. “We will discuss this later. I’ll see you at home.”
“Hunter,” Tabatha starts.
“I need some time to myself, Tabatha. Please.”
She nods and gives him a small smile. He turns to leave, and Liza follows after him, prattling off questions.
“Apparently, he only needs time from me, not anyone else,” Tabby says sourly.
“Sorry, Tabs.”
