Pretend We're Over (Pretend 2)

“It’s empty.” Sebastian holds it up so she can see it’s empty. She folds her arms, no longer having something to hold onto.

“Boden, I think you should start. Look at Oaklee and tell her how you feel.”

Nothing.

Sebastian takes a deep breath, and if possible, his voice gets quieter, calmer. All the muscles in his body relax as he speaks. “Tell Oaklee how it hurt to have her walk out on your wedding day.”

Boden glares at Sebastian. “It hurt like hell. I don’t know what has gotten into her. She can’t just walk out on me on my wedding day! I thought we were in this together, forever.”

“And I thought we had agreed to be monogamous,” Oaklee yells back.

They look at each other finally, and they’re definitely about to kill each other.

Good job, idiot, I mouth to Sebastian.

He ignores me.

“Thank you for looking at each other. Conversation works better when you are watching and listening to the other person’s feelings.”

Both of them bare their teeth to each other like vampires about to suck all the blood out of the other. I don’t think this is what Sebastian had in mind when he said that.

“Now, Oaklee, tell Boden how upset you were to hear that he kissed another woman last night.”

“I didn’t—“ Boden starts but shuts up when Sebastian gives him a look.

“I felt like he’s a lying cheating bastard! Like he never loved me at all,” Oaklee’s voice breaks as she says it.

I reach over and take her hand in mine and squeeze three times, our secret signal to tell each other we love each other and are here for each other. We got the idea from a Taylor Swift song and have been doing it ever since.

She squeezes back, sucking the sobs back down as she stands strong in front of Boden.

“You think I never loved you? Really, Oaklee? I loved you with all of my heart.” Boden steps forward toward her.

What is happening?

“Loved?” Oaklee asks through a terrified hiccup.

“Love—I still love you, Oaklee. I will never stop loving you. I fucked up. I thought you cared more about our wedding than me. I was stupid, and I made a drunken mistake. It doesn’t mean that I ever stopped loving you.”

I blink as I look between the two of them.

And then, before I realize what is happening, Oaklee releases my hand, and she jumps on Boden. His hands grab her ass. Hers go around his neck. Their lips hungrily devour each other in between I love you’s and I’m so sorry’s.

And then past it all, I see Sebastian. He’s leaning against the doors with a smug smile and cocked head as if to say, I gave you what you wanted. I got them back together, now what are you going to do for me?

I suck in a breath, but I can’t tear my eyes from him. I’

m hot and bothered. My panties are wet. My nipples hard. I want him.

No, it’s just because I’m going through a dry spell. That’s all. Sebastian King is hot, and he knows it. But I have to be attracted to the man underneath in order to sleep with a man, not just find him physically attractive. He’s cynical and has a cruel streak, not the type of man I want in my bed even for one night. I bet he’s a selfish lover, making it all about him, not even caring if his partner comes or not.

He strokes his stubbled chin with his hand. I know he shaved, but the stubble has started to grow back already. I can imagine it against my thigh, his tongue at my slit, his fingers in—

“Millie,” Sebastian says, breaking my trance.

“Yes?”

“The doors are opened.”