Page 84 of The Great Dating Fake Off
Benji is already in the event hall, along with, oh, two hundred other people. He’s seated at the massive bridal party table, black hair combed over like he’s actually trying today.
I try to catch his eye without drawing undue attention to myself, but he’s not checking the doorway.
This is the one time he’s not eying his escape—when I need him to.
Rosalina and Enzo are already seated on the other side of our big table, heads bowed together like they’re praying.
Rosalina does not look pleased.
That can’t be about us, can it?
I hover in the doorway for an unreasonable length of time as people pass me by on their way in. Speaking of praying, I send one up to the patron saint of lost causes that Benji will glance my way so I don’t have to go inside. He’s not making it easy to pull him away for a chat.
“Hey Nora!” Alessia slaps me on the back as she and Sebastian materialize to my right. They’re dressed like they are about to board a yacht, right down to the silk sash wrapped around Alessia’s hair.
“Morning,” I mumble. I can’t even look at Sebastian. He has no idea what we’ve done. Without looking left or right, I stride toward Benji as fast as my heels will let me.
I wish we weren’t seated with the bridal party. Everyone is here, present, accounted for.
My hand lands sharply on Benji’s shoulder. “Hey, can we talk?”
“There you are.” He keeps his voice low. “Couldn’t find you this morning. Jeez, loosen your grip.”
My throat is sandpaper. “Now, please? Outside?”
Mamma V rises from her seat one table over, metal chair legs scraping the floor.
Our eyes lock. My insides ice over.
“Why would you come here?” she asks.
A hush falls over the bridal party.
I take a step back.“Mamma”—I switch to her proper name, given the way she’s glaring at me—“Veronica, please.”
Benji looks between me and his mother. “What’s going on?”
Veronica looks from Benji to me, jaw setting in resolve. “I don’t relish telling you this, I really don’t, Benjamino. Especially today—this is supposed to be a celebration. But you have to know. Your girlfriend is cheating on you.” She flails her arm toward Sebastian, who has just landed in his seat across the table. “With him. A taken man.”
Each word lashes into me harder than the last. Her eyes flash more hurt than anger, but there’s enough anger to spare.
“What are you talking about, Ma?” Ro asks. “That’s a huge accusation to make.”
We have everyone’s attention in the room now. Benji might smother to death under the weight of it; another thing that is my fault.
I hazard a look at Sebastian, but he’s whispering frantically in Alessia’s ear.
Benji meets my eye, confusion drawing his brows up. “Huh?”
I shake my head no even though, well—yeah. I was with Sebastian. That is true. And now Benji and I will both pay for it at the hands of his family.
My chest is so tight I can barely breathe. I’m hurtling into a deep, dark well.
This will be the way I lose my first best friend. By doing him a favor and messing it up so spectacularly he’ll be dealing with the fallout for who knows how long.
My voice is weak. “I don’t know what to say.”
Benji’s gaze, ever studious, roams my face.
