Her eyes shone in the porch light. Maybe she had been hoping for the same things as me. But she said, “We can’t live in a fantasyland,” she told me, pulling her hand away.
My palm felt cold without her touch. I curled in my fingers.
“I know my wish isn’t our reality.” It hurt to admit. “But I’m still me. Family matters to me. Your grandma matters to me—because she matters to you. Please don’t stop me from making her happy too.”
Her hand twitched. Maybe she was on the verge of slapping me. Maybe I deserved it.
With a trembling chin, she whispered, “Thank you.” Then she reached for my hand again. Her touch was soft at first, her hand warm, especially in this cool evening. That warmth spread to my chest as she looked at me, hoping maybe Jada would come to love me. That this marriage could be something real one day.
“Just in case my grandma’s watching,” she whispered.
My stomach sank. This was all for show.
That’s what we signed up for, right? A fake marriage?A bitter voice in the back of my head reminded me.
I took a steadying breath and looked up from our joined hands. Her dark skin made mine look even more pale.
“It’s sweet of you to ask her,” Jada said. “And I’m sorry you couldn’t do it on your terms. She has a habit of surprising people.”
An unexpected chuckle passed my lips. “You could say that.”
The corners of Jada’s lips went up but quickly fell. “I guess I also wanted to give you a chance to back out if you need to. Don’t let my grandma force you into proposing.”
I reached out, palming her cheek. She was tall, putting her nearly at eye level with me. “The moment I saw you, I knew I had to know you, Jada. This may not be the way I wanted to become acquainted, but I’ll take whatever chance with you I can get.”
Her small smile made my stomach swoop. Maybe there was hope for us after all. But she had offered me the courtesy of backing out, and I wanted to do the same. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“We’re well past second thoughts. More like sixth and seventh thoughts.” She chuckled, and I joined in too. I could definitely relate.
Swiping my thumb over the back of her hand, I said, “Really. You can tell me no. You don’t have to do this.”
As I waited for her answer, I realized a no would have gutted me. The thought of dating–marrying–anyone but Jada, having Sunday dinners with anyone other than her strong-willed grandma... it left me with an unexpected sense of loss.
She took a deep, steadying breath and squeezed my hand. “I’m saying yes.”
The words had my chest clenching, lifting, feeling a million conflicting feelings all at once. But I let go of her hand so I couldget the velvet ring box from my pocket. Holding it up, I said, “Let’s give Glamma what she wants.”
Jada let out a low chuckle. “Time for the show.”
30.Jada
Bryce and I walked inside,but my mind was on the front porch, replaying everything he said to me.
When he talked about wanting to date me, it seemed soreal. I had to remind myself that this was fake—that there was an exit plan where my baby and my grandma would be taken care of for the rest of my life and Billionaire Bryce could live happily ever after with the company he wanted so badly to save.
But there was still that spark of hope that maybe this relationship could become real.
Then I remembered the baby growing within me. The second Bryce found out I was pregnant, he’d never forgive me.
When we got to the dining room table, Glamma looked up from her half-eaten piece of cake and asked, “Did you have a nice conversation?” It didn’t escape me that she was breathing a little fast or that there was an empty glass next to her plate like she’d been using it to listen in better.
I held back a chuckle. That sly woman. She was eating this all up.
“We did have a nice talk,” I answered her.
“Well, sit, eat your cake. Take your time.” She gave Bryce a pointed look.
He was seated directly across from Glamma, and her eyes were laser-focused on him. I remembered being under that gaze as a little kid, forced to fess up to sneaking cookies from the cooling rack before they were ready. Of course, no matter how I rearranged the remaining baked goods, the woman could still count.
