Page 20 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

“How could I forget?” I sneered. “He practically lived with us like he was some moocher.”

“It’s nice to see you, too,” he said in a deeper voice than I remembered. The man didn’t even flinch at my words. Was I supposed to be around him the rest of the week?

Really? Really, Tallulah? She knew how much I despised him.

“Excuse us,” I said to everyone, taking Tallulah by the elbow to some quiet corner where no prying ears could hear us.

“Ow? Personal space, Ivy Jade,” she said.

“Why didn’t you warn me, Tal?” I faced her, blinking like a madwoman.

“About what?” She sounded annoyed.

“About Ro being here? You do remember I hate his guts, right?”

“You’re still on that? Seriously? We were just kids. How would I know you still hate the guy? We’ve all grown up. I mean, look at him. He’s drool-worthy, right?”

“This is… absolutely embarrassing. Whatever,” I said. “And he’s so not drool-worthy. Don’t use such big statements you don’t understand.”

She scoffed. “Seriously, Ivy Jade. If you’re going to stick around for my wedding—and I hope you do, because it means a lot to me to have you here as my maid of honor—I need you to behave.”

“Of course I want to be here, but…” I fanned my hands near her face in a panic. “It’s him! How can I be around him when… never mind. I don’t know what to do, Tal.”

“Maybe get to know him? I don’t know. You both will be spending a lot of time together this week. Don’t make it awkward.” Tallulah gave me an entire rundown. It was almost as if she’d become my own mom, telling me what to do, how to act, who to be nice to.

“You’re right,” I said. “I won't ruin anything for you because I'm a good person. And that's what good people do. They show they are better than their opposition."

"I wouldn't classify Ro as an opposition... but whatever floats your boat," Tallulah said, looking a tad more optimistic.

I just shook my head, mentally priming myself to keep cool, but I knew deep down that the only way I could get through this week was by avoiding Romeo as much as possible. If I somehow ended up stuck anywhere with him, that’d be my nightmare! No, thank you. I couldn’t allow that to happen. It’d be impossible and not the way Audrey Hepburn used to say it. It really wouldn’t be possible.

“Good. Now let’s go back to the group,” she said.

I looked over at my brother, happily talking Ro’s ear off. Ro’s eyes were fixed on mine, watching me patiently, and scanning me from head to toe. His eyes landed on my shoes, a bit too long for my liking.

Tal hooked her arm into mine, and we walked back to them.

“There we go. Everything good now, you brat?” Gustav said to me. The nerve. “Now, as I was trying to tell you. Leo caught a bug from his kid, so he won’t be here this week. Ro graciously stepped in to be my best man.” Gustav side-hugged him, looking all proud to have his best friend back. I hadn’t seen Gustav this happy. I mean, he was with Tallulah, but I remembered these two were the bestest of friends. If I reminded myself of that fact, then maybe I’d stop hating Ro.

But I never made promises.

“It’s nice to see you again,” I practically muttered under my breath.

Ro smirked slowly, gazing at me intently. Maybe a little too closely, too deeply. I hated his attention, actually. It made me feel angry beyond what I could handle, and that just wasn’t me. I was so much more sunshine than that.

“As the best man, I’ll do my best to honor my title,” Ro said, softening his expression.

“Good, good! Now, everyone, let’s bring it in.” Gustav brought us all in for a forced hug.

“Yuck! Stop!” I told him, but he couldn’t care less; he kept squeezing us all.

“I’m so happy to have you all here with me. Thank you,” Gustav said. “Time to hit the bus for the corn maze across town. They’re waiting for us outside.”

“Corn maze?” I said loosely.

How the hell was I going to get out of this?

CHAPTER 9