Faking Forever (First Wives #4)(23)

“Check out the balcony.”

Avery didn’t need to be asked twice. She wandered outside and tossed her arms wide. “A private pool?”

More like an oversize hot tub, but yeah. “A great place to wash the salt water off after a day in the ocean.”

“This is fabulous.”

They talked briefly about her flight and drive from the airport. Then the conversation turned toward the nonwedding.

“. . . so I had the bartender pour him several shots of mezcal, and before you knew it, he was passed out on the bar.”

“On?”

“I took great pleasure in thinking he was hungover the next day.”

They were sitting on their balcony, enjoying the ocean breeze and shade of the palapa.

“I didn’t know you had such a merciless side.”

“Me either,” Shannon said. “I kinda like it.”

Avery grinned. “You’re either getting to an age where pretending has grown old or I’m rubbing off on you.”

“I think it’s the former. I don’t want a child of mine growing up feeling like they have to hold their emotions back all the time.”

“Like we did.”

Shannon regarded Avery. “I doubt you did a lot of holding back.”

“Yeah, I sucked at it. Still do.”

“It’s served you well.”

Avery swung her legs over the chaise and stood. “Let’s find our swimsuits and hit the bar. See if there are any eligible bartenders.”

Shannon’s stomach twisted.

Avery hesitated. “Unless you’ve changed your mind.”

“No. Of course not.”

“You can, you know. Anytime.”

Shannon narrowed her eyes. “You came here to help me find a baby daddy, not talk me out of it.”

Avery held up both hands. “I know . . . but if you change your mind, at any time—”

“I want a child, and I’m not willing to wait for Mr. Forever to give one to me when he doesn’t seem to be out there.”

Avery stood. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

Shannon followed her into the room.

Let’s do this.



Victor sat on his perch, watching life go on without him.

Justin had left, the rest of his family . . . people he called friends. And he was on his honeymoon alone.

When he called his office and told his assistant to reschedule all his appointments, the ones he had no right having in the first place, Stephanie asked if he was okay. By now his whole office knew about his lack of a wife. He imagined the place would buzz with gossip while he was gone and turn to silence when he returned.

Hopefully by the time he flew home, he’d have his head wrapped around the entire ordeal and put it behind him.

He attempted to call Corrie once. Needless to say, she didn’t pick up.

Probably for the best. He wasn’t sure what he would say to her. As the days passed, he started to see the wisdom in his family’s words. He looked at pictures she’d taken of the two of them, mainly selfies she’d sent him in texts. Where he was starting to see a little wear around the corners of his eyes, she wouldn’t be looking for Botox for a good twenty years.

What had he been thinking?

His grand plan.

Get married, have a couple kids . . .

Coming home to a large, empty house every night had grown old. He’d managed girlfriends over the years, but few tolerated his busy work schedule. His ambition wasn’t solely on pleasing a woman. He treated them well, the few he’d seen a few months at a time. He wasn’t a cheater. In fact, he never dated two women at the same time, even if they were in a noncommitted relationship. It wasn’t his style.

Truth was, he didn’t have time to juggle women. Dealing with one was time-consuming enough.

Maybe Justin was right.

Maybe Victor needed to take a hard look at his life and see exactly where his priorities were.

Work.

It fulfilled him. Excited him to make deals and watch his portfolio explode.

It wasn’t like he’d grown up poor. His mom and dad gave them a comfortable life. Yearly vacations, sometimes road trips and camping, a few times they’d flown to his uncle’s home in Idaho.

When was the last time he sat in front of a campfire and watched the stars?

He’d liked that . . . once upon a time.

What happened?

He leaned over the railing of his balcony toward the party going on at the beach bar below.

People of all ages, families . . .

He heard laughter and found his eyes tracking the sound. Large-brimmed hats hid the features of two women sitting at the bar. They wore cover-ups over bathing suits. Long, tan legs peeped out from under the bar.

He liked long, tan legs.

What kind of asshole was he to think like that just days from when he was supposed to have gotten married?

He’d turned to walk away when he heard that laughter again.

A second look and Miss Tan Legs glanced around, exposing her face.

“What the . . . ?”

No way.





Chapter Nine

The bartender was cute, but not baby daddy cute, nor baby daddy tall. So since the man pouring the drinks was off the list, Shannon relaxed and enjoyed something fruity with coconut while Avery stuck to tequila.