Page 3 of The Fake Husband Deal

Adam deflated while Victoria’s smile couldn’t have gotten any wider.

I’d always gotten the impression Victoria didn’t like River. Why? I didn’t know.

“Congrats, dude. You make a great couple,” River said before thanking my mom for the food and leaving.

In the scramble for hugs, I followed Lex, who tried to sneak away unnoticed.

I gave his old bedroom door a knock before walking in. He stood by the window looking out.

“Hey, you okay?” I asked.

“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”

“It’s okay if you’re not, you know? Feeling happy for Adam doesn’t mean you can’t also feel sad for yourself.”

A year ago, Lex’s boyfriend ghosted him just after he proposed. Lex had been a shadow of his old self since. He’d lost his lightheartedness, and some days, he seemed so sad and lonely that I worried he’d never recover from the heartache.

“Adam deserves to be happy. I don’t want to cloud his celebration.”

“Hey, how about we go out tonight? I’m sure I saw something at Tanner’s about a long happy hour today.”

“Nah. I’m heading home after this. There’s some work I want to catch up on.”

I squeezed his shoulder and left him. On my way downstairs, I met Adam coming up, so I pulled him into my old room.

“Dude, congrats. I’m happy for you and Victoria, but couldn’t you have given Lex a heads-up?”

To his credit, he looked genuinely regretful. “It all happened so quickly. I proposed this morning, and Victoria said we should tell my family first. When I called Lex earlier, he didn’t pick up, and I didn’t want to do it over voicemail. Is he…really upset?”

“He’s happy for you, but it’s not easy for him, you know? You’re having what he thought he would have a year ago, and you two are so close.”

He dropped on my bed. “I know. I’ll talk to him. And how about you? You haven’t said much.”

And there was the dreaded question.

“Honestly, dude? I think it’s too early. You barely know her.”

“How can you say that when only a week ago you were moaning that I’ve missed the last two Friday drinks at Tanner’s because I went out with her?”

He got me there. “There’s spending time with someone and knowing them. How many family meals has she been to? And when she has been to them, she…hasn’t belonged.”

“How do you know what it’s like when someone belongs? When was the last time you brought someone home to meet the family? Oh wait, that’s never. The next time you turn up to the family dinner not stinking like a cheap hookup, I’ll take your concerns a little more seriously. Until then…” He stood, but Igrabbed his arm and hugged him, brushing off his hurtful words like I was coated in Teflon.

“I love you, little brother, and I’m really proud and happy that you and Victoria are ready for the big M, even if I don’t understand it. Just name it, and I’ll be there for you every step of the way. Maybe don’t get me to organize your bachelor party.”

I relaxed when he hugged me tight. “Thank you, Noah. And don’t worry, that’s a River job, and he’s not getting out of it.”

Judging by the look on River’s face after the announcement, I wasn’t sure about that, but it wasn’t my business.

Maybe River liked Victoria even less than I did, but I would be a good, supportive brother.

First, I just needed to make my excuses to leave so I could go to Tanner’s for one—or ten—stiff drinks.

Lior

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

In the four weeks since my father passed, I’d heard those words more times than I could count. Only a handful of them had been said with genuine care.