1: Meeting The Ex


    Addison


    “Addison, you made it!”


    Marco, my ex of five years, whom I was still very much in love with— pulled me into a tight hug as soon as he emerged from therge building I just arrived at, and I literally melted against him, my eyes fluttering close as I clutched him tightly.


    Warmth instantly coursed through my body and the entire world went silent like it usually does whenever he hugged me.


    Marco and I dated since highschool, but ended things right after I clocked twenty— I caught him in bed with Aisha, a woman he always imed was just his friend, then he asked to end the rtionship with me right after, without reasons.


    Five yearster, he’s about to get married to that same woman, and I was attending as a guest, even though I never got over him and still loved him with everything in me.


    No, I wasn’t here because I wanted to ruin the wedding. That would only reveal how pathetic I am this whole time. I was here because now, Marco and I have somehow moved past the unexpected breakup and have be good friends, which is why it would be weird if I refuse to show up at his wedding.


    His wedding is in five days, but I was here today because the couple’s close friends were invited five days earlier so they could have onest fun together before the couple get married.


    After a few seconds, my best friend’s warnings to not dare act like I was still not over Marco, snapped through my brain and my eyes flew open as I stiffened. At the same time, Marco broke the hug and grinned down at me, and at once, butterflies danced around in my stomach as his excited gaze dragged over my face.


    He was so handsome and dreamy. With chocte brown hair, matching brown eyes and chiseled cheekbones, he haunted my thoughts throughout the day, and my dreams at night.


    “Of course I did! Wouldn’t miss my buddy’s wedding for the world.” I breathed out as rehearsed with Gregg– my best friend, but my voicecked the enthusiasm and yfulness it was supposed to have. Instead, it even cracked a little at the end.


    I was really so pathetic.


    Marco thankfully didn’t notice and hugged me tightly again. Of course, I greedily soaked up the physical contact while my heart fluttered again


    This time, as the hug ended, his fiancée sauntered forward and pointedly pressed into his side while politely sizing me up, and I felt my heartbust when he draped a hand over her shoulder and pulled her closer.


    Jealousy and anger licked at my insides as I stared at the sight before me.


    Aisha.


    I hated her so much, and I was sure she hated me even more but only tolerated me a little since I was now Marco’s ‘friend’.


    She stole what belonged to me. I was with Marco when he had horrible braces and an average height. I deserved him at his best now, not her.


    But of course, I didn’t say that to her, instead, I forced my aching pain behind my mind, then I forced an excited smile on as I spoke.


    “Congrattions on your wedding!” I greeted her as cheerfully as I could in my jealous state.


    Instead of responding, she scrunched her nose up.


    “Where is your date?” She asked as she regarded me almost condescendingly through her perfectshes.


    Shit! I knew this wasing, I just didn’t expect her to ask so fast.


    This wrench.


    Marco nced at me like he just noticed that I was alone, then he- heughed with his head thrown back.


    I awkwardly cleared my throat, ignoring the wave of hurt that came over me any time Marcoughed at me, because whenever he does, it was because he found me ridiculous. I worked hard in the years after we stopped dating, in order to level up so whenever he looked at me, he wouldn’t see someone silly and ridiculous, but an actual woman meant to be desired and yearned for.


    “My date… something came up and he couldn’t make it.” I half lied in a firm and confident voice, but my confidence ttered at the amused expression on Marco’s face, then I pstiffened when heughed again.


    “Did you even n toe with a date, hm? When was yourst rtionship? Ours?”


    Ouch.


    That was such a low blow, which hurt even more because it wasn’t a lie. It was actually the truth. After my rtionship with him, since I never got over him, I was never able to get into another because I always unconsciouslypare everyone else to him.


    I swallowed emptily, making sure nothing on my face was giving off how much I was hurting on the inside as I spoke.


    “I’ve dated a few times… but you know I’m always too busy to date.” I exined, but Marco onlyughed again, which infuriated me even more— because me being single andcking a date to attend his own wedding, is technically his fault.


    I was feeling more infuriated right now, because my initial n was to avoid an encounter like this. I know that to show everyone that I’ve gotten over Marco, I was supposed to show up with someone who’s utterly obsessed with me like I am with him.


    And that’s exactly why I nned toe to this wedding with a fake boyfriend, but unfortunately for me, he didn’t show up at the airport today… which is why I’m here alone, having a very mortifying confrontation.


    Marco looked over at Aisha. “Remember that time Addison and I dated? She loved me so much, way more than I loved her. Perhaps she’s yet to move on despite it being so, so long.” His animated voice made it clear that he was just teasing, but I felt extremely embarrassed because all of that wasn’t exactly a lie.


    “That’s not true! I’ve really gotten over you.” I argued vehemently, then I made a show of rolling my eyes.


    “Seriously, it’s been what? Five years? Who wouldn’t be over their ex after this much time?” I drawled while forcing out augh.


    Aisha gave me a skeptical look. “Last I remember, you were so in love with him, he stalked him for over a year.” She pointed out as she gave me a scalding once over.


    Hot shame washed over me. That’s a phase of my life that I’ve buried in the past, fuck her for daring to bring it up.


