He clicked his tongue against his teeth, leaning back. “You know what, I am. If they didn’t think twice about fucking me over, they aren’t worth having around or thinking about. Thanks for…” He dropped his chin to his chest before looking up at me. “Thanks for everything, Olivia. I mean that.”
“My pleasure,” I croaked out, unsure what to do with all that affection and gratitude in his eyes. I knew what Iwantedto do—kiss him senseless and ask him if he wanted to keep pretending for maybe the next few years or so. But I couldn’t do that. This was a favor for an old adversary who’d now become a new friend. That was enough of a gift, and I’d do well to leave it at that.
My gaze traveled to all the couples on the dance floor. At every party with a DJ, my father would request a salsa just to show off and always danced it with me. It was our thing at weddings. My dad and I had a lot of things like that together.
Things that didn’t exist anymore because he didn’t.
“Feel like dancing?” Tyler held out a hand.
“Seriously?” I crinkled my nose at him.
“Well, how could we call this a wedding date if we don’t dance at least a little?” He stood and led me away from the bar by the hand, but by the time we arrived on the dance floor, the music had slowed. I stilled, unsure what he wanted to do or what we should do at that point. He tugged me to him by the arm, wrapping one hand around my waist while he took the other and pulled it to his chest.
I couldn’t make out the song we danced to, too focused on how close we were, how natural it was to sway back and forth like a real couple. Maybe it was the drinks, maybe it was the act we were putting on, but all I felt was real happiness tinged with despair when I thought of Tyler dropping me off later tonight.
“Are you okay?” Tyler asked when we left the dance floor.
“Of course.” I forced a wide grin. The game was almost over, and I had to keep reminding myself that all of this was still just that, a game. It didn’t matter how real it felt while I was in Tyler’s arms or how natural it was when he took my hand or pulled me closer. It was for effect. A show. The absence of our animosity wasn’t magically replaced with affection. The hope of this game of pretend bleeding into real life was something that had crept up on me—and it was time to start pushing it away.
Before I knew it, it was the dessert hour. We clapped for Donnie and Cassandra as they cut the cake despite the loud cracks of thunder outside. My cheeks ached from hours of laughing. In all the years I’d known Tyler—which was my entire life—I’d never seen him seem this happy. I thought it was the act at first, but he was never good at being phony.
That was my expertise.
I always faked it well. I pretended with friends and family that I was fine, that my heart wasn’t broken, that it wasn’t all my fault. Mom told me if I dropped the mask I’d find it easier to breathe. Tonight I’d let it slip and was gasping for air already.
I escaped to the ladies’ room to get some air, the end of this awesome night looming like the rain pounding against the floor-to-ceiling windows. After I touched up my lipstick, I headed back toward the restaurant, almost falling back when a hand clutched my bicep in the dark hallway.
“I always knew, you know.”
I turned to find an infuriated Amy glaring at me as if she was about to lunge.
“Always knew what?’ I asked slowly.
She coughed out a humorless laugh. “I always knew something was going on between the two of you. He’d say over and over again how he couldn’t stand you, but his eyes would track you at every damn party. I’d catch those little side conversations. Did you both think I was some kind of idiot? Between you and all his time with his stupid bakery. Thank God I got out like I did.”
She scowled at me, seething as her nostrils flared.
“Got out like you did? Is that what you just said?” I stepped closer, the rage bubbling in my gut most likely evident on my face as she moved back. “Despite what you think, I can assure you that when you knew us, we were enemies, not lovers. Trying to explain away what you did is almost more despicable than doing it in the first place. That ‘stupid bakery’ is beautiful. He worked so hard for it, and you couldn’t even let him enjoy his first day. Did you see how amazing that wedding cake was or how talented he is?”
My fists clenched at my sides as I continued, advancing as she retreated, a little fear in her eyes now replacing the audacity she came at me with.
“He deserved better than you. Than both of you. He’s an amazing man who needed someone to support him, not whine like a baby that she wasn’t getting enough attention and then use it to justify fucking his best friend.”
I smiled as she squirmed against the wall. “Maybe you realized that you made a mistake. Good. Garbage like you deserves to be miserable, and Tyler only deserves good things. The best. Because that’s what he is. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I turned on my heel, almost teetering on the stilettos I’d picked for tonight before I was pulled back again.
“Are you kidding me?” I yelled before I met Tyler’s gaze.
“Easy, tiger,” he whispered, folding me into his chest. The adrenaline from my outburst and the feel of him this close made me stumble for a moment.
“I guess Amy noticed us. She just—”
“I know. I heard.” He cupped my face. Now I was full-on shaking, my jaw quivering as he swiped it with his thumb.
“You heard.” I swallowed, my mouth gone dry as my heart pounded in my ears. “Everything?”
“I did.” He nodded, his eyes hooded and dark. “And she’s right. Ididtrack you. Even when you drove me insane, I could never stop looking at you. That line you keep talking aboutisthin.” He inched closer, so close our lips brushed. “So fucking thin.”
