‘So, with Mimi’s arrangement. How is this thing going to work between us?’ He doesn’t look at me when he says it, cutting his tiny beef into tiny pieces instead and pushing it around his plate. The beef picks up the condiments likely only meant to decorate the plate while he does it.
‘I guess we’ll just have to make some public appearances.’ I cut another tiny piece of chicken and practically swallow it whole. ‘Convince people we’re in love.’
‘And will there be times like this? Where we spend time together behind closed doors?’
I shrug again. ‘I guess so? Not really thought about the ins and outs, to be honest.’ I push some of the pureed potato onto the end of my fork. It sticks to the edges of my throat when I swallow.
‘I think it would be good to have some ground rules.’ He moves his legs, his thigh bouncing off mine. I push back on my chair, growing the distance between us.
‘I agree. Ground rules sound sensible.’ I nod, putting my cutlery down and swigging my wine. ‘I don’t really want to lie to my family. I’ll tell them our relationship isn’t real.’
‘I agree. I don’t want to get my mum’s hopes up that we’re back together either.’
‘No heavy PDA,’ I rule.
‘That goes without saying,’ he nods. ‘I don’t think we need to be all over each other to convince people we’re in love.’
‘You read my mind. Only do what’s necessary.’ I chew a piece of chicken slowly and swallow. ‘I think it’ll be obvious if we’re too heavy-handed with it. People will know that’s not what I’m like.’ I tap the end of my fork against my plate. ‘And no being seen with people who aren’t each other… where it could look like “cheating”, a different romantic partner kinda thing.’
‘Clunkily worded, but I agree.’ Luc cracks his fingers.
‘I think that about covers it,’ I say, with my mouth full.
‘What about an end date?’ Luc asks, using his hand to cover his mouthful of beef.
I frown and scoop more pureed potato. ‘An end date?’
‘Yeah, I mean. We can’t keep going forever… At what point do we fake break-up?’
‘You’re right. I’d not thought of that.’ I run my hands through my hair and push at my scalp with my fingertips. ‘Probably when the UK leg of the tour ends, and I can disappear into the background for a bit. People might forget, or they’ll probably be uninterested by then.’
‘That’s nearly nine months away.’ Luc shakes his head. ‘What, do you expect me to be celibate for nine months?’
I brush off the prickly feeling snaking across my body. ‘I never said you couldn’t see other people,’ I protest. ‘I just said you can’t be seen with them in public.’
‘What if I meet the love of my life?’
‘Do you plan on meeting the love of your life in the next nine months?’
‘Well, no. But these things are never planned, are they?’
A punch in my gut. I shake it off. I’ve been through this before and survived it, when he met and fell in love with Rose. I can do it again. If I keep myself distanced from him.
‘Okay, well… What do you say about a fake break-up at the beginning of the tour? End of October?’
Five months to change the tide of public opinion on myself. Five months to look steady.
I can practically see the cogs turning in his brain.
‘Sounds fine,’ he says.
‘Mimi would probably prefer we don’t have an end date. She’s probably hoping we actually fall in love, and you makeme the perfect family woman. Marriage, kids, house in the countryside.’
Luc nearly chokes on a carrot. ‘We both know that isn’t going to happen.’
At least we’re on the same page.
CHAPTER 5
