Page 226 of Accidental Husband

"You were gonna wait forever?" he asks.

"I wasn't waiting for anything. I just wanted to be around you." She takes his hand. "Then you and Penny broke up—"

His chuckle is low, deep. "That's a nice euphemism."

Everyone knows Ryan's story. He walked in on his ex balls deep in her khaki wearing coworker. She promptly left him for said coworker. Got engaged. Invited Ryan to the wedding.

That's where Leighton came in. They were already best friends. Coworkers—she used to run the front desk at Inked Hearts.

She volunteered to play his girlfriend, so he wouldn't be that loser who showed up at his ex's wedding single.

I guess pretending only stays pretend for so long. Because they got back from the wedding making out like there's no tomorrow.

They're an adorable couple. And hot too. He always kisses her like he's about to tear off her clothes.

Leighton clears her throat. "It was really stupid, insisting I play his girlfriend. But I couldn't stand the way Penny threw her engagement in his face."

"And you wanted to kiss him?" Jules asks.

Leighton blushes. "Well, that, um… it wasn't a completely selfless decision."

"You're so deceptive, baby." Ryan squeezes her.

Her blush deepens. "I was upfront. It's not like I thought the ruse would lead to this."

"Never?" he asks.

"I hoped…" She turns to us. "I always loved him, but I didn't realize I wasin lovewith him until I was really with him."

Jules nods.

"Was it like that for you? When did you realize you were more than friends?" Leighton turns to me. "Have you been watching her and her ex, pining all this time?" Her sigh is dreamy. "It's torture, until it's not."

I run my hand through my hair. It's a good question. It is. But I don't have a good answer. "It was always in front of my face." My gaze meets Jules's. "But I didn't realize it until that night."

"Me either." Her lips curl into a smile. "He was always Griff. My best friend. I never thought it could be more."

Leighton nods attentively.

Ryan whispers something in her ear.

Both of them fade away. All I can see is Jules's smile. Her gorgeous green eyes. Her joy.

This time, I kiss her like everyone is watching. Like my kiss is a declaration. Like I'm screamingI'm madly in love with Juliette King.

I am.

But, fuck, the word still makes me queasy.

"There's something about falling for your best friend." Leighton runs her fingers through Ryan's hair. "You know you can trust them to catch you."

He smiles at her.

She smiles back.

They giggle like middle schoolers.

"They invite you to an orgy?" Chase nods hello. He holds up his bottle of beer to toast.