“Have any of you seen a knife?” Grayson asks, not once looking back at us as he begins his search.
Nate groans from beside me, brushing off the question while I’m left stunned.
A part of me hopes nothing too crazy happens—for the sake of Nate’s sanityandmine—but my gut tells me there’s no such thing when these two are involved.
CHAPTER 10
NATE
When Grayson pulled Vivienne’s champagne flute out of her hand after his idea of dedicating a toast to us, I thought he was joking. A type of emotional edging, if you’d like. But as I watch him search our surroundings for the closest knife, I realize he’s dead serious.
“Why are you doing this?” I stand over his shoulder, narrowing my eyes at him in the hopes it’ll magically put a stop to his antics. “You know what I’ve been through these past few weeks. This will only add to the plate of shit I need to worry about.”
My best friend of twenty-seven years doesn’t say a thing, only letting the mischievous grin on his face grow. “This is what people normally do at engagement parties.” He swipes a nearby butter knife from a carefully arranged dinner table. “They give speeches, honoring the lovely bride and groom to be.”
For cruel reasons, he holds the utensil up to the light, watching the reflections dance along its pristine surface. It’s ataunt more than anything, I realize. That no matter what I do, I can’t stop him.
Little does he know, I’ve already chosen my weapon of choice. And if he keeps going at it, there will be no toast—just a restaurant turned into a crime scene.
The murder weapon, you may ask?
The very thing he’s using to torture me.
“What are you trying to prove, Grayson?” I follow him as he squeezes his way past guests.
Curious heads turn in our direction, and eyebrows raise at the sudden commotion.
I smile politely, trying to suppress my anger in an attempt not to bring more attention to Grayson’s tomfoolery. But it’s harder said than done when so many of the attendees are business associates.
“What. Are. You. Doing?” I whisper loud enough for only him to hear when he comes to a stop at the front of the room.
He turns on his feet, meeting my gaze for the first time since his foolishness started. “Proving that you’re attracted to your fake fiancée.”
I rear back in surprise.
There’s no look of playfulness, no amusement written anywhere on his face. He’s dead serious—something that isn’t usual for the two of us. Our friendship is rooted in teasing and laughter, and while we have our more thoughtful moments, they never come out in public like this.
“I’m not attracted to my fake fiancée,” I reiterate, as I did the day I first spoke to him about this. “And if I were, it wouldn’t be any of your business.”
Grayson rolls his eyes. “Don’t lie to me, Nate. Possessive actions aside, I saw the way you were staring at that poor girl’s lips all night. Unsurprisingly, I also caught her checking you out as well when she thought you weren’t looking. You told meabout the deal you two made, and if you keep going at it this way, you aren’t making it out in one piece.”
His words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, not because they’re false, but because they’re painfully true.
I promised Vivienne that I wouldn’t see her as anything more than a friend, yet here I was letting my eyes linger on her for longer than acceptable throughout the night.
There’s a reason I didn’t tell her how beautiful she looked at the apartment—and that was one of them. Grayson is just making sure I know my place, even if it’s in his own sick and twisted way.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say, choosing to act clueless.
“Whatever you say.” Grayson gives me a pointed look. “But that isn’t going to stop me from making that toast.”
“Don’t you dare.” I narrow my eyes at him.
“Look around you.” He gestures to our surroundings. “You’re in a room filled with business associates, and the paparazzi outside waiting for their money shot. Don’t you think people are questioning where your family is? A toast from the best friend is the least you can give them.”
I groan, knowing Grayson is every bit right.
In interviews, I always mention how close my family is. That my“rise to fame and fortune”as they liked to call it, doesn’t impact the time I spend with them. If anything, it makes me want to see them more.
