Page 65 of Fauxmance

I looked down at the bright yellow blooms. They were so cheery, and the gift was so thoughtful.

"I like all flowers," I said. "I don't have a favorite."

Though I might now.

"Thank you, Hayden. They're beautiful."

"They're supposed to last a long time," he said.

I shook my head with a smile. "No one's ever given me flowers before."

Hayden's brow furrowed. "Yet another reason to hate your ex. Where is Shannon anyway? He around here somewhere?"

Laughing, I went up onto my tiptoes and placed a kiss against his cheek. It seemed to surprise him for a moment. "It's Sean," I said. "And who cares?"

"That's the spirit, Magnolia Wilhelmina," he said.

"You've really got to stop saying that."

"But it's your name."

"Okay, Bartholomew, if that's how you want to play this."

"Ooh, low blow."

I'd just opened my mouth to say more when—

"Magnolia!" Sean jogged over and stopped a few feet away. He looked from me to Hayden and back again. "Everything okay over here?"

I let out a long exhale. "Yes, Sean. We're fine."

"Sure you don't need any help?"

"Why do you even care?" I asked, but then I noticed his eyes were on Hayden. Unbelievable. "Like I said, we're good. Thanks for asking, I guess. You can go now."

Instead of leaving, Sean took a step closer and crossed his arms. "I don't recognize you," he said to Hayden. "Are you a student?"

My breath caught as Hayden wrapped an arm around my waist.

"I'm Maggie's new boyfriend," he said.

Sean's eyes narrowed.

"And I'm nineteen, so no, I don't go here."

"Let me guess. You dropped out?"

"Graduated with honors actually."

"Hmm, wherever you went, the curriculum must not have been challenging."

"I thought it was."

I felt my blood rise, angry at my ex for being a jerk, but Hayden just pulled me closer.

"And how do you know my girl?" he asked.

My heart jolted at that.

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