“Sure,” he says. “Force any waiters to drop their plates this evening?”
“No, but if you don’t stop annoying me, I’ll shove you into this champagne tower and force you to shatter some glass instead.”
“Jane!” Kate calls, striding over with Jason on her arm. Her eyes quickly flit over to Chef Matthews and her smile widens. “Oh, good you’ve met Reid.”
“Reid?” I ask. He holds my glare just as long, like the first of us to look away loses.
“This is Jason’s best friend from college,” Kate continues. The words barely register and I nod in response, not breaking the stare. And just like that, we’ve entered into an intense staring contest. Or glaring contest. Either way, I’m not losing to him. Not now, not ever.
“And former roommate,” Jason adds when neither of us reply. Jason claps Reid on the shoulder. The gesture causes Reid’s torso to bob forward and he blinks. A triumphant smirkplays on my lips and I fight the petulant urge to shout “aha! I win!” Reid clenches his jaw and glances at Jason. Once he snaps out of what I can only assume is irritation over losing to me, he offers his friend a smile. “Back in our bachelor days,” Jason continues.
“So that’s how you know each other,” I say, realizing that’s how he was required to cater this evening. “It’s nice to have connections in town that can benefit you. Like a . . . caterer.”
I was going to say “great caterer,” but I’d rather pour lime juice into a paper cut than give him a compliment today.
“He’s also the best man,” Kate adds. “So I hope you two made a good first impression because you’re going to be seeing a lot of each other over the next few months.”
Reid’s gaze shoots to mine again, blue eyes wide in shock. I squeeze my own eyes shut instead of participating in another staring contest.
Perfect. Exactly what I needed.
The only man I had hoped to never see again is the best man in my little sister’s wedding.
Wonderful.
Chapter 5
The string quartet continues playing acoustic renditions of pop love songs in the corner as my world feels like it’s collapsing around me. As if this quick international wedding wouldn’t be stressful enough, now I have to spend the next four months seeing Reid Matthews regularly.
I lift my glass to my lips and down the rest of the champagne.
Kate drones on about pairings and who is walking with whom—thankfully as maid of honor, Lydia has the task of dragging Reid down the aisle—when a brief memory has me pausing for a moment.
I’d been doing my best to block out much of the conversation, but hearing his name on her tongue flashed me right back to her telling me about a guy back in college.
“Wait.” I turn to Kate with wide eyes. The expression on my face must somehow tip her off that I’m realizing who he might be. Kate narrows hers back at me, silently telling me to shut up, which is all the evidence I need to know I am correct.
“Care for another drink?” Jason asks Reid, either completelyoblivious to the look on my face or pretending he didn’t notice it.
“Love one,” Reid mumbles, locking eyes with me before he turns on his heel and walks toward the bar.
I fully spin on Kate now, who is combing her fingers through her perfectly waved blonde hair as she watches the two of them walk away.
“That’sReid?” I ask as all the pieces click into place.
Kate sighs like I just asked the dumbest question in the world. “Yes, Jane, I just introduced you.”
“No, Kate, you know exactly what I mean. That’s the guy all the girls in your sorority tried to date freshman year?”
“Not all the girls,” Kate says quietly, waving to Jason across the room. He waves back eagerly, blowing a kiss in her direction. Reid catches the movement, rolls his eyes, and turns back to the bar. I, usually very sympathetic to people who are in love and their sickening cuteness, am also fighting the urge to roll my eyes.
“Reid doesn’t date,” a voice says behind me. I tip my head back, staring at the ceiling and trying not to let out an irritated groan. Instead, I right myself, paste on my best welcoming expression, and smile at my sister’s college roommate.
“Hi, Jessica.”
“Jane. You look . . .” Her brown eyes trail slowly down my body pointedly. The silence hangs heavy as she skims me again, then says, “Nice.”
“Doesn’t she have the best shoes?” Kate says. I’m not sure if she’s trying to diffuse the tension or if she genuinely loves my pink stilettos, but I kick out my foot anyways to show them off.
