Page 27 of Fake Crown

“Posey Jensen,” she says. “I’m Brent’s wedding date. And you are?”

Guess she decided Val doesn’t love me after all. As an opening move, that’s a shot across the bow.

Posey

Ipick my way through the crowd to Brent, and I’m almost there when I catch a glimpse of a familiar brunette beauty making a beeline for him, dragging a guy who appears either stoned or drunk. She crashed the wedding with a date?

“That Brent’s ex?” Natalie Chapman, Sebastian Swan’s girlfriend, appears at my side.

“Yeah,” I say. “But I can’t figure out what’s going on.” Instead of continuing to Brent, I’m caught between assessing the situation and barging in.

Natalie nods toward the man on Valentina’s arm. “That’s Trevor’s cousin. I heard Imani and the wedding planner talking earlier about how he never sent in his RSVP and then showed up with a date. They were scrambling to figure out food and table settings.”

While Natalie and I chat, I search Val’s expression for any hint of longing or love. She’s doing her best to make Brent jealous, and her date is ogling her chest like it’s his job, but there’s no heartbreak there. Is that because she doesn’t believe they’ll stay broken up, or is Brent right and she doesn’t love him?

“Would she really put all this effort into finding a date and crashing the wedding if she didn’t love him?” I ask.

While we waited for the ceremony, Natalie and I became fast friends. She’s the kind of person I genuinely like. No pretense. No bullshit.

Natalie’s shoulder-length dark hair falls across her cheek, and she sweeps it back. “She’s been making a lot of money off her socials because of him, right?”

“Yeah. Influencer status. Without him, she’s got no platform. The only reason I followed her was to stare at him.”

“Does he know?” Natalie’s brown eyes light with amusement.

“Yep. I have no shame.” I give her a helpless look. “I’m a sucker for a hot body.”

“I can sympathize.” Her lips twitch.

“What impression are you getting?” I ask.

“From here?” She tips her head from side to side. “Possessive, maybe? She doesn’t look heartbroken or...you know, that feeling you get when you’re desperate for someone? I don’t see it. You can’t hide that. Leaks out of you. The worst kind of misery.”

My sister Julia’s expression after her friendship with Nick blew apart pops into my mind. Misery. That’s definitely what glazed over my sister like an oil spill. Sticky. Impossible to ignore. Thank god I’ve never been that desperate for anyone’s company.

Natalie’s assessment matches mine. Val wants him back, but it doesn’t have anything to do with love.

“All right,” I say with a nod. “I’m going in.”

“Get your armor on,” Natalie says. “Money is a powerful motivator, and she’ll think you’ve highjacked her gravy train.”

“I definitely took a ride last night.” I give her a sly smile.

“I wouldn’t lead with that.” She laughs and swirls the drink in her hand.

“In about two minutes, Brent will be shouting ‘shots fired’ in the ‘holy shit’ voice guys use when they’re impressed and terrified.” Val latches onto Brent’s arm, and that’s my cue to intervene. “Listen for it.”

“He’s not going to say that!”

I half-turn back to her. “I guarantee he’ll be thinking it. My pussy...cat is coming out to play.”

“Posey!” Natalie’s expression is part scandalized and part amused.

“Brent,” I call to give him a heads-up that I’m entering the fray. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” When I reach him, I ignore Val and loop my arms around his waist. He relaxes against me, and I cuddle in tight for a quick squeeze to let him know he doesn’t have to deal with her alone.

“Posey Jensen,” I say, and I extend my hand to Val. Whether or not she takes it will dictate how nasty this is going to get. The fury in her dark gaze is a clear indication she doesn’t see me as a nuisance but as a threat. Girl-on-girl hate is my least favorite, but I learned a long time ago to stand my ground. Being super social isn’t always a blessing. “I’m Brent’s wedding date. And you are?”

Above me, Brent releases a strangled noise. Yeah, Brent. I fired the first shot.