It was a ridiculous scenario. “You are never, ever going to do that.”
“I’m not,” he agreed. “But if you were to come to me on bended knee, telling me you were sorry, that it was all your fault, and that you thought we should give it another try, I’m pretty sure I’d at least think about it.”
“That’s your loophole?”
“So, when you say to someone—if you were to say to someone—that we both knew we had a lot of issues to work through, that the chances were slim, but we had discussed getting back together, it wouldn’t be a lie.”
“Technically, no,” she allowed.
“Precisely no.”
Her chest had gone heavy with pain. “And that’s what you want us to do? You want us to let the entire world think we’re giving it another shot?”
“Think about the benefits, all of the benefits. There’s Conrad, of course, and the wedding venue. But also Kayla and Matt’s emotional comfort. They won’t have to tippy-toe around us. Everybody at the wedding will be more comfortable. You and I won’t feel like we’re under a microscope.”
That was exactly how she’d expected to feel at the wedding.
“It’s traditional for the best man and maid of honor to dance together,” Evan continued. “Can you imagine what the guests would be thinking? ‘Is she frowning? Is he grimacing? What are they saying to each other? Are they fighting?’”
“You’ve given this a lot of thought.” She hated to admit that she had as well. She was trying desperately not to dread the reception, but she was losing the battle.
“I like to think I’m a realist, Angie.”
“You promised to call me Angelica.”
He gave a small smile. “I don’t remember promising. But now that we’re thinking about getting back together, you’ll have to put up with it for a couple more weeks.”
She glanced back down at the headline. “You really think we should do this?”
“It’ll be over before you know it.”
* * *
“What, exactly do you think you’re doing?” Deke asked as he strode into Evan’s office in Santa Monica.
“Manual labor,” Evan answered, holding one of the metal brackets for a shelving unit against the wall, his cordless drill groaning as he anchored the screws.
The door banged shut behind Deke, the blinds rattling with what was becoming a familiar sound. “I read the tabloid story.”
“I had nothing to do with it.” Evan reached for another screw on the counter beside him.
“You’re quoted in it.”
“Don’t believe everything you read.”
“So, you’re not getting back together with Angie?”
Evan thought through his words. “We’re talking. We’re thinking. We’re spending a little time together.”
There was a moment of silence. “Are you using recreational drugs?”
Evan snorted a non-reply.
“Seriously, Evan. Have you completely lost your mind?”
“No.”
“Then, what the hell?”
Evan immediately realized that deceiving Deke was never going to work. The only way he could pull this off was if Deke was in on the ruse. His friend knew him too well, and Deke would be around him too much this month to get away with lying.
He gave in. “Fine. Okay. It was a ruse to get Conrad to let us use his mansion.”
It seemed to take Deke a moment to process the statement. “You told Conrad you were getting back together with Angie.”
“It was the only way.”
“It was a stupid way.”
Evan smiled to himself, lining up the final screw. He drilled it firmly through the bracket and into the wall. “Well, it’s too late to turn back now.”
Deke crossed his arms over his chest. “I was your first phone call. Remember? I know the state you were in the day you and Angie split up.”
Evan’s hand tightened on the drill grip. “I remember.”
“It was a bad day, buddy.”
“No kidding,” Evan repeated.
It wasn’t a day he talked about. He refused to dwell on it. He simply pointed his life forward and took it one step at a time. He turned back to the counter and set down the drill.
Deke took a step forward. “You can’t go through that again.”
Evan retrieved a box cutter from his tool kit and set to work on the cardboard box that held the wooden shelves. “We’re faking it, Deke. Pretending to like each other. We won’t break up again, because we’re not getting back together.”
Deke followed Evan’s lead, locating another cutter and slicing through the tape at the opposite end of the long box. “You still like her. Hell, I think you still love her.”
Evan’s heart gave a little lurch inside his chest. “It’s impossible to love someone who doesn’t trust you.”
“Maybe.” Deke sounded skeptical as he peeled back the box flaps.
“There’s no maybe about it. I don’t love her.” Evan pulled away the packing tape and opened the box. The cherrywood planks were wrapped in bubble plastic.
“It’s not an on-off switch.”
“It’s a do-don’t switch,” Evan responded with conviction. “And I don’t.”
“I saw the way you looked at her last night.”
“That was lust.”
“So, you admit you’re still attracted to her?”
Evan knew there was no point in denying it to Deke or to himself. “I may not be in love with her, but I remember what she looks like naked.”
Deke cracked a smile at the answer. “I hear you. I’m still trying to find out what Tiffany looks like naked.”
Evan lifted the first shelf from the box. “Good luck with that.”
“She’s hot. And she’s funny. And she’s killer smart.”
“Angie’s going to warn her about you.”
“What’s to warn? I’m a perfectly nice, perfectly rich, perfectly decent-looking guy.”
Evan placed the shelf on the top bracket. “With a perfect track record of short, meaningless relationships.”
“See, that’s why I worry about you. You claim it’s lust, but you buy into the whole hearts-and-flowers thing. You, my friend, have a perfect track record of long, meaningful relationships.”
“I did it once,” Evan pointed out.
“With Angie.”
“Your point?”
“I don’t believe you’re over her.”
“I am.” It wasn’t like Evan had a choice.
“You’re going to get hurt.”
“I can take care of myself.” Evan might still be attracted to Angie, but he was a realist. He was going into this thing with his eyes wide open.
Deke handed him the next shelf. “Just so you know, when it all goes bad and you feel like you have to call in the cavalry—”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t call you.”
“What? No. Do call me. At least I’m experienced now. We’ll head over to Italy and rent a chateau on the Mediterranean. Jeez, Evan. Just because you’re stupid, doesn’t mean I don’t have your back.”
Evan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks, man. But it won’t be necessary.”
“We’ll see.”
The office door swung open, and both men turned toward the sound.
“Lex?” Evan spoke first, astonished that their former roommate was standing in his doorway. “I thought you were in London.”
“I heard you were starting over.” Lex glanced around the disorganized office. “You do know you can hire carpenters and decorators to do this kind of thing.”
“You can?” Evan dusted his hands on his blue jeans as he rounded the end of the reception counter.
“There’s this thing called Handyman Listing on the internet....”
Evan grinned as he reached out to shake Lex’s hand, clasping his shoulder at the same time. He hadn’t seen his friend in over a year. “I’m keeping myself busy. What on earth are you doing in L.A.?”
“Asanti’s holding some corporate meetings in New York.” Lex nodded to Deke and reached over to shake. “Hey, man. Good to see you again.”
The answer was ridiculous. It was clear to Evan Lex was hiding something.
He pressed. “So, you were just on the continent and thought you’d stop by?”
“Something like that.”
Evan turned to Deke. “You called him.”
“Of course I called him. You weren’t going to call him.”
“Because there was nothing to tell him.”
“You lost your job,” said Deke. “You lost your girl. And you’re all but destitute.”
Evan knew this had gone far enough. “I’m hardly destitute.”
Both men raised their eyebrows.
“Seriously,” said Evan. “You two want to compare the zeros in our bank accounts?”
Lex laughed.
But Evan wasn’t finished. “Deke might have a share in all those technology patents, but I know how to invest.” He looked at Lex. “And all you have is a salary.” Admittedly, it was probably a very good salary.
“And stock options,” said Lex.
“Yeah?” Deke asked with obvious interest.
Lex nodded. “In fact, I’m seriously thinking about cashing them in and buying the Sagittarius.”