“Hmm. As much as I hate to admit it…you’re probably right. If he’s upset, there are feelings there.”
“Exactly,” I said triumphantly. “That’s all I need. That and to do exactly what he asked me to.”
“What’s that?”
“He wants to see me moving on.”
“Fuck off.” Max laughed, but it died away as I continued to stare at him. “Wait, are you serious? Are you going to date someone just to fuck with Ryan?”
“Course I’m not. You know Ry’s the only person I’m interested in.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“He wants toseeme moving on. So I’m going to let him see that. Hopefully he’ll realise that’s the opposite of what he wants.”
“And how are you going to do that?”
“By seeing if Mimic fancies gatecrashing another party with us,” I said. “I’ve already messaged him.”
“So let me get this straight.” Max ran a hand over hisface. “You’re going to take Mimic to a party you know Ryan will be at and make him think you’re together?”
I shrugged. “I’m just going to take Mimic as my friend. If Ryan thinks there’s more to it than that then that’s on him.”
“And the fact that you’ve chosen Mimic, who has zero concept of personal boundaries or space on a good day is…what, a coincidence?”
I smirked. “Call it what you like.”
“That’s insane. Do you think you’re being fair by doing this?”
“You know what they say—all’s fair in love and war.”
Max sighed. “As established, I can’t attest to whether or not that’s true. Not as far as love goes, at least. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope it stays that way.”
“It’s not all agony and heartache. I wouldn’t be pushing so hard for it if it was. The pay-off, being with the person you love, it makes everything worth it.”
“Problem is there’s no guarantee of that being the result.” Max gave me a tight smile. “And we both know that if I were in your position, my behaviour would match you in terms of toxicity and ruthlessness.”
I clinked my bottle against his. “Cut from the same cloth.”
Max nodded. “Poor Ryan. He doesn’t stand a chance.”
He didn’t. I was going to make that man happy, and I didn’t give a shit if that meant watching him marry someone else. I’d waited for him before. I could do it again.
Because I knew I was right.
Being with the one you loved in the end was worth everything.
5
Ryan
I’d love to say I didn’t think about Dominic over the next few days. That the conversation we’d had finally closed the door for me. That I didn’t remember how his eyes had glittered as he admitted just how fucking broken he’d been living with his dad. Or the hurt in his voice as he’d yelled at me for believing he was in love with Max.
I’d love to deny it all.
But that would make me as much of a liar as Dominic.
Didn’t help that Xander had called last night to wish me luck for today. He was pissed he was missing out on my engagement party as well as my stag do, but not as pissed as he was when I filled him in on exactly who had gatecrashed my life.