Page 66 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
Darius laughs in disbelief, like he can’t believe everything I’ve told him about Stacy’s attitude toward me is true.
“Stacy,” Adrian addresses her in a pleasant voice, “how’s your weight loss journey going?”
“Excuse me?”
“I was chatting with your husband on the yacht yesterday. He told me you…” Adrian pauses at the fuming reaction on Stacy’s face. He raises a hand to his mouth and coughs to hide a laugh. “Forget I said anything.”
I lean into Adrian and whisper, “Did you actually speak to Stacy’s husband?”
“No. But as if I’m going to let her get away with speaking like that to you. And by the way, she better be making up that bullshit about you wanting to lose weight. You looked amazing in that bikini yesterday. Even better out of it.”
Hot flashbacks of Adrian inside me enter my mind. A shiver ripples through me, and from the corner of my eyes, I catch Adrian smile to himself.
“Hello!” Tory waves her arms at us. “Did you two hear anything I said?”
“Sorry, can you repeat it?” I ask, struggling to refocus.
“I said I didn’t order Adrian anything because I’m not sure what he wants.”
“That’s okay,” he tells her. “I have to leave soon. I have a lunch date.”
“You’re calling lunch with Isabelle a date?” Darius asks, hung up on the exact wording I am.
Adrian glares at him. “Date, appointment, meeting—the terms are interchangeable.”
“Well, have fun on yourdate.” Darius leans back, his biceps flexing as he rests both hands behind his head.
“So, Adrian,” Tory interrupts, her voice speedy, as if adamant to change the subject, “I wish you were with us for the dress fitting. Verena looked stunning in her maid of honor gown. You would have loved it.”
“She did,” Darius agrees. “I can’t wait to dance with her at the wedding.”
Nia smacks her glass on the table with a little too much excitement. “You two and your Latin dancing. Every time I see you dancing onValentine’s Day,I swear you’re having a secret love affair.”
“Exactly my point from earlier,” Stacy says. “Watch out, Adrian.”
Even though Adrian holds a straight face, I’m almost certain he groans quietly. It’s my turn to cough away laughter. This whole game between me, Darius, and Adrian is going better than expected, especially with the help of Nia and Stacy’s comments.
Tory’s comments, on the other hand, seem to be in support of Team Adrian. “Darius, do you have anyone special in your life?”
“Yes,” he answers with eyes on me. I smile back at him, the two of us sharing a moment of prolonged eye contact that makes Stacy’s jaw drop.
“That’s so nice,” Tory says. “I bet you’re happy Verena has found Adrian after all the heartache she went through with her last boyfriend.”
“Verena and I grew very close during that period of her life. That’s why she asked me to be here with her. I wouldn’t fly across the world for just anyone.”
“I’m glad she has a good friend in you,” Adrian adds with ease. “It’s a surprise, though.”
“What’s a surprise?” Darius asks.
“The way you talk about Verena. She doesn’t ever talk about you.”
I bite down hard on my tongue to stop myself from laughing. Darius is experiencing Adrian’s signature for the first time—the comments that are spoken in a friendly manner but laced with venom. A skill that is only reserved for people he wants to prove a point against, say, shutting down someone who’s intruding on his territory.
I love Darius for this jealousy plan so much right now.
A waiter arrives with our meals before any more snide comments can be thrown across the table. Adrian retrieves his phone from his pocket and smiles at the screen while reading a text. It’s not any old smile either, but the kind that takes place when receiving a message from the person you’re crushing on.
“Who’s that?” I ask, trying to disguise the bitterness in my voice.
