"Getting there."
"Good. You're gonna need the distraction."
Grant frowned, even though he knew exactly where this was going. "From what?"
"From being everyone's plus-one." She said it with a laugh, eyes sparkling with mischief. Mark elbowed her.
"Hannah."
"What? It's funny! Jenna's list was hilarious."
"It was accurate," Mark said, giving Grant an apologetic shrug.
Grant forced a smile, even though his pulse kicked up. They had no idea. No clue that he'd just agreed to fake-date Riley. That he was already lying to them. "Glad I could contribute to the entertainment."
Hannah's grin softened. "Oh, come on. Don't be sensitive. It's all in good fun."
"I'm not being sensitive."
"You're doing the thing where you pretend everything's fine."
"Everythingisfine."
Hannah leaned on the table, studying him with that look she got when she was about to pry. "So. Riley's bringing someone."
There it was. Grant kept his expression neutral, even though his heart hammered against his ribs. He knew. He was part of it. And he was about to lie directly to Hannah's face.
"Yeah. I heard."
"You okay with that?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you two dated for, like, three years."
"In high school."
"Still counts."
Grant picked up another wreath and hung it on the display, buying time. "It was a long time ago, Hannah. We're friends. I see her every year. I'm happy for her."
Liar. You're such a liar.
The words tasted wrong in his mouth, but he kept his face neutral. Reliable Grant. Steady Grant. The guy who never complained, never caused drama, never made things difficult.
Hannah exchanged a look with Mark—the kind of look that saidhe's absolutely not fine, but we're going to let him think we believe him.
Except Grant wasn't fine for completely different reasons than Hannah thought. He wasn't heartbroken that Riley had moved on. He was panicking because he'd just volunteered topretend to be her boyfriend and had no idea how to pull it off without everyone figuring out they were full of it.
"Well," Hannah said, straightening. "If you need a plus-one for the reunion, I know someone."
"I'm good."
"Her name's Jessica. Works at the library. Super cute."
"Hannah."
"Just saying. Options exist."
