Page 33 of Fake Married to the Grumps

“We should head back to the party and say goodbye,” Nelly murmurs.

“Yes, we should,” I reply, and we head down the same path that led us up to the Hollywood sign. Thirty minutes later, we're back at the reception hall.

As we approach the entrance, I notice a woman stepping out of a car parked nearby. One glimpse at the woman, and a twisting gnaw eats right through my heart.

“Julia,” I say dryly at the same time she mentions my name.

I haven’t seen her since our break-up. It took weeks to get over the initial shock of her betrayal and months to stop missing her even after she hurt me. All this time, I always wondered how I’d react when I saw her again.

Her eyes feast on mine as her full lips pull into a smile to flash her dimples at me. I was once a sucker for those blue eyes, but staring into them now makes me realize I no longer feel anything.

No hurt, no love …Julia Brene no longer means anything to me.

“I’ve wondered if I’d ever see you again,” she purrs and walks towards me. “I’ve missed you.” Her hands swing around my neck as she brings her body close to mine for a hug. I only let it last a second before I peel her hands away and step away from her.

Nelly’s staring at both of us intently, and Julia’s smile widens before she asks. “Will you introduce me to your friend?”

“My wife, actually,” I slide a hand over Nelly’s, linking our fingers. “We’re newlyweds.”

Julia’s jaw slackens. “Oh,” she gasps. “I didn’t know that.” I can’t tell if the flicker in her eyes is a disappointment, and I don’t care. Julia ceased to exist to me a long time ago.

“Nice to meet you,” Nelly extends a hand to Julia, then flashes her a proud smile. “I’m Nelly.”

“Julia,” she answers, accepting Nelly’s extended hand. “I should run along now.”

I nod with a stiff smile, but she flashes me a flirtatious look before winking. “See you around, handsome.”

Julia leaves us, and Nelly clears her throat before dislodging her hand from mine. “Nice,” she comments as she unlocks her car. “Using me to make your ex jealous?”

“That’s not it,” I answer, combing my fingers through my hair. “Julia is very important and while she was bound to find out, she will only believe it if it comes from me.”

“And why is she important?”

“Her granddad’s George Brene, co-founder of Hart Holdings. He and my grandfather are best friends and that friendship is still strong. I was engaged to marry her eight years ago, but that fell apart after she had an affair with my friend.”

Saying the words out loud leaves a lump at the base of my throat. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out about it,” I conclude with a sigh.

“Did you want me to find out at all?”

“Nelly …”

“It doesn’t matter,” she interrupts before I can say anything else. “We don’t owe each other details about our personal lives, anyway. I should get home. I’m beat.”

She's right. We don't owe each other details about our personal lives. But why do I feel like I need her to understand?

Chapter 13

Nelly

“Did you know that Ethan was engaged?” I ask Tom over the phone the next morning while pulling to a halt in front of Everhart’s office on Pico Boulevard. I can hear Robyn, his wife, in the background, and I assume they’re both preparing for their day ahead.

“Of course you knew. You’re his best friend,” I add, and roll my eyes before getting out of my car.

“He doesn’t talk about it,” Tom answers on the other end, and I recall how quickly he pulled away from Julia when she hugged him in the parking lot.

Finding out about his engagement makes me understand him a little. Nobody should ever feel hurt by someone they love and trust.

“Ethan’s my best friend, Nelly, and I know him. He hates talking about his personal life, and when it starts to get too deep, he runs off. It’s why you shouldn’t get too attached.”

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