when we met. u/upset.

I’d never gone to a bar by myself. I always had a friend or I had Aiden. We’d been together for two years. Tonight was our anniversary, but I was alone in a bar. I should have been celebrating with him, but our plans went up in flames when I went to his apartment after getting out of work early this afternoon.

I had a key so I let myself in like I always did. I heard sounds coming from Aiden’s bedroom. When I reached the doorway, I covered my mouth with my hand as I gasped.

“Aiden?!” I was so upset that I felt my heart pounding and my fists clenching.

Aiden jumped out of bed, stark naked, leaving his bedmate behind. He walked to me and reached toward me but, I took a step back. “Tessa, I swear I didn’t plan this. Layla and I have been working together for a long time. It just… happened. I never meant to hurt you.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me? How long has this been going on?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but I lifted a hand and stopped him.

“No. Forget it. I don’t want to know.” I turned and ran out of his apartment. I heard him calling after me, but I didn’t stop. I had to get away from him.

That’s how I ended up at a bar alone.

I was staring into my glass of wine, running my finger around the rim trying to keep my tears at bay when I felt someone beside me. The only way to explain the level of gorgeous I found standing near me is to say that for a moment, I forgot why I was upset.

Our eyes connected, and he extended a hand to me. “Hi. I’m Walker.”

I took his hand. His big, warm, strong hand. “Tessa.”

“What’s wrong, love?”

“What makes you think something’s wrong?” I asked, though I was sure my mood was written all over my face.

“Just a hunch.” He waited but I didn’t say anything. “Sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger…”

I smiled, which surprised me. “I’m supposed to be with my boyfriend tonight. It’s our anniversary.”

“Where is he?”

“Probably still in bed with the woman I found him with this afternoon.”

“Fuck. I’m sorry.”

“Why? It’s not your fault.”

“No. But I know how you feel.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah. The same way I felt last week. When I caught my ex in bed with another guy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why? It’s not your fault.” He teased me, tossing my own words back at me. He made me smile—again.

“Thanks, Walker. I didn’t think I’d be smiling tonight.”

He smiled, too. “Happy to help.”

I sighed. “I think I’m still in shock. I never thought Aiden would do anything like this.”

“Did you say Aiden?”

“Yeah…”

“Aiden Mitchell?”

“Yes…” How could he know Aiden’s last name?

“Fuck.”

“What?” As I waited for him to answer, I had an unsettling suspicion. “Oh no… What’s your girlfriend’s name?”

“Ex-girlfriend,” he corrected me. “Layla.”

“Fuck.”

“What are the chances?” he asked with barely a trace of humor. But his expression changed quickly. “Is it bad that I want to get back at them?”

“If it is, I’m bad, too.” I took a sip of my wine. “You know what we have to do, right?” I asked. This time, I made him smile.

“I think I do.” He took my hand in his and kissed the back of it. “Tessa, will you be my fake girlfriend?”

“I will.”

Little did I know how real it would turn out to be.

—♥—

p.s. — Who says revenge isn’t totally worth it??

Hot guy: Italian model Simone Bredariol (I know… I know… my addiction to this man may be bordering on unhealthy.) (Also, that picture is my current phone wallpaper.)

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