“I feel like I need to be compensated for this,” I told Dana.
“We just bought a minor cable network, so we’re all out of cash,” Dana said, tossing her dark, glossy hair and directing the women to the sign-in table. “At least the ratio in New York City is in your favor,” she added, shoving a drink at me.
It was a toxic shade of red but smelled like alcohol, so I supposed it would have to suffice.
“There are so few eligible men here that women are going to be falling over themselves to talk to a billionaire.”
Gunnar shoved me to a table.
“You know how speed dating works, right? Short, five-minute dates to get to know the other person and see if you want to move to something longer. You just have to sit here and look sexy, and the women will flock to you.”
Gunnar wasn’t lying. Dana made a short announcement, then the first woman made her way over to me. A bosomy career reality-TV-show girl with overbleached hair and butt implants, she batted her eyelashes at me.
You want a family and a partner, I reminded myself.This will be good practice.
I surreptitiously looked down at the list of opening lines Wes had given me.
“What’s your horoscope?” the woman cooed.
“My horoscope? What does that have to do with anything?” I asked in confusion.
The woman looked mildly annoyed. “If you don’t know, just tell me your birthday, and I’ll help you figure it out.”
I was immediately suspicious. “Are you trying to steal my identity?”
My speed date made an exasperated noise. “I guess this is why you’re still single, huh? I’m not sure your big bank account and whatever you’re packing in your pants is enough to deal with that lackluster personality every day for the rest of my life.”
Gunnar made aWhat the hell?gesture from across the room.
I tried to mouth,Not my fault, but by then the next woman had already draped herself over the chair across from me.
“That bitch clearly didn’t have any staying power,” she purred, jerking her head slightly to the horoscope woman.
I swallowed and looked at my list. “Would you grab my arm so I can tell my friends I’ve been touched by an angel?”
She made a disgusted noise. “Creep. Is this some sort of a joke to you? I’d dump my drink out on you, but it cost eighteen dollars,” she said, pushing the chair back.
Then there was a blur of women. They were all the same: TV-ready, blown-out hair, perfect masks of makeup, all wearing similarly slinky dresses and high heels.
I was looking at my list, cursing my cousins, when someone who reeked of coffee and sugar sat down at my table. I looked up.
“Oh, hell no!” a familiar voice exclaimed.
9
Brea
After Mark and his cousin left, I went to fetch Liz some more ice cream.
“You’re excited about planning this wedding!” Ivy said, opening the freezer for me.
“Sorry, I know you’re the wedding planner,” I said.
“Please!” Ivy snorted. “I love having an organized maid of honor with good taste. It makes my job easier. Then I can sit back and enjoy the little flirtations of the wedding party. Like your obsession with a certain best man.”
My hand froze on the ice cream container. I gaped at Ivy and sputtered.
“What? Mark? No. Never. I can’t stand him. Didn’t you hear him? He’s the absolute worst! I don’t know why he’s even here!” I railed. “He has nothing but contempt for weddings. You should have heard him.” I stabbed the ice cream. “Making those obnoxious comments with his stupid scowl and his jaw.”
