“You can’t be serious?” Marcy said.
“What do you mean?” I asked breathlessly, using all the energy I had not to follow him.
She took a step back and turned toward me. “Do you see me?” she asked, running her hands down the length of her torso in a body-skimming dress with her tan, mile-long legs peeking out from underneath.
“You are stunning. If I were into women, I would be all over you.”
“Awww, thanks, sweetie. So why was Mr. Corporate Takeover there giving you the stare-down and didn’t even notice me?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.
“What did I miss?” Andrew said from behind me, making me jump.
He handed me a drink. I smiled, coming back to earth, to this cutie-pie I was with.
“Oh, noth—there they are!” Marcy finished in a sharp whisper.
I looked toward the sign-in table to see Brooke gliding in, her long blond hair waving in the breeze, looking about as gorgeous as one could expect, on Greg’s arm. He was smiling victoriously, as if he were signaling that he had won some sort of contest. You couldn’t blame him, really. She was stunning, to say the least.
His smile vanished when he saw me. I waved and slipped my hand into Andrew’s. It probably seemed like a ploy, but, in all honesty, I felt like I needed his support. It was the first time I had seen my almost ex-husband and his new fiancée out together, like, at an event. It wasn’t that I wanted him back. But she was on his arm where I had been for so many years, and that was undeniably strange.
Brooke smiled at me. While she was chatting with the hostess, Greg beelined in my direction. “Hi, Greg,” I said nonchalantly.
Andrew put his hand out and said, “Hi, I’m—”
Greg cut him off. “I know who you are.” He peered at me. “Gray, could we have a moment, please?”
Andrew looked at me questioningly. I nodded and smiled at him, and he gave me a quick kiss on the lips and said, “It’s time for a new beer. Can I get you one, man?” as he walked off.
Greg looked at him as if he were speaking Greek, which was not one of the five languages that Greg was fluent in.
“Are you serious, Gray? Bringing our son’s tennis teacher to the party? Are you trying to make me jealous or something?”
I laughed and took a sip of my wine. “I’m definitely not trying to make you jealous. I tried to fend him off, but the man isverypersistent.”
“So you’re telling me that this isn’t a one-time thing.”
I waved my hand. “No way. We’ve been together a couple of months now.”
He looked at me in astonishment. “You have to be kidding me. What is he, twenty-five?”
I smiled into my glass, trying not to laugh at Andrew and Marcy making faces behind Greg’s head, about twenty feet away. “Well, twenty-seven.” I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help it, so I said, “Wait. How old is Brooke again?”
“Twenty-eight,” Greg said, his face getting sort of red. I knew I couldn’t push him much further, and I loved that I could have this effect on him.
I made a face like she was on her deathbed. “Gosh, Greg. That’s kind of old.” I patted him on the shoulder and whispered in his ear, “Maybe try going a little younger with your next fiancée.”
He crossed his arms. “Oh, and just so you know, there’s no way I’m letting you off the hook for that piddly sum you offered me.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s more money than most people make cumulatively in their lifetime. I think it’s very fair.”
“I’m glad you think that,” he whispered. “I don’t, and my lawyers don’t either.” He paused. “See you in court.”
That made my stomach turn, but I just smiled brightly and said, “Good move. After I testify, you’ll get nothing. I can’t wait!”
I was lying, but it felt good to say it anyway. Then I walked past him and bounded in what I hoped was a charming and adorable way toward my charming and adorable date.
“So how’d it go?” Marcy asked.
