1
There are a few things in life I know for sure.
1. Brunch is overrated unless there's unlimited mimosas.
2. Weston Hale was put on this earth to drive me insane.
3. Running into my ex-boyfriend's girlfriend while fake dating said menace is the definition of bad luck.
And yet, here I am. Living my own personal nightmare.
Ava is gone now, but her words still cling to me.
"I always thought you and Ethan would end up together."
I should be over it.
Should be.
But then I see him.
Ethan Montgomery, in all his golden-boy, I-was-the-one-that-got-away glory, standing at the hostess stand like the universe is personally taunting me.
I grab Wes' wrist, probably leaving bruises. "We're leaving. Right now."
Wes looks entirely too entertained. "Why?"
I shoot him a glare. "Because Ethan just walked in."
He hums, annoyingly calm. "So?"
"So?" I whisper-hiss. "I do not need my ex seeing me right now."
Wes raises a brow. "Because?"
I grit my teeth. "Because I'm supposed to be winning the breakup."
He grins. "I see."
"What?"
"You're embarrassed."
I scowl. "I am not."
"You are," he says, enjoying this way too much. "You still care what he thinks."
I open my mouth to argue, but before I can, Ethan sees me.
And then—because the universe wants me to suffer—he starts walking over.
I panic. Hard.
"Wes," I whisper. "Do something."
He smirks. "Anything?"
"Yes. Anything."
And that's how I end up with Weston Hale's lips on mine.
2
Time stops.
Or at least, it feels like it does.
Because one second, I'm panicking, and the next?
Weston is kissing me.
And the worst part?
I kiss him back.
I don't mean to. It's pure instinct. A reaction to the way his mouth moves against mine—confident, slow, devastatingly good.
His hand cups my face, fingers grazing my jaw, tilting my head just enough to deepen the kiss. And suddenly, I forget where we are.
Forget why we're even doing this.
Because for a split second, I swear—**I swear—**it feels real.
Then, just as quickly, he pulls away, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"There," he murmurs, voice low. "That should do it."
I blink. My brain short-circuits.
What?
What just happened?
Oh. Right. Ethan.
I tear my gaze away from Wes and turn, still dazed.
Ethan is standing a few feet away, brows raised, mouth slightly open.
Mission accomplished.
I clear my throat. "Ethan. Hi."
He blinks, regaining his composure. "Hallie. I—wow. I didn't realize you and Wes were... together."
Wes slings an infuriatingly casual arm around my shoulders. "It's new."
Ethan's eyes flick between us. "Huh. Well... congrats, I guess."
I force a smile. "Thanks."
He hesitates, like he wants to say more.
But before he can, Ava appears at his side, looping her arm through his. "Babe, we should go—we're already late."
Babe.
I ignore the way my stomach twists.
"Right," Ethan says, giving me one last look before turning away.
I exhale.
Crisis averted.
Then I realize Wes is still touching me.
And that I can still feel his lips on mine.
And that I am completely, utterly screwed.
3
"So," Wes says as we walk outside. "That was fun."
I glare. "Fun?"
He smirks. "Yeah. I think I deserve a 'thank you.'"
I stop in my tracks. "For what?"
"For saving you."
I stare at him. "Wes, you kissed me."
"You told me to do something."
"I meant like—literally anything else."
He shrugs, looking obnoxiously pleased. "It worked, didn't it?"
I scowl. "You're enjoying this."
He leans in. "Maybe a little."
I shove him.
He laughs.
And I hate the way the sound sent thrills up my spine
I hate it so much.
4
I spend the rest of the day avoiding my feelings.
And by "avoiding," I mean spiraling.
Because here's the thing:
That kiss?
Was good.
Too good.
And now I can't stop thinking about it.
The way his lips felt. The way he touched me like he meant it. The way it made me feel wanted in a way I wasn't expecting.
No.
Nope.
I refuse to be the girl who catches feelings for her fake boyfriend.
I won't do it.
So, I do what any sane person would do.
I call my best friend.
5
"Wait." Violet sounds way too amused. "He kissed you?"
"Technically, I kissed him back," I grumble, flopping onto my bed. "By accident."
She snorts. "Sure."
"Vi."
"Hallie."
I groan. "What does it mean?"
She hums. "Depends. Did it feel fake?"
I open my mouth. Close it.
Damn it.
"No," I admit.
She gasps. "Hallie."
"It's fine." I wave her off. "We're fake dating. Things like this happen."
"Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that."
I roll onto my side. "I'm serious."
"Okay." She pauses. "So... what are you gonna do about it?"
I blink.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yes." I sit up. "It was one kiss. We move on."
Violet does not sound convinced. "Alright. If you say so."
I nod firmly.
This is fine.
I am not catching feelings for Weston Hale.
Not now. Not ever.
...Right?