Stuck With Me - Melissa Brown Page 0,82

of weeks since the engagement party had been fine… I’d seen Dev a handful of times and almost each time, he’d get a call from work. It was weighing on me, and I’d decided to finally bring it up tonight. All of us were going to Bennet’s for Monday Night Sports. It was the guys’ ritual, no matter what sport was in season, and every so often, they invited the girls along. Tonight was one of those nights. I figured after a couple of drinks, I could ask him about the calls and why he always went outside to answer them. And I couldn’t shake Craig’s words back at the resort…that Dev cheated on Trupti constantly with girls from work…

Was I a fool if I didn’t suspect he was doing the same to me?

I’d never been a jealous or possessive person. And I realized that most women liked to say that about themselves, but in this case it was true. I was always a confident woman who knew my worth and was determined to follow Jane Austen’s advice: Know your own happiness. My happiness was books, my friends, yoga, and my family. But with Dev entering the scene, I was feeling insecure in ways I’d never felt before. I wanted him. And I had zero intention of sharing him or being played a fool.

When he was with me, he gave me his full attention, treated me like a queen. Except for those calls…

While busy at work, my stomach growled. Loudly.

“Yikes, skip breakfast this morning?” Vern said as he placed a pile of dictionaries in front of me on the counter.

“Yep, I was running late.”

“Want to take lunch early?”

“Thanks,” I said, glancing down at my watch.

“Hey, beautiful,” I looked up to see my ex-boyfriend, and former professor, Hudson Arbendroth. With that chiseled chin and gorgeous hazel eyes, I was reminded of my original attraction to him.

Until I realized he was a pretentious douche. And not so great in bed. Still hot though… I always had a soft spot for anyone that resembled Paul Rudd.

“Hudson, wow, isn’t this a surprise,” I said, moving the pile of dictionaries.

“I had a meeting here with Vern, thought I’d say hello.”

“A meeting with Vern?”

“Yeah, the university is teaming up with you guys for a big conference regarding periodicals. Riveting stuff.”

I laughed. Hudson was pompous, yes, but he had a dry sense of humor that I enjoyed in small doses. “Vern was just here. Probably went to the bathroom. So, what’s new with you? Married again yet?” I teased. Hudson and I started dating when he was separated from his second wife.

“Actually, I’m still on the market. Know anyone who might be interested in that information?” He leaned over, cocking his head to the side. When he was my professor, that move used to get me all hot and bothered. Not anymore.

“Umm…” I began, not wanting to bruise his ego too much with my response.

“Hey,” I heard a familiar voice come from several feet away. I turned to see Dev, looking irritated. His brow was furrowed and his chin jutted out.

“Dev, hey,” I said, standing up straight, hoping he didn’t misread the situation.

“Thought I’d surprise you for lunch.”

“That’d be great. I was just about to go. Um, Dev this is Hudson. Hudson, this is my friend, Dev.”

“Ah, well, happy to meet any friend of Lyra’s.”

Dev shot me a look of contempt as he shook Hudson’s hand.

Shit.

“I’d better find Vern and get this show on the road,” Hudson said with a smile, placing his hand over mine. “Don’t be a stranger.”

Hudson dragged his hand across the circulation desk as he walked away. Dev didn’t move an inch as we locked eyes.

“Friend?”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, walking around the desk and greeting him with a chaste kiss on the lips.

“I wanted to surprise you, take you to lunch.”

“That’s so nice. I’m starving actually.”

“Friend?”

“Dev, look—”

“Who was that guy?”

“Well,” I said with a sigh. “Remember how you said my past was the silent killer?” I clenched my teeth.

“That dude was your ex? Wait, was that Professor Pretentious?”

“Shh,” I said, tugging on his elbow. “Not so loud.”

“Lyra, why do you give a shit what that dude thinks? And for the third time, why did you call me your friend?”

I glanced around the library, a few students were listening to our conversation. “Hey, this is my work. I need to stay professional.”

“Sorry.”

“Let’s go get some lunch. We can talk about everything, okay?”

“Fine,” he said, his voice still gruff and annoyed.

Grabbing my