“Yes. I mean, it must be terrible watching the man you love marry someone else. Terrible enough that you went off and eloped right after being stood up just to help with the pain of it all.”
Stood up?Jesus, what kind of story did Daniel feed her?
“It’s alright, I forgive you,” she says.
“You…forgive me…” I echo. Those words are even harder to process than the apology. Both feel rehearsed, and both are a load of crap.
“Yes. I forgive you for seducing Daniel. We’ve been together for two years. He said you flirted with him constantly and it almost made him unfaithful. But at the last minute he came to his senses, realizing I am the only woman he could ever marry. And then, he ran from the altar. Back home to me.”
“That’s what he told you,” it comes out as a statement. Knowing him, he did say that, and there was no question.
“Yep. So I apologize that you didn’t get to marry the man you love. And I forgive you for trying to ruin our relationship.”
Angie goes back to her primping, and all I can do is stand there with my mouth hanging open. When I finally close my mouth, I smile at her. “I’m happy for you. It must be nice living in that little fairytale land of yours. I do think you should really consider something,” I say.
“Oh really? And what is that?” she asks, turning to face me. In that moment, all niceties are gone, so when I tell her the truth, I don’t mince words.
“Daniel cheated on me. With you. And that means that he will cheat on you with the next girl that catches his eye. Andif I had to guess, knowing him, he’s already looking for your replacement.”
I head to the door before she can say anything else. But then, I look back over my shoulder. “Oh, and Angie?” I ask and she looks at me. “It’s okay. I forgive you.”
“You really said that?” Asher asks as I tell him the story. We are sitting on my living room floor with an array of take-out food. We got it from the nearby Thai restaurant along with a bottle of champagne. Asher insisted we pick some up on the way home. It’s our little reward for pulling off the world’s best revenge plot.
“I really said that,” I tell him, popping a piece of gyoza in my mouth and chewing with a triumphant smile.
“That is amazing,” he says with a grin. “I think we need to make a toast.” Ash refills both our glasses with champagne and we hold them up. “To you, Mrs. Levine,” he starts, and I spit out a laugh, “For your award-winning performance tonight. May the bride and groom crash and burn.”
“And to you, Mr. Levine, for your never-ending support while I got the last word not just with my ex-fiancé, but with his new wife. May they have the marriage they deserve.”
We clink glasses and down the bubbly. Everything in the room feels fizzy, electric, and warm. It’s exciting. Asher’s eyes are on me and his smile is lazy. I don’t hate it.
“You look beautiful right now,” he tells me, and I smile.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Fucking gorgeous,” he adds.
“You don’t look so bad yourself. Pretty hot, actually,” I say.
“Yeah?” he asks, moving the food out of the way while keeping his eyes locked on mine.
“Yes,” he says. His hand cups my cheek; soft and warm. As he leans in, my lips part and he covers my mouth with his. He kisses me slowly, sending a jolt of electricity through me. When we pull back, his eyes play connect the dots around my face. His lips still tipped in the corners.
“I was thinking,” I say softly.
“Yes?”
“Maybe…we could pretend we are married just a little longer.” I trace my finger in circles on his chest.
“Oh?” he asks.
“Yeah. Maybe…just for the night…”
Chapter 29
Harper
Just for the night.
