I Hired a Stranger to Be My Boyfriend and Found Strength I Never Knew I Had at My Ex’s Party
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As the party unfolds, I try to keep my composure while introducing my fake date, Jake, to my friends.
I stood by the pool, the sun beating down on my skin, and forced a smile as my friends gathered around us. “Everyone, this is Jake,” I said, squeezing his hand slightly. He flashed a warm grin that made my heart flutter, and for a moment, the world around us faded away.
“Oh, just a little online thing,” I stammered, avoiding their probing stares. I felt a bond starting to form as Jake engaged with them, asking questions, making them laugh. I glanced at him, and he caught my eye, that smile still lingering as he turned his attention back to my friends.
Each laugh, each shared joke, stitched a little more confidence into my fraying heart. He lifted a drink to me, like a toast, and I felt something shift inside me. For the first time in months, I could breathe.
Desmond continues to flaunt his relationship with Brianna, making snide comments about my appearance and Jake's presence.
Just then, I spotted Desmond across the yard, his arm slung possessively around Brianna’s shoulders. My stomach twisted. “Look at that,” he called, his voice dripping with mockery. “You really think that guy is into you?”
Brianna giggled, her laughter like nails on a chalkboard. “Right? I mean, you paid for him, didn’t you?”
A rush of heat coursed through me, and I clenched my fists at my sides. “That’s enough, Desmond,” I managed, my voice shaking but firm. “You don’t get to speak to me like that.”
He raised an eyebrow, eyes glinting with derision. “You’re not the woman I married. Look at you, standing there like a sad puppy.” My heart sank, the old wounds re-opening, raw and painful.
“You think this is funny?” I challenged, feeling Jake’s presence beside me. He stepped forward slightly, a protective stance, and I felt a spark of hope.
“It’s not a joke, Desmond,” Jake said, his voice steady. “You need to back off.”
Desmond’s face darkened, disbelief etched across his features. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
As Jake defended me against Desmond's insults, Desmond suddenly grabbed my arm, pulling me back, while Jake stepped forward, ready to confront him.
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