    Marcoughed while nodding. “Ah, you’re right. She always showed up at every party we were at, it was actually adorable.” Heughed again but Aisha scowled while shaking her head.


    “No, it wasn’t. It was annoying and creepy!” She muttered while ring at me.


    I let out a small sigh. She wasn’t lying. Right after my breakup with Marco, I stalked his socials and always made sure to get an invite to any party he gets invited to back in uni, even though I hated parties.


    “Those were just coincidences, and it’s a school, of course we’d run into each other. It’s not a big deal.” I defended but Marco clicked his tongue.


    “Parties aren’t your scene, which made the stalking obvious.”


    I shook my head vehemently, hating how on the spot I was and also feeling extremely embarrassed for being called out like this.


    “Parties are my scenes once in a while, and I never stalked him. Why are you bringing this up now? Marco and I are nothing but friends now and you know that.” I said to Aisha who huffed as she folded her arms.


    “I just don’t want you to get any funny ideas, that is all.” She bit out, a pointed look on her face as she stared at me.


    I made a show ofughing as I waved her off. “Trust me, that’s never happening. I literally ship you and Marco now. And besides, I’m sure my boyfriend will be here soon.”


    I just lied. I didn’t know if Zane, my fake boyfriend wouldter show up. He waspletely unreachable this morning, and he left my calls and that of my best friend unanswered. We were supposed to fly here from LA together, but he never showed up at the airport as nned.


    Fucking bastard. If he knew he was gonna bail, why did he have to agree to this?


    I should have known this n wouldn’t work out from the moment my best friend suggested it. He suggested I attend the wedding with a date to avoid losing face, and he’s the one who also suggested I go with his friend Zane, who owed him a favor.


    Zane looked hot enough in the picture Gregg showed me, so I gave in. Zane also agreed to do it and we exchanged contacts and exchanged a few words, then we agreed to meet for the first time at the airport today— but he didn’t show up.


    “Just, be sure to not try anything funny.” Aisha finally said just as Marco tugged her close and kissed her cheek, and at once, my blood boiled at the sight.


    “She’s just here to support us, love.” Marco finally defended me and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.


    This was how it always was even back when we were dating.


    Whenever Aisha criticized my outfit or appearance, it always took Marco a conveniently long time to defend me. I should have known since then that they were more than friends.


    But I was too stupid to see the truth till it all crashed around me.


    Marco and Aisha finally turned away, leading the way into a ridiculouslyrge building. It’s on a tropical ind that Marco said now belongs to him after he inherited it from his father.


    As I walked behind them, dragging my box along with me, a few excited hoots filled the air and I flinched a little, startled by the sight of about ten faces— most of which I recognized, because they were friends of Marco since our uni days.


    They all came over to wee me, and as we all hugged, I had to suffer through another round of humiliation, because long, knowing looks were being thrown by the guys between myself and Marco, cause they all knew how much I loved Marco back then.


    How mortifying. I wished the ground would open up and swallow me up, especially when one of the guys named Seb, suddenly said out loud.


    “You’re really here, Addison? Does this mean you’re finally over Marco?”


    “You know that’s impossible.” Eddie, a different buddy of Marco, crooned and they both crackled, while I tried not to show how much their words made me feel so pathetic and stupid on the inside.


    I nced around, feeling a little relieved that Aisha wasn’t here presently— else she’d have undoubtedly instantly joined in.


    “Guys, guys… Addison is just here to support me.” Marco finally said, conveniently taking his time as usual.


    “We were just teasing, even Addison could tell. Right, Ad?” Seb said, a teasing expression on as he nced at me.


    I forced a chuckle out while nodding. “Of course, Seb. You look good, by the way.”


    He grinned, soaking up thepliment.


    “You look good too,pared to how horrible you looked back in uni! Who knew you could get this much of a glow up?”


    Ouch. His words stung hard.


    “It’s not much of a difference, her wardrobe is yet to improve much, but she does look good.” Nathan, a different friend of Marco pointed out as he sauntered in shirtless, his date hanging off his arm in a daring bikini.


    Internally, I let out a long sigh.


    Clearly, I didn’t think this through properly, cause itpletely slipped my mind that they’d all be here. They were all in a fraternity back then and clearly, they were all still used to being loud, unserious and silly when around each other, even though they were now all grown ups.


    Perhaps I really shouldn’t havee like everyone in my life— including my mother, had suggested when they heard whose wedding I was attending, because unfortunately for me, they’re all aware that I was still not over Marco despite how much I always deny it.


    After asking to be shown to my room, I expected Marco to do it, hoping that we’d finally get some private time together and I could get one more hug from him at least.


    However, he absentmindedly asked one of his friends to do it.


    As I trudged behind Theo, hiding my pain and scowl, I silently vowed to myself that I was gonna show them all that I’ve indeed moved on, even without the help of a fake boyfriend, because I


    As I trudged behind Theo, hiding my pain and scowl, I silently vowed to myself that I was gonna show them all that I’ve indeed moved on, even without the help of a fake boyfriend, because I wasn’t betting on him showing up.