Pretend You're Mine (Inked Hearts 3)

Then it’s the two of us.

Her in a short ivory dress that screams bride.

Me in the kind of suit I swore I’d never wear.

She looks like the woman I fell in love with.

Like she’s prepping for our wedding.

But I don’t want that.

Not anymore.

I’m not sure what the fuck I want, but I know it’s not that.

Chapter 25

Ryan

“She’s protective of you.” Penny’s fingers curl around the stem of a champagne flute. “It’s sweet.”

“She doesn’t trust you.”

“I wouldn’t either.” She takes a small sip of bubbly.

“You think you have to tell me that?”

“I trusted you.”

That’s not how I remember it. Not the last few years. It didn’t make sense then. I was always loyal to her.

But that didn’t matter.

Cheating wears down your trust. If you see a cheater every time you look in the mirror, you start to look for them other places.

If you realize you’ve been sleeping next to a cheater for two years…

I want to be able to trust Leighton completely. But, fuck, it’s hard.

“I didn’t trust other women. I knew how they looked at you,” she says.

“What are you getting at, Pen?”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

“I’m lucky to have her.”

“Both can be true.” She taps the bar with her French-manicured finger. “I thought about what you said.”

“You’re the one who said shit.”

“Okay. About what I said. I was too harsh.”

“You’re taking it back?”

“No. I meant every word. But it’s not fair for me to blame you for what I did. It was innocent with Frank at first. We were friends. But I realized I was falling for him and I kept meeting him for lunch. I kept crying on his shoulder. I kept soaking up every one of his secrets.” She sets her glass on the bar. “I knew what I was doing when I went to his place the first time. Deep down, I knew I needed to end things with you first. I really am sorry about that. I’m sorry I made you feel like it was your fault.”

I bring my glass to my lips.