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I just wish I could convince myself of that.
I just wish I could get rid of the murderous intent to find whichever little birdie told her Maddox would be here and strangle it.
But I don’t do any of that. I just stand there like an idiot, while the two of them make googly eyes at each other.
But then, Maddox remembers my existence and glances at me.
The woman does too. A sneer flits across her lips as she scans me from head to toe, clearly finding me lacking. Good. I feel a little less bad for wanting to snatch her hair out now.
“Who’s this?” she asks in the same sing-songy voice, which is just as false as it is saccharine.
“My girlfriend,” Maddox says, shocking me for a few seconds. It takes a little bit to remember our little deal. That’s right. He just says it for show. It’s all for play.
And the way he’s looking at me is all for show too.
In fact, this whole week has probably just been him messing around with my feelings.
When I woke up to him staring at me earlier, I remember smiling at how tender his gaze had looked…but now I see it for what it is. He was probably playing around at the time too.
That was just to cement this act of ours, to make me a more convincing doting girlfriend.
He probably wanted me to fall in love with him so I could play my role better.
Bastard.
He had me fooled too. For a second there, I thought… I don’t know what I thought.
But whatever I thought was false. Because this, this flirtatious man who so easily ignores me in favor of the beautiful blonde…
This is who he really is.
And I feel stupid for thinking any differently.
“Oh, I love your dress,” the woman says in a tone I’ve come to notice as California-nice. It’s not sarcastic or mean, but you can just sense the falseness beneath it. “Is that Gautier?”
“Um,” I glance down at the sundress that I got from a thrift store downtown. I don't know who Gautier is but I doubt my outfit is designer. “I’m not sure.”
“Oh, of course it is." She snaps her fingers. "I would notice those extra frills anywhere. My mom used to wear Gautier all the time, back when she used to work in their store. Of course, it’s about twenty years out of season but…” She gives a trilling laugh. “Vintage is good too.”
“Yeah.” My smile feels like it's going to break my cheeks apart. I have nothing to say back.
“Sorry about the kiss, by the way,” she says in that same false tone. “I completely forgot Maddox was dating someone. It’s just that me and him go way back.” She gives him a look under her eyelashes. “Likewayway back.”
“Yes, but that’s over with now," Maddox says.
“Yes, of course." She spares him a glance but there's a secret smile on her lips when she turns back to me. "But you never know.”
She winks at me when she says it too, in case it wasn't obvious enough. And Maddox says nothing, standing there looking at me expectantly.
God, I can’t take this anymore.
I turn to leave but he grabs my arm. “Where are you going?"
His eyes are questioning and almost annoyed. What an asshole. I expected he would be apologetic at least. But I need to be realistic. He doesn’t owe me an apology. He doesn’t owe me anything because there’s no commitment between us. I was simply seeing something that wasn’t there.
“I have to go…use the bathroom,” I tell him, proud that my voice doesn't even shake. “I’ll be right back. You guys can talk in the meantime.”
I yank my hand away from his before he can say anything and storm back toward the resort lobby. The woman behind the desk eyes me curiously when I walk in and I know I should ask her where the bathroom is, but I can’t. I’m holding back tears and my chest squeezes into itself as if it’s crumpling up altogether. If I say anything, I’m going to burst. I know I’m about to cry but I need to get away before anyone sees me.
