Page 65 of The Wedding Hoax

“No.” I shook my head. “We’re not doing that anymore.”

“Doing what?”

“That thing where you try to charm me out of acting like anything’s wrong.”

“I thought we were just trying to get through dinner?” Harry replied. “We can’t even pretend to be nice to each other for one meal?”

“Fine. You’re right.” I faked a smile. “Let’s pretend. Let’s get through the meal.”

I linked my hands together as I rested them against the table. “How’s work been going for you lately? Are you almost done with the next issue of LA Now?”

“The publication deadline is fast approaching, so we’ll have to be done sooner rather than later.”

“Right. I’m sure you’re ready to be done with those long hours in the office.”

“I think everyone’s ready for the long hours to be over—”

“Are you cheating on me, Harry?”

“Wait. What?” Harry seemed taken aback by the question. “Simone, where is that coming from?”

“You’re working those long hours, right?” I pressed. “That’s the same thing Jace would tell me, that he was working long hours at the office. It turned out, though, that he wasn’t working long hours. Instead, he was spending all that time with a woman he’d met on a dating app.”

“Simone—”

“Hold on. I haven’t gotten to the best part,” I cut him off. “The best part is that after I found out Jace was cheating on me, he told me that it was my fault. That because I couldn’t have kids naturally, I’d ruined his dream of having a family. So, really, I should be grateful that he just hooked up with a random woman instead of just calling off our whole relationship.”

“Simone, I’m so sorry—”

“Sorry for what, Harry? Cheating on me?”

“How could you even think I’m doing that?” Harry’s tone was defensive. “You really think I’m anything like your asshole of an ex?”

“Turnabout is fair play, isn’t it? You thought I was cheating on you, right? Do you like how it feels when I randomly accuse you of something horrible, Harry?”

“Because I saw your texts with Jace—”

“Because you snooped through my phone, Harry. Because you jumped to conclusions.”

“What was I supposed to think, Simone?”

“You were supposed to talk to me!” My voice shook as painful memories of my last fight with Jace flooded my brain. “You were supposed to trust me. What are we even—”

I took a moment to calm down, my hands now pressed flat against the table. “Maybe it would just be better if we weren’t anything to each other.”

“What are you saying right now, Simone?”

“Why can’t we cheat on each other?” I helplessly shrugged. “Why can’t you stay late at the office with some sexy secretary? Why does it matter? It’s not real. It’s not anything. It’s not even really cheating. If anything, it’s a breach of contract—”

“Mr. and Mrs. O’Donnell.” A waitress was suddenly grinning down at us. “Are you ready for me to take your order? Or did you need a little bit more time?”

“I think we’re actually ready for the check,” Harry replied, his eyes locked on mine the whole time he spoke.

25

HARRY

I’d lost my appetite at the dinner table.

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