He gives a slight nod.
Safe.
“Sierra, this is Alessio and his wife, Nina. Alessio and I work together.”
Work together.I bite back a smile at the understatement. Like they carpool to an office park instead of... whatever it is Matteo actually does.
“This is my fiancée, Sierra,” Matteo adds.
Neither of them look surprised.
Alessio extends his hand, a dimple showing in his cheek when he smiles. “Nice to meet you. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” My smile feels plastered on, but Alessio doesn’t seem to notice.
“We’re on a date,” Alessio says, turning back to Matteo. “Just wanted to come say hi.”
“No, you didn’t,” Nina counters, elbowing him. “Your exact words were, ‘We only have a sitter for one night, and I don’t want to waste it talking to someone I see every day.’”
Her impression of his voice is spot-on, and I laugh as Alessio glowers.
“I wanted to meet Sierra,” Nina says, squeezing my shoulder. “If you need help with wedding stuff, let me know.”
“Thanks. I will.”
After they leave, I turn to Matteo. “They already knew about the engagement?”
“They know the truth, Sierra. They know it’s fake.”
Oh.
Right.
Of course they do.
Something tightens behind my ribs. I take a sip of wine and blame the tannins.
It’s only my family who believes the lie. Only the rest of the world who will think this is real.
Outside, the city blazes with neon and noise. Tourists flood the sidewalks, phones raised, capturing everything. Matteo opens the truck door for me, and I climb inside, suddenly exhausted.
As we pull away from the casino, I steal a glance at Matteo. His jaw is set, eyes on the road, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Whether he expected any of this to get so complicated.
I know I didn’t.
When we reach my apartment building, Matteo turns off the engine.
“I’m staying over tonight.”
“Wow. Forward of you.” I press a hand to my chest. “At least you bought me dinner first.”
“On your couch.”
“And what if I say no?”
He turns to look at me, and something in his expression softens. Just a little. Just enough that I see the man beneath the scowl.
“Then I’ll sit in my truck outside your building all night. Your choice.”
