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I frown. “Huh?”
She sighs impatiently. “I’m trying to keep track of how many tickets people are going to buy. I assume you won’t be bringing a plus-one?”
She says it so smugly, like she’s reveling in the fact that I’m single and that Josh dumped me for her friend. She even makes a point of putting her hands on the counter, making sure I get a good look at the sparkly engagement ring on her finger. God, I wish I could slap her without getting fired.
“Why would you assume that?” I say coolly.
Madison raises her hands in mock surrender, the picture of innocence.
“I just assumed that since Josh broke up with you—”
“I’m with someone else now,” I lie, interrupting her. “So actually, I will be bringing a plus one.”
I wish I was better at lying. Every time I try, my voice goes all weird and my cheeks go bright red like my body is rejecting my untruths. I’m sure Madison can see right through me.
“I see…is it anybody I’d know from high school?” she asks, looking amused. She knows I’m lying and I know she knows I’m lying, but I can’t back down now.
“He’s an older guy,” I say. “In his thirties.”
“Well, I can’t wait to meet him,” Madison says, giving me a pity smile that says ‘Poor Esme, all alone, making up imaginary boyfriends’.
I open my mouth to reply, but at that moment, the door to the bistro opens and a giant walks in. Those blue eyes find me across the room, and my heart soars. Suddenly I feel like a shield has surrounded me, protecting me from Madison’s barbed comments and Josh’s cold looks, keeping me safe from their judgments. Nothing can hurt me now that Grant is here. I’m safe.
“That’s him over there,” I say, nodding toward Grant. “That’s my boyfriend.”
Madison’s eyes widen at my words and she whirls around, her mouth falling open as she catches sight of Grant. He looks divine in his blue jeans and white t-shirt, his muscles bulging and his eyes fixed on me as he strides toward us.
My “boyfriend”. Now I just need him to play along.
7
Grant
Esme looks relieved to see me as I walk into the bistro, but I’m even more relieved to see her. I’ve only been away from her for a couple of hours, but I missed her like crazy the whole time and drove like a maniac to get here as fast as possible. I was worried she’d be freaked out by my arrival, but her eyes are shining as I head toward her. A girl on the other side of the counter to Esme is watching me too, looking shocked.
“Madison, this is my boyfriend Grant,” Esme says as I approach, her eyes widening meaningfully at me in a look that says ‘please play along’.
Pretend to be Esme’s boyfriend? With fucking pleasure.
“Hey honey,” I say, leaning over the counter to press a kiss against her lips. “I hope you don’t mind me dropping by. I just missed you so damn much.”
Esme smiles gratefully at me for keeping up the act, but it’s not an act. Every word is true.
She reaches out to grab my hand. “I missed you too.”
I tip my head politely to the woman standing in front of the counter, but she ignores me, her eyes narrowed in irritation. “Don’t forget to RSVP on Facebook,” she says to Esme, her voice cold. “And remember our drinks.”
I glare as she stalks back to a table full of people. I don’t like her taking that tone with my girl, but my anger fades as I turn back to face Esme, my heart melting at her grinning face.
“Thank you so much for playing along, Grant,” she says. “You’re a lifesaver.”
I wave off her thanks. “It’s no problem. What was all that about?”
She sighs, bustling around behind the counter getting drinks ready. “That was Madison Bianchi. We went to high school together and she was some piece of work, let me tell you.” She starts pouring coke into glasses, her face scrunched up with annoyance. “She just invited me to a high school reunion while also doing her best to make me feel like shit for being single and getting dumped.”
Anger floods through me, making my muscles clench as I look toward Madison who’s now sitting back at her table.
How dare she?
