Page 16 of Strictly Pretend

I’m not attracted to him. Sure, I kissed him once, but I was going through a traumatic event.

And this is another one. That’s why I can’t stop thinking about him. Not because he’s the handsomest man I’ve ever seen.

“Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t sleep in your own bungalow on my wedding night and had to be saved by him?” Mia retorts. “And come to that, why didn’t you tell me aboutseeing Will and my disgusting cousin in the bathroom as soon as you bleached your eyes? I would have thrown them both out. You know that. And you could have stayed in my room if you didn’t want to be anywhere near him.”

“It was your wedding night,” I point out, glad for the distraction. “I don’t think you needed a third person there.

She chuckles. “We were so exhausted we consummated nothing that night. Grant ended up giving me a foot rub and then I tried to give him a back massage but I passed out on top of him. When I woke up in the morning I’d drooled all over his head.”

“You’re the last of the old romantics.” I smile, because it’s always good to talk to Mia. She and Grant are living in New York City now, in a condo that belongs to his parents. In my mind they’re Big and Carrie, looking beautiful and rich as they waft through the city. “Anyway, how’s married life treating you?” I ask her.

“It’s sublime.” She lets out a contented sigh. “Grant cooks for me every night. He says it’s his way of winding down.”

NowthatI could get behind. Last night I got home and the only thing in my refrigerator was a furry chicken breast, which definitely wasn’t supposed to be furry, and a shrivelled up lemon that I can’t even remember buying. I ended up eating toast for dinner, which I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t be doing at my age.

“Do you see any of the old gang around the city?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even.

“I haven’t seen Will if that’s what you mean.” She spits out his name like it tastes bad. “I think Grant has. It’s the one bone of contention.”

“Boner of contention,” I say and she coughs out a laugh. “But seriously, don’t let him come between you. Both figuratively and literally. He’s not worth it.”

“But you’re my friend and he hurt you.” There’s a moment’s pause. “Did you get the invitation to Cassie’s wedding?” she asks. And now I know why she called.

“Yes.” Cassie was the third of our little group when we were in school. I’ve seen her a few times since Mia and I reconnected. She’s lovely but she lives an entirely different life to me, and even to Mia. Her dad is so rich he doesn’t know what to do with his money. He owns the biggest ranch in Montana where I imagine him playing at being a billionaire cowboy all day.

I wasn’t expecting to be invited to the wedding, but Cassie is kind and I know she’d worry about leaving me out. “I’m going to decline it though.”

“Decline it? Why?” There’s a frown in Mia’s voice.

“You know why.” Because Will will almost certainly be there. His family is friends with Cassie’s. And as much as I’ve moved on from him, I certainly don’t want to come face to face with him. Especially at another wedding.

“Don’t let him come between us,” Mia says. I wince at the way she almost echoes my words. She’s right, I shouldn’t, but maybe I’m tired of rich boys throwing their weight around.

And now I’m thinking about Brooks Salinger again and the way he fills out his suit just right. The way he kisses.

God, I need to get a life.

“It’s in Montana,” I point out. “I can’t be away from the shop for that long.”

“It’s for a long weekend. If you get to the city you can travel with us.”

“Won’t Will come with you?” I ask her, because I’d like to avoid that, thank you very much.

“I already asked. He’s going down early.” Mia sounds smug. “Please come. It’ll show him you’ve moved on.” She pauses. “I miss you. We haven’t seen each other since my wedding. It’s four days, we can spend a lot of time together. Please?”

“I’ll think about it,” I tell her, though I’m absolutely certain I won’t go. I don’t feel part of their world anymore. And my world is falling apart. I need to be here, at the shop, because god only knows what Salinger Estates will do if I’m away.

Not Salinger Estates. Brooks Salinger. The devil in a designer suit.

Mark would take their money in a heartbeat. Rita would be swayed by Brooks’ warm smile and promises of a bright future.

As for Granddad, he’s so busy looking for a book written by the woman he loved that nothing else seems to matter anymore. I’m the only one left fighting.

And it’s exhausting.

CHAPTER

FIVE

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