against the table, crossing my arms over my chest. Shelby raised a brow and I mimicked the movement, knowing that I had accepted her challenge. She would purse her lips and I would do the same. She would cock her hip and I would repeat the movement. It was a game we had long played; the one who initiated felt they had the upper hand on information, and I wasn’t sure what Shelby thought she saw between Evan and me in the fifteen minutes she’d been around us.
“Have you seen the way he looks at you?” she gushed, breaking the silence. “Good lord! How do you keep it in your pants?”
“I’m a professional.”
“I’m just saying, you’re hot…he’s hot…so, ya know…”
“Not gonna happen.”
“C’mon, humor me. Tell me that you’re going to make mad passionate love to the hunky photographer assistant.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t, James might think you’re not over him,” she said, any insinuating tone no longer present.
She had said the one name that I had pushed out of my mind since the breakup, and my blood ran cold. James and I had been together for a year, and everyone had thought we were perfect together. I suppose we were, until he decided to go out with his friends and cheat on me. I later learned that it wasn’t the first time.
“I thought you said he wasn’t coming.”
“He wasn’t. But then he called the other day and said his work travel had changed and he was going to be able to come,” she said. “With his fiancée.”
“Fian…” I started to say but couldn’t manage to finish. I plopped onto the bed and stared at the camera in my hand before looking at her. “He’s engaged?”
“I’m sorry, Becs. I didn’t want to tell you, but I didn’t want you to be surprised, either, when you see him tonight.”
“He’s going to the rehearsal dinner, too?” I asked, feeling deflated and hurt all at once.
“He flew in for the wedding. Michael thought it was the right thing to do.”
“It’s fine. I mean, we broke up a year ago, right? We’ve both moved on.”
“But you haven’t,” she reminded me.
“Ow. That hurt,” I said, glancing at her with a raised brow.
Shelby walked over and put her arm around me. “I wasn’t trying to be mean. You’ve put your career as a priority and there is nothing wrong with that.”
“The way you say it, seems like you think there is.”
“I just want you to be happy.”
I hugged Shelby and smiled. “I can fake it till I make it.”
Evan walked in with another bag in hand and stopped when he saw the two of us in serious conversation.
“Should I come back?”
As I looked from him to Shelby, I saw her eyes light up and I knew exactly what she was thinking. And, if I’m honest, I might have actually been on the same page.
FIVE
“ARE YOU SURE you don’t mind doing this?” I called out to Evan from the bathroom.
“Becs, please stop asking. We’re going to have fun,” he answered.
I liked that he called me Becs. Considering we were still getting to know each other, it flowed naturally from his lips.
I put the finishing touches on my makeup and stood back, looking at my reflection in the mirror. I had brought my favorite black spaghetti-strapped dress especially for the rehearsal dinner. Now, knowing my ex would be there with his fiancée, I was pleased with my choice. Shelby had convinced me to wear my wavy hair down, but my look still wasn’t complete.
“Where is it?” I muttered as I tried to find the piece of jewelry.
As I emerged from the bathroom I tried to keep a neutral demeanor, but that proved difficult when I saw him standing there in a black suit that was tailored to fit him perfectly. Until that moment, I had only seen him wearing T-shirts and running shorts, or jeans. But in that suit he looked like a model who’d stepped out of the pages of a magazine ad.
In the days we had spent together, his relaxed demeanor and willingness to learn had put me at ease. I had confidence that he would be able to fill in for Hilarie and give Shelby the images that would make her happy.
Evan turned to look at me and his jaw went slack. He took a deep breath and nodded once as he started to smile.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said, walking toward him.