Page 16 of Rosé with My Fake Fiancé
The biggest suitcase is Emma’s. She’s never traveled outside the US before, so this is all pretty new. She unpacks, putting her clothes into the drawers.
My stomach rumbles. “Have y’all eaten yet?”
Emma, who still can’t look me in the eye, responds first. “I’m starving.”
The other two agree, and after I’ve changed clothes, we head downstairs to the restaurant in the hotel.
All of my good vibes crash when we exit the elevator and I catch sight of James walking across the marble floor of the lobby. In all the excitement of the morning, I’d forgotten that he was here, and I can’t duck out because he’s already spotted us.
“Well, if it isn’t the famous wine club.” He’s wearing workout clothes, athletic shorts and a T-shirt, which makes me want to scoff.
“James,” Jade says stiffly. “Where’s your new fiancée?”
“She’s having brunch with her parents. Where’syourfiancé?” James directs the question at me.
“He’s sleeping.”
“Sure. Of course. Long night being a tour guide?”
I give James a sharp look. “Don’t be a dick.”
He raises his hands in innocence. “That wasn’t my intention.”
Jade mutters something that sounds an awful lot like “twatwaffle”.
“And as myfriends,” James continues, “maybe you’d like to come to the party tonight celebrating our engagement. I flew Yumi’s parents and her friends in, of course. You won’t know anyone, but you can bring yourfiancé. It’s at Siempre.”
Of course, it’s at Siempre, James’ favorite club. It’s also trendy, and Jade’s head snaps up at the mention of it.
“I’ll have to see if Luc is free,” I hedge.
“I’ll text you the details and put you on the list,” he says. “Just in case.”
He walks toward the elevators with a wave. The four of us resume walking to the restaurant and get to our table in relative quiet.
Once we’re in our seats, I put my head in my hands. “Oh my god. We have to go to the party, don’t we?”
“Of course not!” Sara frowns at me. “Why would we go?”
“What would James think if we didn’t go?”
“Look,” Jade says. “You know I’d love to go back to Siempre. But I don’t give a fuck about what James thinks, and neither should you.”
The table’s quiet for a moment.
“Is Siempre the club with the silk dancers and the five-story dance floor? The one you went to after that cancer research seminar?” Sara asks.
“It is,” Jade confirms.
“Damn. That place sounded pretty cool.”
“The place is huge,” I admit. “We probably wouldn’t have to even talk to James if we didn’t want to. And I bet he has a VIP room booked.”
“He only invited you to rub it in your face,” Emma points out.
“I know,” I say. “But it’s one of the best nightclubs in a city that’s very good at nightclubs.” Siempre is always in the social pages with rock stars and socialites. Anyone who’s throwing a party at Siempre is wealthy—and showing off.
So typical of James.
