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The smile on her face is mischievous, and I honestly think she loves this game we’re playing. I bluff, not showing her my cards; one thing I’ve learned from playing poker. Though I owe her for saving my life, I play it off cool as if it’s no big deal I’m about to deceive my best friends and the woman who owns my heart. “No, not nervous at all.”
But the reality is, I’m fucking losing my mind. The thought of seeing Maddie and the people I love witnessing this charade is almost too much for me to handle, but I’ll do what I have to because we’re probably being watched. Every time Victoria and I are together, I find myself looking over my shoulder, wondering who’s following us and reporting back to her father. Being caught up with the mob has made me even more aware of my surroundings. I wouldn’t be surprised if the house is bugged or even if the car she’s forced me to drive has a GPS tracker. Ever since the moment that photo arrived of Maddie, combined with the note passively warning her about me, my paranoia has been at a level ten.
When we pull up to Hunter and Lennon’s house, a massive shot of adrenaline rushes through me. Victoria grabs my hand. “Just play the part, baby. You’ve got this. Remember what we rehearsed.”
I swallow hard, trying to get rid of the apprehension lodged in my throat. Before the wedding, Victoria and I decided exactly what we would tell people who question our relationship. We’ve practiced and have it memorized, but it still doesn’t make the lie any easier to say.
“Let’s do this.” As soon as we get out of the G-Wagon, I wrap my arm around Victoria, and she snakes her arm around my waist.
“Action,” she says as I reach up to ring the doorbell.
Everything happens so fast after Hunter answers and we walk in. The next thing I know, I’m announcing Victoria as my wife. I feel as if I’m burning at the stake when the entire room goes silent. Thankfully, Lennon speaks up, but I know I’m not out of the hot seat yet. Lennon eyes Victoria from head to toe, studying what she’s wearing, but maintains her polite façade. While introductions are made, I avoid eye contact with Maddie but notice she leaves, then Sophie follows. I have to pretend it doesn’t bother the fuck out of me and continue with Victoria’s and my act.
Eventually, she returns, but I make sure not to look her way because I can only imagine how angry and upset she is right now. I can’t picture her showing up randomly with a man attached to her waist, and it’s not lost on me how fucked up this situation is. The bottom line is, I’m a piece of shit who made a bad decision, and I deserve all her hatred.
As we eat, Maddie throws glances my way until she eventually pulls my attention her way. When our eyes meet, I lose my train of thought. Seeing her so infuriated kills me. Maddie asks if my trips to Vegas were to visit Victoria, and all I can do is give her a simple yes. They all grill me with questions, as I suspected they would. Victoria plays it off so easily as if she’s been performing and telling lies her entire life, which I’m sure she has. Wrapping my arm around her, I smile and kiss her randomly, acting as if she’s my everything. But the entire time, I’m not thinking about Victoria. I’m thinking about Maddie and what life would’ve been like if we could’ve actually been together, regardless of how wrong I am for her.
Eventually, we finish eating and hang out as Hunter and Lennon talk about the house. I try to pay attention to them, smile when I’m supposed to, and respond on cue as my arm is around Victoria.
When Lennon and Sophie clean up, Maddie joins her parents in the living room, and I make the announcement that Victoria and I are leaving. She keeps yawning and is exhausted from the jam-packed weekend with her family.
“You’ll be at the house?” Mason asks, walking us to the door.
“Yeah, we’re gonna take a nap,” I tell him.
Mason lifts an eyebrow as I unlock the SUV for Victoria. She gives Mason a smile and walks away.
“You okay?” he asks, and I get paranoid that he can see right through me. He knows me better than anyone else.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”
Mason searches my face, then nods. “Okay then. See ya later.”
I give him a smile and climb inside the Cadillac.
“Your friends are nice,” Victoria says as I back out of the driveway. “I actually really like them.”
“Good,” I say dryly, not in the mood for conversation. The stress of the last hour has given me a headache, and I just want today to be over. Hell, I want the next six months to be over.
