Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
Knowing that his apology was sincere combined with the fact that she missed him was enough to make her smile. “It’s okay,” she assured him. “I’m sorry for being so mean.”
Relief washed over his face, and the Jude she loved reappeared. “Mean?” he teased. “It takes a lot to make me cry and you somehow managed to do it. I should have known you had it in you.”
Taliana laughed as she leaned forward to wrap her arms around him. “Now you know better than to get on my bad side.”
Jude chuckled and hugged her back tightly. “I’ve learned my lesson.” He laughed before pulling back again with a relatively serious expression. “Now that we’ve got the sappiness out of the way… What the hell is with this rumor I keep hearing about you and Sebastian dating?”
Taliana groaned and let her head fall back. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got time,” he insisted, patting her arm.
She shot him a stern look. “You have to promise not to repeat what I’m about to tell you.”
He held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
“I’m serious, Jude. You can’t let this slip.”
“I promise I won’t say anything. I know better now, believe me.”
Taliana took a deep breath, deciding to trust him. “Sebastian and I aren’t really dating. It’s all fake.”
“I mean, that’s obvious. I know how much you two hate each other.” He snorted but then frowned. “Why are you doing this, though?”
“To get back at our exes who hate to see us with anyone else but them,” she explained. “Zak hates Sebastian, and Blair hates me, so it works out perfectly.”
“But? you hate Seb.”
Taliana grimaced. “Okay, yeah, true. And I doubt it’s going to work, but it’s better than doing nothing, I guess.”
“Well, if you need any help, you know who to come to.” He dropped a kiss on her cheek and grinned. “I’m an expert in romance.”
“Stop kissing my girlfriend, Jude,” an amused voice said from the doorway. “I might start to get jealous.”
Jude and Taliana both glanced up to see Sebastian standing there with a tray of food in hand. “I see you two finally made up,” he murmured, sounding vaguely relieved. “About time. Jude’s been moping around without you.”
Taliana reached out to squeeze Jude’s hand. “How did you ever survive without me?”
“Good question.”
Sebastian looked nauseated. “I’ve just lost my appetite.”
Jude merely rolled his eyes. “I’ll take that as my cue to leave,” he said breezily. “Later, lovebirds.”
“Sometimes I can’t believe we’re actually related,” Sebastian marveled as they watched his cousin go.
“I have a hard time believing it, too,” Taliana agreed, grabbing what looked to be a chicken salad croissant from his hands and popping open the container. “I adore him, yet I despise you.”
Sebastian unloaded the food onto the table and dropped into his seat. “Well, I despise the both of you. Go figure.”
“That’s not nice to say about family.”
“Just eat your damn sandwich and leave me alone.”
For once Taliana complied with his wishes and enjoyed the food in front of her while he scowled and messed with his phone. It wasn’t until she was nearly done that his annoyance seemed to lift, a pleased expression taking its place.
“There’s a party tonight,” he announced as Taliana was attempting to get the last smidgen of sweet goodness out of her pudding cup.
“I’m not going,” she replied before savoring the last bite.
“Yes, you are,” he insisted. “We have to go together.”
Taliana frowned and tossed the empty cup in the wastebasket by the door. “But why? We’ve only been a couple for less than eight hours-and no one believes it.”
“Exactly. Which is why we need to cement the fact that we’re together. If we show up there, people will seriously get the message.”
Taliana grimaced when she realized, once again, that he had a point. “Well, shit.”
Sebastian laughed and turned his attention back to his phone, tapping out a message as he spoke. “The party starts at seven. I’ll be at your house at six-thirty.”
“Isn’t that a little early for a party?”
“Maybe party is the wrong word,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s more of a soiree.”
“Even better, some fancy fucking party,” Taliana muttered dryly. “Where’s it going to be?”
He checked his phone again. “On Oakley White’s yacht, so wear something nice.”
“Will jeans work?”
Sebastian shot her an appalled look. “You aren’t serious, are you?”
Taliana shrugged.
Now he looked like he was trying hard not to scream. “This is going to be harder than I thought,” he mumbled before looking wearily back to Taliana. “Please tell me you at least have a dress to wear.”
“Um…”