I reach for the card tucked between the flowers, and sure enough, the little yellow envelope has my name written on it.
Lincoln. Ugh.
My fake fiancé is a persistent bugger. Ever since I left him in the dust outside the restaurant a few days ago, he’s been blowing up my phone non-stop. As he should.
If I have anything to say about it, he’s going to grovel like he’s never groveled before.
My roommate plants a hand on her hip, not caring about the broth that’s dripping from the end of her spoon. “You’rethe one who’s been hiding a man. I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend, and now, I hear that you’re engaged?! And to Lincoln Raines?! What the hell? I thought you hated him!”
Oops!
Word gets around fast. Once Monica and Alba found out that I’m engaged to Lincoln, the news spread like a wildfire inside our friend group. I had to turn off my notifications for the group chat before the influx of messages could flood me with anxiety.
“It was…unexpected,” I tell Laney, turning my back on her.
I may be pissed at my so-called fiancé, but I’m itching to read his note. I tug the small slip of paper out of the envelope and unfold it.
Please take my calls.
—Lincoln
I scoff. Since I’m avoiding him, I’d bet he’s getting real nervous about closing his business deal right about now. Serves him right. The nerve of Lincoln Raines to disrespect me. And in public, too.
Oh, hell naw!
I’ll admit, I was more than a little butt hurt that he ditched me at the restaurant the other night. Even though Lincoln left more than enough cash to cover the mealanda delicious dessert—I might have splurged and ordered a second slice of tiramisu to take home—I felt supremely insulted by his actions.
Getting into a car with him after that wasn’t an option. It would have been easier to call Alba for a ride home, but I wouldhave spent the whole ride telling her what a poopy head her brother-in-law is.That would have totally blown up my fake marriage before it even began. So I opted for a taxi instead, and I’ve been avoiding Lincoln’s calls ever since.
“Trouble in paradise?”
I startle and turn around to find Laney peeking over my shoulder.
“Jeez, Laney!” I slap the note to my chest, hiding it from her prying eyes.
“What’s wrong? What did he do? Tell me if I need to round up the girls and our baseball bats and head over to his house.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I lie. “Just keeping him on his toes. You know me.”
Right then, my phone starts ringing on the counter. My roommate and I both peek at the screen.
Laney lifts an eyebrow. “Ooh. Speak of the devil.”
“Your soup’s burning, Snoopy.” I point my chin toward the stove where her soup is definitely not burning. I turn for my bedroom. “Excuse me.”
I hear Laney call after me. “Don’t let him off easy, Jules. Give him hell.”
“That’s the plan,” I say with a chuckle.
Lincoln may not know me well, but there’s one thing I need him to understand before we walk down the aisle. I may be desperate enough to marry him to get my trust fund money, but I’m definitely not going to let him trample my boundaries. His behavior the other night was disrespectful, and I will not entertain that.
Shutting my bedroom door, I answer the call on the fourth ring. “Hello.”
“Jules. Thank god. There you are.”
“I was never lost, Lincoln.”
“I know, I know. I just mean, at the restaurant the other night—”
