Page 49 of Miss Belief

Maxwell. Ah, this had to be the infamous older brother.

“I propose a toast.” He turned fully to face me and held up his drink.

The similarity to Reid was there in his eyes, nose, and full lips. Yet while Reid had a youthfulness in his face and kind eyes, Chance was definitely sharper in his features and harder in his edges. Rather than the freshly shaved and neat look Reid sported, his brother wore a five o’clock shadow.

My brow lifted along with the veil of pretense. This wasn’t a guy on whom I needed to waste any fake niceties. “A toast to what, pray tell?”

“How about to you being the rebound girl?”

At least his insult wasn’t wrapped in a fake smile. Just pure asshole laid out there for all. I held up my glass and clinked it against his. “How perfectly unoriginal. I have to say, having heard your reputation, Chance, I expected more from you.”

His jaw tic was immensely satisfying.

“You know, for a guy who went to all the trouble of breaking up Reid and Vanessa, I would guess you’d be happier to see me here.”

“Assuming you aren’t the same type?”

A humorless laugh was my response and I leaned in, so only he could hear me. “Don’t let the designer dress and overpriced shoes fool you. I’m nothing like Vanessa. For instance, I haven’t once thought of sucking your dick, and it’s been a whole two minutes.”

I slammed back the rest of my whiskey before giving him one last satisfied smirk and walking off.

Fuck him and the rest of this crowd. Jesus, was it any wonder Reid had moved to the other side of the world? After twenty minutes with these pretentious jerks, I didn’t blame him.

As I walked out to the terrace, my eyes found my date immediately in the group of men currently posing for a photographer. Over to the side were several women waiting their turn to join them. It took only a moment to find Vanessa.

She looked similar to when I’d seen her last year in Dubai. As much as I’d have loved to mentally pick apart her appearance, I couldn’t. She was stunning in a strapless black-and-white dress, her makeup was flawless, and her long blond hair flowed straight down her back. Whereas I was tall and curvy, she was petite and slender. If glamorous Barbie could come to life, Reid’s ex is what she’d look like, right down to the perfectly whitened teeth.

She was standing next to the bride and another bridesmaid. They were all staring over my way without disguising their disdain. Damn. I should’ve grabbed another drink to have in hand.

Despite their gaping, I didn’t bother to avert my eyes. It wasn’t my style to be intimidated or insecure in the face of scrutiny. Hell, over the years I’d perfected indifference.

“Hi, are you Teagan?” A voice from my left side belonged to a woman who appeared to be about my age. She had a kind expression and big brown eyes.

A friendly smile. Oh, how I’d missed thee. “Yes, I am.”

“I’m Ellen, Phil’s wife.”

The nice people Reid had mentioned. “It’s great to meet you.”

“You too. When Phil told me you’d be here, I was so relieved. Without you, I feared I’d be standing to the side like this a lot this weekend, all by myself.”

“Thank you for coming over here. It’s nice to see a friendly smile.” Ellen was adorable with her heart-shaped face and stunning olive skin.

She glanced toward the bride’s wedding party. “Believe me. Same.”

When the photographer called the group of women over to stand with the men, my eyes tracked Reid to gauge his first reaction to his ex. The stiff shoulders, the set jaw—I could practically feel the tension rolling off of him. Especially when they positioned Vanessa next to him.

Was there any question who he’d be paired up with to walk down the aisle? Unbelievable, though it really wasn’t unexpected given the bride was cousin to the woman who wanted him back.

I noted Vanessa’s gloating smile pointed in my direction as she conversed with my man.

My man?That was the whiskey talking. But he was my man as far as anyone else knew. As if sensing my annoyance, Ellen spoke again.

“I don’t know how you’re doing it. This weekend is bound to be hell for you.”

My eyes collided with Reid’s, and my smirk said “remember you’re my date for the weekend.”

I forced myself to relax my shoulders. “I’m sure making my weekend hell is her plan.”

“Just keep in mind who he’s sleeping with tonight. It won’t be her.”

Ellen had more conviction than I did.