But I don’t think our friends need to know that he’s paying me to play fiancé. In fact, I don’t think anyone needs to knowthat, or why I need that money. So instead of giving the details, I say, “He’s giving me a sort of… half gap year. To figure out what I want from my life.”
I make eye contact with Reed, and he nods, silently agreeing to keep my secret. I’m grateful for that. My family business doesn’t need to get dragged out for everyone at this table.
“This is about my image problem,” Reed says. “Some demands my father made. Shane knows about it.” He nods to his brother. “I needed to ‘get a fiancé’ for the media, just to get them off my back. He was insistent about it, but I figured that if I was going through with it…”
Everyone is finally quiet, listening to Reed as he explains things.
“This is mutually beneficial,” I chime in. “We have it all figured out, I promise.”
Shane huffs a laugh, setting his glass down. He seems quietly amused by this development. “Actually, it’s sort of brilliant,” he comments. “And a lot more realistic thanyouactually finding awife.”
“Exactly,” Reed says, though the corner of his mouth tightens, like he’s more annoyed by Shane’s dig than he’s willing to let on. “Trust me, guys, this is a good thing.”
Now that they have a better idea of what’s going on, the others settle a bit, the initial shock wearing off.
“So this was your father’s idea?” Declan says.
“Not exactly. The fake-wedding thing… yeah, that’s all Lionel,” Reed tells him. “But choosing someone I already knew… that was all me. I figured it would be easier this way.”
Declan frowns, like he’s not entirely convinced, but he doesn’t seem as worried as he did earlier.
“And when you say that you have it all figured out…” Cole starts, but Reed hand-waves his concerns aside, too.
“I mean that we’re sensible people,” Reed says, to a chorus of uncertain muttering. “We just hang out in this penthouse, picking out color swatches and dresses and cake, until the whole thing blows over.”
He makes it sound so simple, and he’s confident enough that I almost believe him. Almost. I know it’ll be more complicated than that.
Eventually, the conversation drifts away from our false engagement, but as everyone digs into the food, I can tell it’s still lingering in the others’ minds. I don’t blame them. It’s definitely startling—the furthest thing from what they were expecting.
As we eat, I notice Riley and Sophie exchanging glances with each other, then both looking over at me.
Wonder what that’s all about,I think to myself.I’m sure I’ll find out later.
Reed’s personal chef serves us a three-course meal—some kind of fresh fish in a cream sauce, then a flan for dessert. It’s more food than I’ve had in a while, and I can only manage a couple bites of the flan. I’m full of nerves, too, which doesn’t help.
I guess I can get used tothispart of our arrangement.I’ll certainly be eating well for the next six months.
After dinner, everyone adjourns to the living room, where Reed pours us glasses of brandy. Reed gets drawn into a quiet conversation with Declan and Cole. I can hear them on my periphery, discussing Reed’s image—asking him how he plans to navigate the fake engagement.
Over by the fireplace, Shane and Noah are engrossed in discussion about a new high rise in development in lower Manhattan. Riley and Sophie stand nearby, speaking quietly to each other; I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the fact that they keep glancing over at me doesn’t bode well.
My stomach twists, and I finish my brandy faster than I normally would, trying to soothe my anxieties.
It’s not long before Riley and Sophie come over to join me on the couch, sitting to either side of me.
“So you’ll be staying here for the next six months, huh?” Riley asks, her gaze sweeping the room. “It’s a crazy nice place.”
“Yeah,” I say. “It definitely took me by surprise.”
“Do you have your own room?”
“End of the hall. It’s not exactly personalized, but there’s a great view of the city.”
Sophie and Riley exchange a meaningful glance, then Sophie says, “Why don’t we head over there? I’d love to see that view, if it’s alright with you.”
“Um… sure,” I say, guarded. “I haven’t finished unpacking, so it’s a little bit of a mess, but?—”
“I don’t mind a mess,” Riley says cheerfully. “Let’s check it out.”
