Nikki, however, got a calculating look in her eyes. "If we agree, will you promise to keep us posted on how things go when Paige meets your mom?"
Gabe locked gazes with Paige whose face was filled with apprehension. Finally, she nodded and shrugged one shoulder. He didn't want to talk about his mom with these people, but if it was the only way to keep Nikki quiet, he had to agree.
"We'll keep you posted." He clapped his hands then rubbed them together, putting an end to this ridiculous conversation. "Now why are you all sitting around? You've got exercises to do."
Thirty minutes later, Gabe rubbed Paige out. Nikki and Gladys had both left and Luke was busy helping Sam with his exercises.
"Thank you for standing up to Phillip like that." Paige's words were quiet, but the sincerity in her eyes spoke volumes.
He shrugged. "It was the perfect opportunity to play my role. I'm only sorry we had an audience."
"Me too." Paige chewed on her bottom lip. "Do you think they'll all keep their mouths shut?"
"Luke will. Even though Gladys finds the whole thing amusing, I think she understands that this could have serious repercussions for us, or rather me."
"What about Nikki?"
"I don't know." Gabe shook his head. "She's immature and flighty enough that she might let something slip."
"That's my fear too."
"We need to talk." He glanced at Luke and Sam. "Somewhere we don't have an audience. Can we meet after I get off work?"
"Sure. Where?"
"Charity's Diner?" He could kill two birds with one stone. They could talk, and he could buy Paige dinner and call it a date, so he'd no longer be lying to his mom in that regard.
Paige grimaced. "If we're trying to keep this on the down-low, that's the worst place to meet. It’s always crazy busy there. Besides, my sister-in-law owns Charity’s. She's not likely to be there in the evening, but word would definitely get back to her."
"Hmm…maybe we should just meet at the park next to the swimming pool."
"That's as good a place as any." Paige slowly nodded her head. "Unless there are baseball games tonight."
Paige letout a sigh of relief as she put her car into park and used the rear-view mirror to check her hair and make-up. Then she stopped herself and rubbed her clammy hands on her jeans. It didn't matter how she looked. Like it or not, Gabe was stuck with her as his fake girlfriend.
I can't believe I'm doing this.
It felt good to drive again, especially today of all days. The last thing she wanted to do was ask her mom to drive her to the park for a secret meeting with her physical therapist.
She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she surveyed the empty parking lot. Thank goodness there were no baseball games tonight.
Paige had no idea how this thing with Gabe would play out, but she didn't look forward to lying to her parents. She may be an adult, but they liked to know where she was going, who she'd be with, andwhen she'd be home. Honesty had always been important to her, but it was even more so now after being lied to for eight months.
She didn't feel one bit guilty for lying to Phillip, however. Not after all the lies he'd told her.
Her chest tightened when a dark blue car parked beside hers. It squeezed even tighter, pushing the air from her lungs, when Gabe—despite a long day at work—stepped out of his car looking like he'd just walked off the cover of a magazine in his fitted jeans and blue polo that hugged his biceps. Even the way he pulled off his sunglasses as he looked her direction was sexy.
What am I doing?
How did she pretend to be a girlfriend to all that and not fall for the guy?
Why couldn't my therapist have been some old man? Or even someone like boring Gary?
She climbed from her car and gave Gabe a weak smile.
"Hey." He rubbed his palms down his jeans.
Was he as nervous about this as she was?
