Page 58 of Fauxmance

"Wow, Magnolia, I'm surprised. I thought you two had a connection."

I did, too.

"You disappeared there for a while, which I thought was weird. But I figured you'd go back to him after doing all the maid of honor stuff. Did you at least get to talk?"

"Nope," I said. I'd pretty much avoided Hayden the rest of the night. It had seemed safer that way. For my heart. "When I got back to the table, I found a note. It saidDear Magnolia Wilhelmina, Thanks for another night to remember. Yours, HBD.For all I know, he went home with someone."

"He left with that lady."

My ears perked at this.

"What lady?" I asked, not sure I wanted to know.

Izzy gestured to her head and body. "The older woman in the green dress. The one who was walking around the wedding like she owned the place."

"Ah," I said, "that was Constance Davenport. She's his grandmother."

"Sothatwas her," she said. "I should've known. The rich ones always have a look about them."

"What look?" I asked.

"One that says I-have-money-and-you-don't-bow-down-peasants."

I shook my head, laughing. She wasn't wrong. Constance Davenport did have that look. But I also couldn't forget the way she'd fondly gazed at her grandson. A big part of me was relieved Hayden had left with a relative and not another girl—which was ridiculous. It's not like I had some claim on him. We'd gone to one wedding together. And it was under false pretenses.

But what if it could've been more?my mind whispered.

Shaking the thought off, I got back to work.

Izzy was quiet for a few beats then…

"So he left you a note," she said. "That was nice, I guess. A little cowardly, but at least we know the guy can write."

"Izzy." I sighed. "It wasn't like I expected anything."

"Oh yes, why should you expect more from someone you're dating?"

"It wasn't…Hayden and I…we…"

She gestured for me to go on. "You what?"

Taking a deep breath, I said, "It would've never worked. Hayden and I are so different. He's more experienced romantically. He's older, too, though only by a year. Ooh, and he's in a band. Did I tell you that?" She raised a brow, and I added, "I've heard that he's a player, and I'm…so not. I'm a waiting-on-the-one type of girl. You know that." Trying to convince myself, I repeated, "We would've never worked."

Not to mention the part about our relationship being fake to begin with.

Izzy shrugged. "Okay, if that's how you feel."

Yes, I thought. That was how I felt. Now, I just had to stop thinking about Hayden as a possibility, and all would be well.

"But I still say there was a connection," Izzy said, "and tons of repressed chemistry. Me and the other bridesmaids all felt it. Unlike your ex-who-shall-not-be-named, Hayden seemed good for you—and totally into you. I could tell he was the kind of guy who goes after what he wants."

"Exactly," I said. "But he didn't come after me. Did he?"

Izzy had no response to that.

We went back to serving the food, and she didn't mention Hayden again.

Another hour had gone by when the bell above the door rang. I was currently carrying plates in from the kitchen to the main dining area. They were heavy, and my hands were full.

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