Faking It with the Frenemy

“Because the date doesn’t really matter,” he says, sounding slightly resigned.

“It doesn’t?” That doesn’t jibe with what I’ve been hearing. “But you obviously want one. You even had Dane ambush Salazar to get me to help you.”

“I could care less about the wedding, but the thing is, Vi hasn’t really been coping. I think she needs some closure. To really understand that her mom isn’t coming back.”

“But you want a hot date,” I say, totally confused. “You want to make Geneva sorry.”

Wyatt shrugs. “If I do, great, but if n

ot, it doesn’t matter. I just want Vi to stop trying to please Geneva and start thinking more about herself. What’s best for her.”

I’m starting to get a bad feeling about this. I look at him for any hint of deception, certain his motives can’t be this pure. He could be messing with me again. But he’s looking straight at me, and his mouth is set in a firm line.

And I feel lower than slug slime. I totally misconstrued his intentions, assuming he’d want to get back at Geneva. If he’s really going to the wedding to help Vi get emotional closure, the women I’ve been picking out for him are totally inappropriate.

Before I can tell him I’m sorry, Vi and Jo approach with a dreamy pink dress that is not only modestly cut but also sophisticated. I knew my best friend could pull it off.

“This one,” Vi says, her eyes shining. “It’s so perfect!”

Wyatt flashes a grateful smile at Jo. “That looks fantastic. Thank you.”

Jo waves a hand. “Ah, she’s a great kid. Easy to shop with.”

Vi grins up at her.

“You’re awesome,” I tell Jo, thankful she didn’t try to be like me and give Vi a horrible dress only somebody like Svetlana the Snob would find acceptable.

Jo picks out shoes and accessories for Vi, to ensure everything is coordinated for maximum effect. Afterward, Wyatt and Vi go off on their own to “rustle up some ice cream.” Jo and I find a nice navy cocktail dress I can wear to parties…or to the office, if I put a jacket over it. Jo doesn’t look for anything for herself, since she wears only the latest fashions, and she won’t find those hanging on a clearance rack.

“She’s a really nice kid,” Jo says. “And that Wyatt is seriously hot.”

“You think everyone’s hot,” I say, doing my best to sound careless. I’m not admitting to Jo that I think he’s hot.

“Not everyone. Just the hotties. I’m stingy with praise.”

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s weird he’s taking his kid to his ex-wife’s wedding, though.”

“It’s for a good cause,” I say vaguely, not wanting to share his reasons when he hasn’t told me I can. And it isn’t just about him, but Vi, too. When I was growing up, I hated it that people knew about my mom marrying over and over again for money. It was just too humiliating, and I was too young to know how to handle the situation. I don’t know exactly how Vi feels about her mom and the wedding, but I suspect it isn’t on the warm and fuzzy side.

I purchase the navy dress and the red one Jo picked out earlier. The latter costs a little more than I’d like, but I don’t give a damn. The color is so me.

Afterward, Jo and I hit a few more stores before we call it quits. Despite the balm of retail therapy, I’m distracted. I keep thinking about what Vi said yesterday about how she feels like she isn’t loved unless she does something her mom is proud of and how she’s no match for that fiancé in her mother’s affections. And also what Wyatt told me at the department store. I think about it more on the drive home.

Pairing him with an heiress rich in assets but poor in personality is out of the question now. But I honestly can’t think of anybody I can set him up with who would be suitable. Most decent heiresses I know are either married or engaged or in a relationship. Miri is an exception, but that obviously didn’t work out. Predictably, because Miri likes her men slim, mild-mannered and unassuming…and Wyatt is none of those things. His arms alone are so thick and muscled, sometimes I’m tempted to bite into a bicep to see if it’s as hard and strong as it appears.

Maybe I should just go to the damned thing. It’s like Salazar said—just one lousy date. And yes, it’s the hateful Geneva’s wedding, but I can probably grin and bear it for Vi’s sake. I don’t know why I care so much, because it isn’t like she’s my child or I’ve known her for long. Maybe it’s because I sometimes catch glimpses of myself in her. It would have been nice, back when I was a kid, if there’d been someone around to let me know I was okay the way I was.

I finally decide to tell Wyatt not to worry about a date because I’ll do it. And it’ll free up his evenings to spend more time with Vi. I hadn’t even thought about that in my petty desire for revenge, but if she’s as emotionally lost as she seems to be, she’s going to need her daddy around for moral support.

Feeling pretty good about the decision, I park and go up to my apartment to drop off my stuff before talking to Wyatt. Princess is in the hall, her black fur glossy and beautiful. Wonder how she got out. Did Wyatt forget? It isn’t the first time I’ve seen her wandering around. Or maybe she’s finding ways to escape to explore the area. One of the trophy wives Mom hung out with had a cat that used to run away a lot, but he always came home.

Just like Princess right now.

She seems to have something in her mouth. I look more closely, but can’t quite make it out. Maybe an old kibble?

She purrs softly and wraps herself around my ankle. Her warm body vibrates against my bare skin, making me smile. “Hey, beautiful. Haven’t seen you in a while.” Not since the day I first met Vi.