By Friday evening, the arrangement had become strangely real.
Edward had asked for the wedding details, the location, the time, and the dress code.
I sent everything.
He replied with one message.
Black suit?
I answered yes.
Then he sent another.
Good. I have one that makes me look like I occasionally know what I'm doing.
I laughed when I read it.
That was the first time since Max's invitation that I had laughed without forcing myself.
The girls noticed.
“Who are you texting?”
“Edward.”
My older daughter narrowed her eyes.
“Your boyfriend?”
I nearly dropped my phone.
“Not exactly.”
Her sister immediately became interested.
“Is he the one coming with us?”
“Yes.”
“Does Dad know?”
“No.”
That answer made both girls smile.
I pointed at them.
“Don't turn this into a competition.”
“We won't,” my youngest said.
The smile on her face suggested otherwise.
Saturday morning, Edward arrived at my house with two coffees.
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
“You shouldn't be.”
“You're not the one attending your ex-husband's wedding.”
“True.”
He handed me a coffee.
“I'm attending your ex-husband's wedding.”
I stared at him.
“That isn't better.”
“No, but I thought confidence might be contagious.”
It wasn't.
Still, I appreciated the attempt.
The girls came downstairs wearing dresses they had chosen themselves.
Edward crouched slightly so he was at their eye level.
“You two must be the famous daughters.”
My oldest looked at him suspiciously.
“Are you really Mom's boyfriend?”
Edward glanced at me.
I gave him a look that said be careful.
He smiled.
“I'm her very temporary boyfriend.”
My youngest giggled.
“What does temporary mean?”
“It means,” I said quickly, “that he's helping us today.”
Edward nodded solemnly.
“Exactly.”
The girls accepted that answer.
For the moment.
On the drive to the wedding, I sat in the passenger seat while the girls talked in the back.
Edward kept both hands on the steering wheel.
After several minutes, he said quietly, “You don't have to perform.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
He glanced at me.
“You're doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Trying to convince yourself you're fine.”
I looked out the window.
The city moved past us in streaks of afternoon light.
“I don't want him to think he still affects me.”
Edward's voice was calm.
“Then don't make your goal about him.”
I turned toward him.
“What should it be about?”
“Getting your daughters through the day.”
That answer annoyed me because it was sensible.
I looked back at the road.
“You're very irritating.”
“I've been told.”
A few minutes later, he added, “For what it's worth, you look beautiful.”
I laughed softly.
“You're supposed to say that.”
“No. I'm supposed to pretend I'm your boyfriend. Those are different things.”
I didn't answer.
The wedding venue appeared at the end of a long tree-lined drive.
It was exactly the sort of place Max would choose.
Expensive without appearing desperate to prove it was expensive.
White flowers lined the entrance. Cars filled the gravel lot. Guests in dark suits and bright dresses moved toward the reception hall.
My stomach tightened.
Edward noticed.
He parked.
“Ready?”
“No.”
“Good. Neither am I.”
I smiled.
Then he got out and opened my door.
When he offered his arm, I hesitated only a moment before taking it.
The girls walked ahead of us.
Inside, I immediately saw people I had not seen since the divorce.
Some looked surprised.
Some looked uncomfortable.
One woman smiled at me and then quickly looked away.
Edward leaned toward me.
“Don't worry.”
“About what?”
“They're not staring because you're alone.”
I glanced at him.
“Then why?”
“Because you're walking in with me.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Your ego is enormous.”
“I'm beginning to understand why you hired me.”
We entered the reception area.
And then I saw Max.
He stood near the bar wearing a dark suit, one hand around a glass, Claire beside him.
Claire looked exactly as I expected.
Polished. Fit. Confident.
She touched Max's arm as she spoke to someone.
Then Max saw me.
His expression changed.
For a moment, he simply stared.
His eyes moved from me to Edward.
Then back to me.
I felt Edward's arm tighten slightly against mine.
Max smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
It was the smile of a man who had just discovered something entertaining.
He excused himself from the conversation and walked toward us.
“Veronica.”
“Max.”
His gaze settled on Edward.
“And this is?”
Edward extended his hand.
“Edward.”
Max shook it.
The handshake lasted less than a second.
“Friend?”
Edward smiled.
“Something like that.”
Max looked at me.
“You actually brought someone.”
I said nothing.
His smile widened.
“I have to admit, I didn't expect that.”
Claire had followed him over.
She smiled at me in a way that looked almost sympathetic.
“It's good you came.”
I returned the smile.
“It is.”
Max glanced at Edward again.
“Where did you find him?”
Edward's expression remained pleasant.
“At work.”
Max laughed.
“Of course.”
There was something about the way he said it that made my shoulders tense.
Edward noticed.
He didn't react.
Instead, he asked Max, “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“I brought you something.”
Max looked amused.
“A wedding gift?”
“Yes.”
“You didn't have to.”
“I wanted to.”
Max smiled.
“I'd love to see it.”
Edward shook his head.
“Later.”
That seemed to bother him.
“Why later?”
“Because I don't want to ruin the surprise.”
Max laughed.
Then he looked at me.
“You always did like making things complicated.”
I felt the old instinct to defend myself.
Before I could, Edward spoke.
“Actually, Veronica's been very clear.”
Max turned toward him.
“About what?”
“That she doesn't want tonight to be complicated.”
There was a brief silence.
Edward's voice remained calm.
“So I suggest we let her enjoy the evening.”
Max stared at him.
Then he smiled.
“Sure.”
He turned away.
Claire followed.
I released a breath.
Edward looked at me.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You're lying.”
“Probably.”
The girls came running back from the dessert table.
“Mom!”
I turned toward them.
“What?”
“There are chocolate strawberries.”
My youngest grabbed my hand.
“Come see.”
I followed them.
For several minutes, the wedding disappeared from my mind.
Until I heard Max's voice behind me.
“Veronica.”
I turned.
He was standing several feet away.
His smile was gone.
“You need to talk to me.”
I looked at Edward.
He remained near the table.
Max lowered his voice.
“You really couldn't come here without making a spectacle?”
I stared at him.
“A spectacle?”
“You know exactly what I'm talking about.”
“I brought a guest. You gave me a plus-one.”
“I didn't think you'd actually find one.”
There it was.
The insult underneath everything.
I felt something inside me go very still.
Max stepped closer.
“Come on, Veronica. Nobody seriously dates you.”
I said nothing.
He looked at Edward.
“Especially someone like him.”
Edward had heard.
His face changed.
Not dramatically.
That was what made it unsettling.
Max continued.
“Did you pay him?”
A few people nearby went quiet.
The girls were still at the dessert table, unaware.
I felt heat rise into my face.
Then Edward walked toward us.
He didn't look angry.
He looked almost thoughtful.
“Max,” he said.
Max turned.
“Yes?”
Edward smiled.
“I think it's time you opened your wedding gift.”
Click here to continue reading: PART 3: The Box Edward Carried Into the Reception Was Bigger Than Expected, and Max Had No Idea Why It Had Been Chosen for Him
The Invitation Came With a Cruel Plus-One, and I Realized My Ex-Husband Still Wanted One Last Chance to Humiliate Me
Part 2 of 12
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