Page 13 of Fauxmance

"That code word is for me and the bridesmaids to use, not you."

"Sorry," he said, getting himself under control. "But couldn't you all have thought of something better? Saying 'red lobster' instead of 'hot guy' is kind of a stretch."

I sniffed. "Which is why it's perfect. No one will ever guess what we're talking about."

"Yeah, because it makes no sense."

"Maybe to you. Me and the girls know what it means, and that's all that matters."

The word choice was a bit out there. I could admit that. But the other bridesmaids and I had been having a chat one day during dance lessons. (Yes, my perfectionist sister had insisted we all take dance and etiquette lessons in preparation for the big day.) I couldn't remember who'd suggested it. We were all talking about how hot our instructor was and how much we loved those garlic cheese biscuits fromRed Lobster. One thing led to another. We'd shared a ton of laughs, and after that day, gorgeous guys were forever synonymous with crimson crustaceans. It was one of the many secrets I'd shared with Hayden—which I was starting to regret.

"Can't you just forget it?" I asked. "I told you so many things."

Hayden nodded. "I'll try, but it may be hard. I have an excellent memory."

Would've been nice to know that before I told him everything, I thought.

"So, was your ex a red lobster?"

I took a deep breath for patience.

"Your boyfriend, I mean," Hayden said. "What was his name again? Shane, Shaw, Shannon?"

"Yes, if you must know," I said. "His name is Sean, and…yeah, much as I hate to admit it, he was a total red lobster."

Replaying my last conversation with Sean, I felt my shoulders slump a little.

"Though I guess he's someone else's lobster now."

Hayden's face went hard. "Good riddance. I can't believe he dumped you like that."

"Me either." My voice was small, but I couldn't help it. "We were friends first, you know. It didn't feel that way today."

"He hurt you."

"Yeah, but I don't think he meant to," I said.

"Bullshit." Hayden's harsh curse brought my gaze to his. "I've known guys like him before. He knew what he was doing. He knew how much the wedding meant to you. He just cared about himself and what he wanted more than he cared about you—which makes him a heartlessbastard."

I winced. "At least he's not a liar. Unlike me."

"What else were you supposed to do? There's Shane—"

"Sean," I corrected.

"—shoving his new girlfriend in your face, acting like the break-up is your fault. He's being an ass. You couldn't just stand there and take it."

"I could've," I mumbled. "I probably should've, but I made up some stupid lie instead."

"It's not stupid," he said. "I bet guys will be lined up around the block now that they know you're free of that idiot Sheehan."

I bit my lip on a laugh. "It's Sean—which I think you know."

Hayden waved that aside. "Same thing. I still don't get why he was in the wedding. Cole must've been crazy to let that jerk in."

"Funny how you had no trouble remembering that name," I said on a laugh…and then frowned. "And I told you. The groom's best friend refused to be best man. I mean, what kind of person does that?"

"Maybe he had a good reason," Hayden put in.

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