I knew we should have practiced on the mailman.
If we can’t pull this off with our moms, we’re going to crash and burn before we even say ‘I do’.
There will be no trust fund. No fancy business partnership.
With these stakes in mind, I try to tap into my acting skills from my high school drama club. Dragging my chair closer to Lincoln’s, I make sure to send lots of giggles and googly eyes his way throughout the rest of the meal.
We have to make this work.
Cameron continues to be subdued as the meal draws on, but welcomes a hug from my mother as we’re leaving the building. When we’re all walking toward the restaurant’s parking lot, my mom politely pulls me aside.
“Jules, this is all happening really…fast. Are you sure you aren’t rushing into things with Lincoln?” she asks, her voice hushed.
“Of course not,” I answer way too quickly with a smile that’s way too big.
My mother stares at me for a long minute. I feel all itchy, afraid she’s going to see right through me. “I just don’t want you to make the mistakes I made and derail your life for a man.”
Mom’s vulnerability catches me off guard, sucking the breath out of my chest. I know all about the mess my father made of her life. But it’s not something she brings up often. I know she regrets a lot of the decisions she made in that season of her life, but she won’t fully admit it because those regrets led tome.
I pull my mom in for a hug, hating that I have to lie to her. But this is for the best. Once I have access to that trust fund, I can build up my business and take care of my mama the way she deserves.
“I know you love me, Mom. But believe me—I know what I’m doing.” As I speak the words out loud, I realize I’m also desperately trying to convince myself, too.
My mother sighs. “I hope you do, Julissa. I really hope you do.”
13
LINCOLN
After putting in a few hours of work, I make Cameron a snack and then I start to retreat back to my office. But then Jules crosses my mind.
Honestly, she’s been on my mind a lot all week. And not purely in relation to our upcoming fake marriage.
I find her…amusing. Chaotic—in an intriguing way. Undeniably sexy. And now that she’s about to become my wife, I officially can’t stop thinking about her.
So instead of heading straight back to my desk, I make a detour up the stairs and enter my bedroom. Dropping down onto my bed and getting comfortable in the quiet space, I dial her number before I can talk myself out of it.
She answers, and before I can get a word in, she starts rambling about our disastrous lunch.
“Well, that was a fucking shitshow, wasn’t it?” she blurts out. “I hate lying. Especially to my mom. I’m not even good at it. The whole time, I was scared that my pants were going to catch on fire. Or that my nose would start growing and growing and growing like Pinocchio. I could feel my damn blood pressure going up with every second that ticked by.”
As I lay there and listen, I find myself surprised to realize that I like the sound of Jules’s voice over the phone. Without her right here in front of me, rolling her eyes and giving me dirty looks, Jules sounds a whole lot…sweeter. Softer.
I close my eyes, hum in agreement with whatever she’s saying, and just listen to her speak. It’s a strange moment of calm after a week of chaos.
Hmm. This actually isn't so bad. Maybe I should just call her on the phone from now on. Less sass, more...voice.
“My gosh, Lincoln. Do you realize how close we came to blowing this whole thing?” she’s saying frantically. “If we can’t convince our own moms that this engagement is real, there’s no way we can pull this plan off. Everyone is going to see right through us. It’s going to backfire in the most epic way and…and…and…”
Jules continues her flustered rambling. I imagine her pacing around her cozy bedroom, freaking out and replaying every cringe-worthy moment of our lunch date.
Meanwhile, I’m wondering what she’s wearing.
My imagination envisions her in those lacy red panties from the night I spent at her house. Paired with one of her sexy, belly-baring T-shirts—no bra. I recall the dragon tattoo on the inside of her thigh. The silky mess of her hair. The sweet and spicy scent of her skin.
And my cock grows as hard as a rolling pin.
Focus, asshole.
