“Yes,” Lexi says and clears her throat. “The first of January is fine with us, isn’t it, Tristan?”
I lift my eyebrows at her, hoping she gets my question here.Are you sure? Last moment to pull out?Lexi raises her hands in defeat and shakes her head. She has nothing more to say? I give her two more seconds. “Yes,” I say. “That should work.”
“Wonderful. You’ll have everything from me via email. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“We will, thank you.”
The recruiter disconnects, and I clutch my phone in my hand. “You know what you just signed up for, right?”
“A small moral conundrum? One that’s going to give me sleepless nights?” she says.
“Hopefully the idea of being engaged to me doesn’t give you sleepless nights.” Ofthatsort.Fucking gutterhead.I blame it on that prim and proper corporate suit she’s wearing.
“Ugh,” she groans and rolls her eyes. “It’s only three months, and we’re in this together. Nathan Beaumont said it’s a probation period. If all goes well, he could have a job for me in Massachusetts next year, but I’d go anywhere with them.” She slips off her jacket, tosses it on the sofa, and fans herself with her hands. “That’s all I want, Tristan—a job with Beaumont at the end of this—so let’s not mess this up.”
“Three months will fly by. You’ll see.” As for messing this up, that’s one thing neither of us can afford. At least I have a plan now when I call Nick back. And I can send Dad his fuck-off notice in the post.
Evan comes down the stairs, yawning. He has a dress shirt and tie on but is still in sleeping shorts and barefoot. Ah, the luxury of Zoom meetings. “What can’t you mess up?” he asks.
Lexi shoots me a look. “We just committed to the crazy,” she says.
“You did?” Evan’s face splits into a grin that could shred a pair of panties. That’s my bro. Naughty little fuck. He’s been rooting for this from day one. Makes me wonder what’s really going on in his head.
“Fantastic. Lexi, you’re employed and can now flip off St Chalamet in style. Check. Tris, you’ve got three months of endless diving and will meet your deadline. Check.” Evan looks like he wants to pat himself on the shoulder. “When are you leaving?”
The way he says it sounds as if we’ve overstayed our welcome. “We’ve been cramping your style, have we?” I ask with a dry chuckle.
“Nah, for real.”
“First of January,” Lexi pipes up, her voice small. “I can’t believe I signed up for it. I’m a good girl!”
“That you are,” Evan says with a tease, but his eyes are serious. “Just for the record, I wouldn’t let you do crazy shit like this with anyone but Tristan.”
“What?” Lexi sounds somewhat offended.
“I wouldn’t let you go to some random island in the middle of the Indian Ocean with just any guy. I know Tristan will look after you, so I don’t need to freak out when there’s no internet and I can’t get ahold of you.” Evan’s gaze meets mine. That grin is still spread on his face, but his eyes tell me everything he isn’t saying.Don’t break her heart twice.“I trust Tristan to take care of you.”
“I can take care of myself, thank you very much.”
Fuuuuck,Lexi. This whole situation has taken on a sexual edge, which she seems totally unaware of.I bet you take good care of yourself, babes, but I promise you, I can do it better.“I’m going to take a shower.”
Preferably a cold one. I’ve signed up to be Lexi’s fiancé for three months, and we haven’t discussed or thought about any of the logistics this is going to entail.
Chapter Nine
TRISTAN
“Oh, this is so wonderful,” Anita says as she pulls me into a side hug. Her other arm is around her daughter, so we’re basically making an Anita O’Reilly sandwich.
Lexi and Evan’s mom arrived from Alaska late last night, just in time for Christmas. She’s been teaching in a small town an hour’s drive from Anchorage for the past two years. Once her kids were out of the house and on their own career paths, Anita tackled her bucket list. Over the past six years she’s taught in three different states, exploring the country on her own terms.
“To think I don’t need to go to New York to see Lexi for the holidays. It makes for a nice change.” Anita gives me a last squeeze before she lets go. “Are you going to New York to see your dad, Tris?”
I reach for a beer as I gear up for the annual Anita O’Reilly Christmas update. “No, he’s spending the holidays in Europe.” With wife number three who is younger than me. I raise my beer in a mock toast. I didn’t ask what ex-wife number one and my two half-brothers are doing this holiday season. I’m Dad’sthird child, from ex-wife number two. “Can I top off your wine, Anita?”
“Thank you.” She picks up her glass from the table and holds it out for me. “And your mom?”
“I went to see Mom over the weekend. They’re taking the girls skiing as usual,” I say as I pour pinot grigio. “The triplets are seventeen now, and my mom’s eager for them to all be together one last time. Next year it will be a different story.”
