“Who is this strapping young gentleman you have with you?” Mrs. Lewis turns to Simon, taking him in. No doubt she’s trying to glean anything she can from him from this brief meeting.
“This is Simon Belvy. My boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend? Since when do you have a boyfriend?” Mrs. Bush looks shocked at my words. “You haven’t been dating.”
“Because she’s been dating me,” Simon answers for me.
“Seems like an odd pairing.” Mrs. Bush’s eyes travel between the two of us.
Is it wrong to want to smack an old woman? I’ve disliked this woman since the third grade when she told me off for coloring too much on my schoolwork. Not that it wasn’t warranted, but she’s been rude to me ever since.
I haven’t had enough to drink to deal with them yet.
“I’m going to go check on those drinks.” Simon drops a peck on my cheek before heading to the bar.
Thank you,I mouth as he winks back at me.
I watch as he walks away. The way his strong legs eat up the distance. The way his muscles flex under his shirt.
Every part of him is sexy.
“What a gentleman. Getting your drinks for you.”
I try not to roll my eyes. “He’s a keeper.”
“And how did you meet him?” Mrs. Lewis asks.
“In London.”
“How does dating work like that? Not much of a relationship, is it?” Mrs. Bush questions. “I can’t imagine it’s going to last. You need a man close by if you’re going to keep him around.”
“She couldn’t even keep the mayor. A fine, upstanding citizen like him.” Mrs. Lewis tuts. “I don’t foresee this lasting at all.”
“And with the cavalier way she runs her business?” Mrs. Bush shakes her head. “I’m surprised she even found him.”
“A single woman over thirty? She’ll probably be an old maid at our age.”
Their condescending tone is the last straw.
“Well, you don’t need to worry about it lasting,” I snap. These two…talking about me like I’m not even here.
“And why’s that, dear?” Mrs. Bush uses her teacher voice, like she’s trying to appease my outburst.
“Because we’re engaged!”
Wide eyes look at me as I process what I just yelled.
So much for a fake boyfriend. Looks like I have myself a fake fiancé now.
Where is Simon with those drinks when I need one?
ChapterNine
SIMON
“Because we’re engaged!” Layla shouts.
“You’re what?” one of the old women standing by our table gasps.
