I think this is a panic attack.

Addy had never had one before, or at least she didn’t think so, but couldn’t figure out what else it could be. Ever since she’d spotted Rosalie at the restaurant, already seated and looking like a deer in headlights herself, Addy’s heart had started to hammer.

She was simultaneously hot and cold at the same time. Her palms were coated in sweat no matter how many times she wiped them on Kenzie’s dress.

Addy could hardly keep track of the conversation. Not that she really needed to. Jack’s mom largely ignored both of them to fawn over Rosalie, whom she sat beside.

Jack was pressed against Addy, one hand on her thigh. He squeezed her hand frequently and leaned over to kiss her cheek or whisper compliments in her ear that she quickly forgot.

Any other time, and maybe it would have been comforting. However, it felt more like he was doing it for his mother’s sake than hers.

And maybe to make Rosalie jealous, she reminded herself.

Addy took a long swallow of rosé wine and watched Rosalie nod politely at Jack’s mom. Whenever she could, Rosalie would steal a look at Addy and give her an I’m sorry! look that seemed genuine. But who really knew?

She shrugged and smiled at Rosalie. It probably wasn’t her fault that she got roped into this. Still, she had to wonder if Jack was actually the one who’d invited Rosalie, or at least had easily gone along with it.

It was perfect, wasn’t it? If his whole goal was to make Rosalie jealous, what better way than to parade his “wife” in front of her along with his mother?

“Sometimes Jacob reminds me so much of his father,” Diana said with a sigh. “We sent him to space camp when he was twelve, and you’ll never guess…”

Since Diana refused to acknowledge Addy, she didn’t bother to listen in on the mundane stories. She felt a twinge of empathy for Rosalie.

It must be terrible to be stuck here listening to stories about your ex while sitting across from his wife, she thought.

The familiar beeping of a hospital pager interrupted Diana’s story.

“It’s mine,” Rosalie said before Jack could reach for his. “I’m so sorry, I have to get back to the hospital.”

“Who has the petite filet mignon?” A waiter arrived with four covered plates.

“So soon?” Diana asked. “Can’t someone else—”

“Mum, she’s a doctor,” Jack said. “She’s on call. You were a doctor’s wife, I know you understand this.”

His mother sat back in a huff as Rosalie showered down apologies.

“Don’t apologize,” Jack told her. “You were kind enough to even show up for this… whatever it is.”

Rosalie apologized once again, particularly toward Addy.

“I just… sorry, but I have to go. This was, um, thanks for inviting me,” Rosalie said.

She rushed away at a fast clip, and Addy saw Rosalie’s slender shoulders loosen and relax with every step away from this mess that she could get. She couldn’t blame her. In fact, she was jealous of her.

What I would give to get the hell out of here right now, too.

Diana sighed.

“Poor girl, she can’t even enjoy a nice dinner out. Well. At least she has a real career, though,” she said.

She eyed her steak without touching it.

“This isn’t medium rare,” she told the waiter.

“Ma’am, let me cut it open for you and check—”

“I said it’s not medium rare. Take it back. So, Addy, tell me again. What do you do?”

I didn’t tell you in the first place because you didn’t ask.

“I’m, uh, I’m a waitress—”

“She’s taken over her father’s restaurant,” Jack cut in. “Addy is acting as proprietor.”

“Hmph. Waitress, restaurant proprietor. Two very different jobs. I can’t begin to fathom which is true. Though I have my suspicions,” she said and gave Addy a look that chilled her to the marrow.

“Mum, I’m telling you—”

“Jacob, I’m tired. I think I’ll have the chauffeur take me to my hotel.”

“Your hotel? Mum, you just—”

Diana tossed down two hundred-dollar bills.

“Feel free to take mine to go in a doggy bag,” she said pointedly to Addy.

As soon as Diana disappeared from view, Addy couldn’t hold it in any longer. She looked to Jack, but when she opened her mouth the only thing that came out was a sob.

“Let’s go home,” Jack said.

“Where—is everyone leaving?” the waiter asked.

“Yeah, sorry.”

“This doesn’t cover the bill,” the waiter said, accusing. “What are you trying to pull? You can’t just order all this and—”

Addy was enveloped in embarrassment and madly wiped at her eyes with her napkin.

“Hail us a cab and run my card,” Jack said. “Consider the cash your tip.”

“Yes, sir,” the waiter said quickly.

“I’m so embarrassed,” Addy said as they got into the cab.

“Don’t be, my mom is a royal bitch. Always has been. You okay?”

“Just let me be for a minute,” she said.

She hated that about herself, how she could barely even speak when she cried. The ride home seemed to take forever with the cab driver unaware of the roadwork being done en route. Jack, thankfully, obliged her and didn’t press or ask any questions.

Finally, some peace and quiet, she thought.

However, it gave her time to dwell.

What the hell had he been thinking, springing his bitch of a mom on her? Why did he even have to drag her into it?

One thing was certain. No matter what, if she’d thought they came from totally different worlds before, this confirmed it. She hadn’t thought women like his mom actually existed.

Her embarrassment gave way to a fury that was fueled by anxiety.

Who the fuck does he think he is?

When they finally pulled up to the condo, she couldn’t get out of the taxi fast enough. Addy slammed the door behind her and left Jack to pay.

Just try to talk to me, she dared him in her head.

She went directly to the bathroom to scrub the makeup off her face and heard the front door shut as she toweled it off.

“Addy?”

She kicked off the too-high heels and barreled into the living room. “What? What do you have to say?”

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, clearly confused. “I warned you, and I told you I was sorry—”

“That doesn’t cut it anymore, Jacob. I’m not about to be part of your lifestyle choices anymore, okay?”

“Addy, what the hell is the matter with you? What are you talking about?”

“You think your mom’s a bitch? You’re one to talk. Where do you think you got your whole outlook on life from?”

“What? Don’t compare me to my mum—what’s gotten into you?”

“I see exactly where this is going.” Addy approached him. In her bare feet, she barely reached his shoulder but she was energized by sheer adrenaline. “The second I get to be old hat, you’ll just ditch me and move on to the next thing. It’s what guys like you do. It’s probably what you did to Rosalie, and then—”

“Whoa, hey,” he said and pulled himself up to his full height. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I have zero interest in hearing anything more about Rosalie, and even less about my mum. She’s toxic, poisonous, alright? I know that. And I didn’t even know she was coming here until an hour before she landed.”

“Jack—”

“No, you got to talk, you listen now. Maybe it was shit of me to spring dinner on you like that, but I panicked.”

“And Rosalie just magically happened to be there? To get invited? Even if your mom really is the one who invited her, you couldn’t—”

“My mum is the one who invited her. You can ask Rosalie if you don’t believe me. And you’re probably right, it wasn’t by chance that Rosalie was there. My mum demanded to go directly to the hospital. Hell, for all I know she called ahead to ask if Rosalie was working at the time. She already knew she was here—how she knew, I don’t know.”

“What? What the hell is wrong with your family? Is your mom stalking you, or what? This is exactly the kind of thing I don’t want to be in the middle of. I knew your family had money, but I didn’t know… this isn’t…”

“Addy.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t know what all my mum’s been up to. Honestly. But I can tell you one thing. If she knew she’d managed to start a fight between us, that would make her day.”

Addy exhaled.

“You’re right,” she said finally. “I know you’re right. But Jack—”

“No more talking.”

Addy let out a shriek as he picked her up with ease and tossed her over his shoulder.

“What are you doing—”

“No more talking,” he repeated as he carried her to the bedroom.