She Asked Me to Be Her Fake Fiancé at Her Ex’s Wedding… Then Kissed Me in Front of Everyone
Chapter 1
The first time Olivia Hart asked me to pretend to be her fiancé, she was standing in my kitchen at midnight wearing a red dress and mascara that had clearly survived a war.
She didn’t say hello.
She didn’t sit down.
She simply looked at me and said:
“I need you to marry me.”
I stared at her.
“For how long?”
“A few hours.”
I blinked.
“That isn’t marriage.”
“Good.”
She dropped her purse onto the counter.
“Because I don’t want an actual one.”
I laughed.
She didn’t.
“Olivia, it’s midnight.”
“I know.”
“And you’re in my apartment.”
“I know.”
“And you just asked me to be your fake fiancé.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She swallowed.
“Because tomorrow is my ex’s wedding.”
That got my attention.
“Daniel?”
She nodded.
Daniel Brooks.
The man Olivia had dated for five years.
The man she had planned to marry.
The man who had left her six months before their wedding and started dating his boss’s daughter three weeks later.
Now he was marrying her.
Tomorrow.
Olivia had somehow managed to avoid the wedding invitation.
Until tonight.
“He called me,” she said.
“What did he want?”
“To ask if I’m coming.”
“And?”
“I said no.”
She looked away.
“Then his mother called.”
I sighed.
“What did she say?”
“She said everyone feels sorry for me.”
“That sounds lovely.”
“She also said Daniel always knew I’d never find anyone better.”
I stared at her.
“She said that?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s why you’re here?”
Olivia shook her head.
“No.”
She reached into her purse.
Pulled out a black invitation.
Placed it on my counter.
“You’re coming with me.”
I stared.
“Olivia.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“No, you don’t.”
She stepped closer.
“I spent five years with that man.”
Her voice cracked.
“He left me in a restaurant.”
I remembered.
She had called me that night.
She had cried so hard I could barely understand her.
I had driven across town.
She’d sat on the curb outside the restaurant.
Barefoot.
Still wearing the heels Daniel had bought her.
I had wanted to tell her something then.
I never did.
“Why me?” I asked.
“Because everyone knows you.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
“You’re successful.”
“Barely.”
“You’re confident.”
“Debatable.”
“You’re handsome.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“That sounded suspiciously rehearsed.”
She rolled her eyes.
“And because you’re the only man I trust.”
That silenced me.
Olivia looked down.
“I don’t want Daniel to think he won.”
“You care what he thinks?”
“I care what I think.”
She took a breath.
“I want to walk into that wedding with someone who makes it look like I’m not broken.”
I wanted to tell her she wasn’t broken.
Instead, I asked:
“What do I get?”
She blinked.
“What?”
“You want me to pretend to be your fiancé.”
“Yes.”
“Then what’s my payment?”
She stared.
“Dinner.”
“One dinner?”
“Fine. Three.”
“Five.”
“Four.”
“Deal.”
She smiled for the first time.
Then she reached into her purse.
Pulled out a ring.
I stared.
“You brought one?”
“My grandmother’s.”
She slipped it onto my finger.
It fit perfectly.
“How did you know my size?”
She looked embarrassed.
“I didn’t.”
“Then?”
“I guessed.”
I looked at the ring.
There was an inscription inside.
Always choose the person who stays.
I looked at Olivia.
She quickly pulled her hand away.
“It’s temporary.”
“Everything about this is temporary.”
“Yes.”
She paused.
Then whispered:
“Tomorrow, when we walk in, don’t let go of my hand.”
I nodded.
“Okay.”
She turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“When I kiss you…”
I froze.
“You’re planning to kiss me?”
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
She looked over her shoulder.
“Because Daniel will be watching.”
Then she left.
I stood alone in my kitchen.
The ring still on my finger.
I had known Olivia for eight years.
I had been in love with her for six.
She had never noticed.
Tomorrow, she wanted me to pretend to be her fiancé.
What she didn’t know was that pretending was going to be the easiest part.
