But I sidestepped him without hesitation.
My eyes narrowed, and a cold smile curved across my lips.
"Do you believe me now?"
"Brian Delgado, let me make something crystal clear." I looked him dead in the eye, enunciating every single word. "I didn't get myself a male best friend to get back at you."
A beat.
"I did it to have a good time."
Within moments, heat rushed to my face, staining my cheeks scarlet. My breathing grew ragged.
I turned to Mervyn. "What are you standing around for? Go wait for me in the room."
Mervyn hesitated for a second, then nodded and did as he was told.
I swung my gaze back to Brian, amusement dripping from every word.
"Why are you still here?"
"Wait much longer and your precious Joan will throw another tantrum."
Before the reconciliation. After the reconciliation. It never mattered.
Joan always had to make herself the center of attention. The moment Brian was anywhere near me, she'd fake an illness, threaten to jump off a building, or dissolve into hysterical sobs. One stunt after another, each one designed to drag him away.
And Brian, fully aware it was all a performance, fully aware every word out of her mouth was a lie, chose to believe her. Every. Single. Time.