Page 58 of Weddings, Revenge & Fake Dating

She cringes. “Like the TV serial killer?”

“More like sewing, cooking, and crafting with the passion of a murderous killer.”

“Oh, I like that. I’ll bet he can sew me some new⁠—”

“Will you two stop! I don’t like what’s going on here.” Roman waves a hand between us.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

Sophia twists her arm with mine. Together, we form a wall of women that no man can tear down.

“You haven’t talked in years, and now you’re best friends?”

And you never corrected your fiancée when she said your child’s name wrong.

“Did you think Jeanie would just disappear? She’s part of this family too,” Sophia says. For reasons I can’t explain, she has my back, and as far as I can tell, no other agenda.

All this time, I thought her angle was the keep-your-enemies-close strategy, which I fully took advantage of. But now I’m starting to wonder if she wants me here, or worse, needs me. I fight the urge to run when she holds me tighter.

“Then you two deal with Dex.” Roman turns to leave. He’s never liked being outnumbered. Bullies usually don’t. He barely misses slamming into a bellboy with a stack of suitcases when he escapes.

Sophia deflates. “He’s going to be grumpy all night.”

“Go find Dex. I’ll deal with Roman,” I say, eager to send her as far away from me as possible. I need to untangle this lady-fest. I don’t like the gooey feelings it’s giving me.

“Thank you. Thank you. I love co-parenting.” Sophia takes the bait. She kisses me on the cheek and leaves on her mission.

When she’s gone, I rub her lip gloss off my face. She’s so darn affectionate and likable. Ugh. If she were a terrible person, like me, this would be a lot easier.

Roman is sulking in the hotel’s lounge when I find him. I drop onto the seat opposite as a server slides a Cuban coffee on the table. For once, he’s wordless as he stares into his cup.

“How did you think this would play out?” I ask. What Sophia said is true. If they marry, we’re stuck together to some degree.

“You keep pitting Sophia against me. Is that what you’re trying to do?”

That’s exactly the plan I mapped out. Though, to be fair, what just transpired wasn’t to destroy them. It’s a reality we’ll have to face. If they marry, Sophia will have to parent.

I inhale deeply. If.

“And this Nathan guy, I still don’t believe you’re dating him. I mean, you’re old. He’s too young for you,” Roman says.

My mouth drops open at his nasty jab.

“Tell me the truth.” Roman grabs my hand like he’s desperate. His eyes flicker with an emotion I recognize—jealousy.

My lips flatten as I consider an answer. Even though this was the outcome I schemed for, I’m too annoyed to take a victory lap.

“You’re the same age as me, and Sophia is slightly younger than Nathan. The only difference is Sophia’s too good for you. And I swear, Roman, if you hurt her the way you hurt me and Dex, I’ll come for you.”

I yank my hands away and rise from my seat, accidentally bumping the table. Roman’s coffee tips over and splatters everywhere.

“Jeanie!” Roman tugs his shirt. It’s drenched with brown spots.

“Nathan’s a better man than you’ll ever be.”

Before Roman can get a word in, I stride away. Though, at this second, I’m not sure who’s more stunned by my outburst—him or me.

It’s one of the many things that went haywire today. First, I kissed Nathan, and now, God help me, I’m sticking up for Sophia.