Chapter 1

1: 1

On her first day back in the country, my best friend was drinking herself into a mess over her first love.

"It's been three years, and I still can't forget him."

"But he's getting married next week. Tell me, should I steal him back?"

She was saying it to me, but her eyes slid past me to the man at my side.

Luke James swirled his glass lazily, though the hand resting on his knee was clenched tight.

I opened my mouth to speak, and a few lines of onscreen comments drifted past my eyes.

【This dumb side-character is actually comforting her? Her boyfriend's staring at the female lead so hard the look could pull threads.】

【The male lead only stayed with her three years to wait for this day. First love's back—who wants the stand-in now?】

【After tonight's drinks, first love takes her place and the tool girl can get lost.】

I froze where I sat.

Meeting her hopeful eyes, I smiled.

"No need to steal him."

1.

The moment I said it, they both looked at me at almost the same time.

Displeasure flickered in Eleanor Winfield's eyes. "Margot Henson, what's that supposed to mean?"

"We've been sisters for years. Don't you want me to be happy?"

When I didn't answer, she turned, and using the drink as cover, grabbed Luke's tie.

The distance between them closed in an instant.

"If she won't say it, then you say it."

"Should I steal you back, Luke James?"

She leaned hard on his name, drawing it out on purpose.

That was when the comments started scrolling like mad.

【Kiss her already! The leads have missed each other for years—what are they waiting for!】

【Nothing beats true love, I'm so here for it!】

【Why is the side-character still there? Can't she see he only stayed with her to keep tabs on the female lead?】

When their eyes met, I watched Luke's throat bob, clearly fighting for control.

I remembered how, every time we parted before, my page would light up over and over with his visits.

I'd thought he was just clingy, wanting to keep track of every little thing I did.

Now I understood. It was never about me.

Eleanor pulled the tie tighter, and only when they were about to press together did Luke push her away.

"You've had too much to drink!"

But Eleanor wouldn't let it go.

"I'm not drunk. You're the ones getting married. What's wrong with me just wanting back what's mine?"

"You two owe me a straight answer tonight."

Luke's face tightened for a second. He said nothing.

The truth was, I already knew he carried an ex he couldn't forget.

He'd tried to kill himself for her, and for her, he'd swallowed his pride and admitted he was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family.

What I hadn't known was that the woman was Eleanor.

Luke had never let slip so much as a word of it to me.

I had no interest in watching any more. I picked up the drink in front of me and downed it in one go.

"What I mean is, you don't have to steal him. She'll hand him back to you."

He clearly went still, but on reflex he still caught Eleanor as she swayed beside him.

Eleanor wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and threw herself at me, delighted.

"You mean it? No taking it back now."

I nodded.

Before I could say the words, never taking it back, Luke cut me off.

He frowned and wrapped his suit jacket around Eleanor, numb with alcohol.

"She's drunk and doesn't know what she's saying. Why are you playing along with this nonsense?"

"Let's call it a night. I have to head back to the office anyway, so I can drop her off on the way."

He settled Eleanor gently behind the passenger seat.

Only then did he turn back to me.

"Don't read into it. I'm only helping because she's your best friend."

He stood there, probably still waiting for me to lose my temper at him.

But he seemed to have forgotten he didn't know Eleanor's address. I'd never told him, so how could he possibly know it was on the way.

An excuse full of holes. I no longer cared.

I smiled. "It's fine. What you want to do is your own business."