Page 104 of Surprisingly Us

“What is going on?” she asks.

Hannah’s always been good at sniffing out bullshit, even when we were kids. I stuff my hands in my pockets and do my best to look nonchalant.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I know about your fake relationship, Rhys. Lettie told me last night. I would expect this to be part of your agreement, but every time someone says congratulations, she looks like she’s going to burst into tears. It doesn’t make sense.”

“She said yes, didn’t she?” I bite back like a wounded animal unwilling to accept help.

Hannah’s eyes narrow.

“If you hurt her in any way, they’ll never find your body.” The threat falls easily from Hannah’s lips.

I’ll admit the loyalty is endearing. It reminds me that’s the kind of person Lettie is. She’s sweet and giving, kind and trustworthy. She’s got amazing friends that would do anythingfor her. The only people here tonight for me are my grandfather and Edith, but they’re more apt to side with Lettie in the event of our breakup, which is inevitable.

“Good to know.”

“I’m serious, Rhys.”

“I don’t doubt it for a second.”

With one last flash of her brown eyes, she walks off.

My eyes immediately scan the room for Lettie but come up empty.

From his place next to Sebastian, Ramsey must see my panic and feel sorry for me.

He motions toward the door. “I just saw her headed for the exit.”

With an unintelligible goodbye, I rush toward the exit in search of my fiancée.

CHAPTER 31

Colette

Slugging back two champagnes within a span of twenty seconds was not the smartest idea.

Now, I’m tipsy. Tipsy and engaged to Rhys.

I’ve spent the better part of the night in a silent fury. I still can’t believe it happened. And not in a good,oh wow, I’m super shocked my loving boyfriend proposed to mekind of way but more of aI can’t believe how selfish he is.

My only solution had been to keep drinking, hoping it would help me deal with the stressful situation of being ambushed by his proposal. And the hurt.

Once the anger subsided, that’s what bubbled to the surface.

I’m hurt that he didn’t bother talking to me. I hate that he didn’t trust me enough to include me in his plans. And I’m angry with myself for the split second of hope and excitement I’d had before I came to my senses and realized it was all a sham.

I don’t want to analyze why I thought his proposal might be real. That’s a problem for future-Colette.

My heart aches, a tiny shard of betrayal lodged inside it.

I’d thought I could trust Rhys. I thought we were in thistogetherand then he pulled the rug out from under me. And I was starting to develop feelings for him. Real feelings. And hisproposal assured me he not only doesn’t share those feelings, he hadn’t even considered mine.

My friends were surprised and concerned. Join the club, I wanted to tell them. It’s calledBamboozled by Rhys Spencer. We’ll make t-shirts.

My parents were oddly enthusiastic, especially my mom, who got the same gleam in her eye that she does when she’s starting a new design project.Look at all the possibilities!My dad was quiet, which isn’t like him. I know they talked to Rhys. I saw them at the bar together. Rhys’s smile and his handshake with my dad only fueled my anger more. I wanted to march over there and tell my dad not to shake his hand. None of this is real. But my desire not to make a scene at this important event has kept me silent.

As for Rhys, I’d told him to leave me alone, yet I’d felt his gaze on me the rest of the night. Now, he’s in a heated conversation with Hannah. To think I had defended him to her last night when she’d questioned his integrity. It makes my stomach hurt. Or maybe that’s all the carbonated alcohol I’ve consumed.

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