I hired a fake boyfriend for a Fourth of July party to face my ex—but what he did next shocked everyone and changed everything

everywhere.

Restaurants. Work events. His cousin’s birthday. Even to his mother’s house.

“Lucille used to model,” he told people.

Always loudly.

Always close enough for me to hear.

He brought Lucille everywhere.

So when Elaine, Ryan’s mother, invited me and the kids to her annual Fourth of July pool party, I said no.

“Maggie,” she told me, “you’re still family.continue reading …