blur of forced smiles and

ntive fiancé-to-be, discussing wed

nner, talking about a

, a numbness s

my bank account, fee

han told me Jess

sually over breakfast. "I need to pick her up f

ch twist

e," he said, a strange glint

dress up, to

oing. I was the prop

dan, I automatically moved to the f

d you sit in the back today? I need the front fo

thing, but it f

tight, and climbed i

at his reflection in

eliberately light, "are you sure

his eyes narrow sl

' d called him 'Uncle

but the air in th

t arrivals ha

m the crowd, exuding an e

ica

l, poised, with

I hadn' t seen before, not e

called, stridi

tle too long, a li

arm still casually ar

," he said, his voice laced with a possessiv

ly plucked eyebrow

ppraising. It lingered on my much

e a silken London drawl. "Ethan,

anicured hand towards me.

rm, her smile polite

it in her eyes. She

her hotel was

ng and reminiscing with Ethan, p

s I didn't understand, their easy ca

wing in a comment about "our" wedding pl

ld just smi

their food, and I was caught in the m

e her jealous, and she