The days leading up to the wedding are a blur of dress shopping, last-minute fittings, and pretending like I'm actually excited about this whole fake relationship thing. Eli picks me up on Saturday afternoon, looking like a guy who's about to step into a tuxedo commercial. I almost feel bad for him.
"Ready to get this over with?" I ask, pulling open the passenger door of his sleek, black SUV and sliding into the seat.
Eli, with his perfect hair and serious "don't mess with me" face, doesn't respond right away. Instead, he shoots me a sideways glance. "You know, Cleo, you could at least try to look like you're having fun."
I glance at my outfit, which consists of a too-tight dress I borrowed from a friend. The dress has a lot of sequins and sparkles that scream "I'm trying too hard." I tug at the hem of the skirt, wishing I could just wear my usual jeans and hoodie.
"I'm having fun," I say, giving him my best fake smile. "I'm thrilled to be here."
Eli chuckles, and the tension that's been hanging between us for the last few days eases just a little. For the most part, we've been avoiding talking about the whole "ex-fiancée" situation, but I can tell that's about to change.
"Good," he says. "Because I don't know if I can handle another day of pretending like I'm single, all while you're over there acting like we're in a rom-com."
I roll my eyes. "First off, rom-coms are way better than this. Second, I'm not the one who dragged us into this situation, remember?"
He sighs, leaning back in his seat. "Yeah, I know. But still, you're kind of... I don't know, fun to have around."
I turn to him, raising an eyebrow. "So what's the deal? You're trying to convince me you're not completely miserable?"
"Something like that," he says, shooting me a grin. "And you're not bad company either."
I stare at him for a moment, then snort. "Well, I guess that's a compliment, even if it's the least romantic one I've ever heard."
Eli laughs. "It's the truth."
We both fall into an easy silence after that, the tension lifting just enough to make the drive more bearable. It's only when we pull up to the wedding venue that things start to feel real.
The grand hall is ridiculous. White columns. Crystal chandeliers. Expensive-looking flowers that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. And don't even get me started on the guests, who are dressed like they've all walked straight out of a high-fashion magazine.
"Here we are," Eli says, looking over at me. "You ready for this?"
I glance around, my stomach doing a little flip. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We step out of the car and walk toward the entrance, Eli's arm loosely draped around my shoulder in what I assume is supposed to look like a couple's gesture, but it's more "we're both here by accident."
The minute we step inside, I'm hit with the chaos of a wedding. People everywhere. Noise. Laughter. Waiters gliding past with champagne flutes. A massive cake that looks like it was built by a team of architects.
And of course, standing right in the center of it all is her—Heather. The Ex.
I freeze for a second, my eyes locking on her as she stands by the punch bowl, talking to a group of people like she owns the place. She's in a fitted red dress, looking way too perfect for someone who just had her engagement called off.
Eli doesn't seem to notice my moment of panic. "C'mon," he says, nudging me forward. "Let's get this over with."
We walk past a few tables before I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around, and there she is. Heather. Smiling in that way that makes it clear she's about to rip me to shreds without even trying.
"Well, well, if it isn't Eli's new girlfriend," she says, her tone too sweet to be genuine. "How's the... relationship going?"
I try to smile, but it comes out more like a grimace. "Oh, you know. We're having a blast. Fake dating is so much fun."
Heather's smile widens, her eyes flicking to Eli. "Right. I remember those days. They were... interesting."
Eli's eyes dart between Heather and me, but he doesn't say anything. Instead, he lets out a quiet sigh, like he's preparing himself for the drama that's about to unfold.
"I'm sure you two are just perfect together," Heather continues, her gaze lingering on me for just a second longer than necessary. "It's not like there's any... unfinished business."
The way she says that last part makes my stomach twist. I know exactly what she's implying, but I refuse to give her the satisfaction of responding.
"Yeah, well," I say, forcing myself to smile. "We're real good at pretending."
Heather just smiles, but there's something calculating in her eyes. "Have fun with that," she says, and then she turns, walking away as though she's won some kind of victory.
I stare at her retreating figure, the weight of her words still hanging in the air.
"Well, that was fun," I mutter under my breath.
Eli sighs. "You have no idea."
We find our seats at the table, the rest of the wedding ceremony continuing around us. But I can't shake the feeling that Heather's words are still echoing in my mind.
I glance over at Eli, whose face has gone a little too serious. He catches me staring and gives me a small, tight-lipped smile. But it's not convincing.
Something's off.
The waiter approaches, asking if we'd like anything to drink. I glance at Eli, then back at the menu. But just as I'm about to make a decision, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I pull it out, surprised to see a new message from an unknown number:
"Nice try, Cleo. But I'm not going to let you get away with this."
My heart skips a beat.
Who is this?
And what the hell do they mean by "get away with this"?