Page 13 of Dead to Me

“Nope.”

“Milan.”

“I just got here.”

“It’s important.”

“More important than my sister’s rehearsal dinner?”

His eyes narrowed.

“Depends on why you came.”

He was suspicious. Warren always thought he was the smartest person in the room. Men like him rarely noticed how foolish their confidence made them.

I leaned slightly closer.

“I came because my twin sister asked me to stand beside her while she married my ex-boyfriend.”

Warren watched me closely.

“You expect me to believe that’s all?”

“No.”

My answer caught him off guard. I smiled.

“I expect you to believe whatever helps you sleep tonight.”

Before he could respond, a glass clinked near the center of the room. China’s father-in-law stood beside the head table.

“If everyone can take their seats, we’d like to get started.”

People started heading to the tables. I moved past Warren, but he grabbed my elbow. A chill ran through me.

For a moment, I felt like I was back in that interrogation room. I looked at his hand, then at him.

“Take your hand off of me.”

He let go right away.

“I’m sorry.”

“Are you?”

“For that, yes.”

I winked.

“See you around, Warren.”

I headed to the tables and found my seat next to China. Malcolm was on her other side, and Aunt Renee sat across from us. Warren was two tables away. I could feel his eyes on me, and I hoped he kept watching.

Dinner started with salad, followed by speeches and more champagne. Malcolm’s best man shared a story about meeting China at a charity event. Malcolm saw her across the room and said, That’s the woman I’m going to marry.

Everyone laughed, including me. China glanced at me, and I raised my glass. She looked away before I did. Then China’s maid of honor stood up, the other one. I was just the ceremonial maid of honor, something else China hadn’t mentioned. Her name was Sierra. She was pretty, talkative, and apparently drunk, which was a risky mix. She started telling stories about China and Malcolm’s relationship.

“And of course, we all know Malcolm has technically known China forever, but timing is everything, right?”