Page 23 of Rosé with My Fake Fiancé
Emma busts out a cackle, and it’s so loud and unexpected that it even makes Tessa crack a smile—a wobbly one, but still.
“Girls, looking lovely this evening. Tessa.” James nods at her, a smarmy smile in place.Cheater, a nasty voice in my head says. “And...Luc, was it?” At my glare, he ignores me and turns to introduce Emma, Sara, and Jade to his fiancée.
“We’ve met,” Jade says, baring her teeth in a smile that’s more threatening than friendly, and Yumi’s own smile fades, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion over Jade’s bitter tone.
“Tessa,” James starts, and I feel a warning in my gut that Tessa’s going to be hurt once more before he leaves us. “I called my mom last night and mentioned that I saw you here. She was surprised to hear that you were engaged now.”
He rolls the ice in his glass as he gestures at me. “She called your mom, and imagine our surprise when your mom didn’t know a thing about Luc, either. I would think your mom would know about your fiancé. Hell, I’m sure my mother would remember you even mentioning that you were dating someone, but she doesn’t. Funny, that.”
Tessa’s entire focus is on her ex-boyfriend, her confusion and disbelief from before morphed into something that’s sharpened and honed.
James chuckles, totally unaware of how big of a moron he is.
Tessa rises to her feet. Emma and Sara pop up next to her, and Jade folds her arms and glowers at James.
“As much as I love your mother, James, surely you wouldn’t expect me to tell her I’ve moved on to someone else. She knows that we’ve broken up. I bet she even remembers the date we broke up,” Tessa seethes.
Jade grins, and I chuckle under my breath, but Tessa’s not done.
“She probably remembers the date we broke up,andI bet she remembers the last time I stayed the night at your parent’s house, and we shared their bedroom. I bet she remembers hinting to you to propose soon so that there was still time to get the announcement in the Chronicle before the flood of Valentine’s Day proposals filled it up.”
James’ mouth flops a bit, and for a moment, I feel bad for Yumi because she’s gone pale. While Tessawantedto be James’ fiancée, Yumi is, and she’s just been told that she was the other woman.
Emma hooks her arm through Tessa’s and says stiffly, “Thank you for the invitation.”
Sara hooks Tessa’s other side. “Don’t invite us to the wedding.”
“You deserve better,” Jade shouts over her shoulder to Yumi as we head for the door.
10
Tessa
Once we’reout on the street, Jade and Sara burst into laughter, giddy from insulting James. Emma grips my arm tightly, not quite ready to relax and give up her concern, and I glance back over my shoulder at Luc. He’s got his hands in his pockets, watching Jade and Sara with amusement.
I like that he didn’t take control of the situation. He was supportive, but in the battle of the wit between James and me, Luc let me lead. I’ve had plenty of men try to do my fighting for me as if I can’t stand up for myself.
He agreed to be my fake fiancé tonight. I could have given an excuse for why he couldn’t come or confessed that it was a joke. Instead, I’m breaking up an engagement and faking my own, on top of making out with him in front of my ex.
Walking into Siempre earlier had felt like visiting my old high school. It’s familiar, the same walls, the same sounds as last time I was here, but everyone looks like babies. Even in the VIP room, everyone was younger than us. I would have placed Yumi as in her late thirties, but that may have been in the context of seeing her with James. Now, around youthful friends and party-goers, I realize she might be younger than I thought.
Not that I have room to judge since the man I’m currently “engaged” to and just made out with is in his early thirties.
But the loud music, young faces, and the heat of the party was wearing on me. I was the one who wanted to come to this party, and now I’ve fought with James and made a public scene.
This has become a giant mess. I’ve never acted so immature in my life.
The thought angers me.
“What was I thinking?” I ask. Jade and Sara straighten and finally get their laughter under control.
“You’re thinking he’s a cheating cheater who deserves it.” Jade reaches out and grabs my hand. “Don’t feel bad for James. He made his own bed, and now he can lie in it.”
“I don’t feel bad for him. But what the hell am I doing? I’m in afake engagementwith Luc.” I throw my hand out to gesture at him. “And having petty, small-minded feelings about my ex. I’m a forty-two-year-old woman, for fuck’s sake. Life isn’t supposed to be this complicated or embarrassing by now.”
Our group is silent, and I realize how that must have sounded. If I hadn’t been drinking, if I hadn’t been frustrated with myself and angry at James, maybe I wouldn’t have said it, but I did. “Luc, not you. I didn’t mean you.”
He laughs, but it’s got no humor in it. “I know that I am aiming out of my league here, Tessa.”
