“It certainly does…” Alba throws Easton a discreet wink and he smirks in response.
“Yes! This one’s my favorite,” Lincoln says, looking proud of himself. “I love that Jules just says whatever’s on her mind. It’s refreshing.”
The happy couple trade another look. It’s the ninety-seventh ‘look’ they’ve shared during this call.
I can’t wait for this nightmare to be over.
From that point onward, Lincoln and I carefully skirt the difficult questions about our relationship.
Yet still, I feel like we’re not doing the best job of convincing Easton and Alba, so I keep trying to do little things that prove that we’re madly in love. I scoot my chair a little closer to Lincoln’s. I grin up at him every chance I get, well, at least until he points out that I have food in my teeth.
Then when I try to kiss him on the cheek, he doesn’t realize it until too late and ends up bumping my nose. Hard. My eyes start watering, but I blame it on being emotional about our engagement.
Lincoln also seems to be trying to demonstrate his love for me. I’msonot paying attention when he tries to move a lock of my hair behind my ear. All I see is a finger coming at my face, so I flinch and smack his hand out of the air.
We’re painfully awkward all evening, but we do our best to cover it up with forced laughter and lots of hand holding.Thatwe’ve figured out. But the sweet words and pet names? Not so much.
Alba and Easton continue to try and act supportive. But I know my best friend. I can tell she’s not buying it. I’m sure they have so many questions, but miraculously they don’t call us out on our shit. Not tonight, at least.
All that keeps replaying in my head is,I’m betraying my best friend, I’m betraying my best friend. I’ll owe her big time when all of this is over.
Eventually, we’re saved when their doorbell rings, and the happy couple mentions something about a pizza delivery. Lincoln and I quickly wrap up the phone call, relieved to be off the hook. For now.
Once the screen goes black, Lincoln lets out a breath that sounds tired and anxious. “Fuck. That was a disaster.”
I collapse back in my seat and stare at him. “How do we fix this? We need to get our act together before I introduce you to my great-grandmother. Because if we mess that up, it’s all over.”
Lincoln starts nodding. An idea seems to be forming. “Okay. Yeah. Okay. I’ve got it,” he says, his typical business tone taking over. “We need to go on a date.”
“A date…?” I echo, unable to hide the hint of revulsion in my voice.
“Dinner and a movie. Tomorrow night,” he announces.
I bolt up out of my seat. “What? Why?!” I’m annoyed at the idea of spending one more minute with this man than I have to.
He scrubs a palm across his forehead in frustration. “Because we don’t like each other, Jules. Hell, we don’t even know each other. And people are picking up on that. Unless we start building some kind of genuine…connection, this whole thing is going to fall apart.”
He’s right. I hate it, but he’s right.
“I’ll pick you up at seven,” he says, all bossy. “Bring something to take notes.”
I hear myself snorting. “Okay, wow. Way to sweep a girl off her feet, Romance Daddy. I’ll be sure to bring my sexiest notebook.”
He shakes his head. “Oh, you’ll be swept off your feet when you cash in that trust fund, Troublemaker. Just be ready. Seven o’clock.”
I glare at him as I turn and start walking toward the door. “Fine.”
Just as I’m about to stomp out of his office, he speaks again. “And Jules?”
“Yes?” I all but spit out, watching him over my shoulder from the threshold.
Mischief glints across his blue eyes. “Wear something sexy.”
A gagging sound flies out of my mouth. I can’t help it.
Something must be wrong with the man, because my reaction makes him smile.
15
