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Chapter 1

Jackson

Stunned, I bangaround et back to work and walk outside Once I’h away, I put the phone back to my ear and holler atmy ex-fiancée as your date for the Halloween party?”

He sighs deeply and I instantly know that soht Ford would never betray ht someti went doith my ex, Emily He finally mutters into the phone, “Look, Jackson, you know I don’t want to do this All I can tell you is this is soo to this party with her”

Why would he need to do this for work? I think to ood person, but not anyet mixed up with her?

He et tired of my silence His voice is deflated on the other end “You know that I don’t want to do this, bro I kno bad this is going to look But I have to do this It’s just part of my job… and before you ask, I’ve already said toois not what it looks like”

I release the breath I’ve been holding “Okay Fine But I’ to be there to see it I’ll just skip this party”

He laughs into the phone, pissingto tell Mo out on her annual Halloween party? Make sure I’m there when you tell her I would love to see et his ass kicked by Mom”

“Fuck,” I hBye, fucker” I hit the end button and clench htly closed

I hear leaves crackling behindat et back to work”

She laughs “Yeah, I always do what you tell uess you just found out that Ford is bringing Eht”

I nod my head “Yep Is Mom pissed?”

“Yep, but she promised Ford she would be nice I know this sucks, but you know there has to be a reason he’s doing this”

I shrug ht the sa, but it doesn’t make it any easier I haven’t seensex with another man

Lost inthere until she starts juether “I have the perfect solution You need a date for tonight”

Interrupting her, I start to walk past her into the house “I definitely don’t need a date”

She grabs on to my arm to stop me “Yes, you do Hear et yourto approach you if you’re there with another woman” When I still don’t respond to her, she puts her hands on her hips, cocks her head and says, “This is better than standing in the corner, ht”

I put ht in the eye I know that Abby has been worried aboutto have happened At least I found out before we got married But Abby thinks I still love E if I ever did in the first place “Listen to s for Emily I’m over her I was over her the second I saw her with thatabout me”

She finally nods, and I hope she kno sincere I ao with a date And I have the perfect wo into town tonight She will be your date She didn’t want to be a third wheel with me and Derrick anyway”

I try to reirl But other than that, I don’t remember much about her I think about it for a ht It wouldon this date with her et back to work, I’ll do it”