“No, it’s fine, it’s not a problem. He can’t do anything to me. But what I’m saying is, somehow word is getting around that you and I are a thing.” I bite my lip, fighting back the blush that is rapidly rising. “My grandmother called me tonight, asking if I would bring you to have lunch with her.”
His face is impassive, impossible to read.
“She’s the only person in my family who’s ever been on my side,” I continue, quieter now. “And ever since Clay and Marnie got together, she’s worried about me ending up single forever.” My eyes fall to the rug in front of me. Because depending on his reaction to what I’m about to propose, I might not want to see his face. “When she said she wanted to get to know you better, there was such hope and relief in her voice. I know it’s silly; I don’t need a relationship to be happy, but she’s old-fashioned. And she just really wants to know that I’m not going to be alone the rest of my life. So…” I take a deep breath. Here goes. “I was thinking maybe we let everyone believe the lie for a little bit.”
There. I said it. It’s out in the open, and now all I can do is wait and see if Jude thinks I’ve gone certifiably insane, or if the idea makes sense. My hands twist together as I force myself to just wait it out until he replies.
“My sister was really excited about the idea of you and I being together. Why is that?”
My head lifts slowly. Whatever reaction I was expecting, this isn’t it. There isn’t any condescension or judgment in his face, just curiosity and…something else.
“I have no idea,” I say. His brows lift, questioning, and I can’t stop myself from smirking slightly. “Okay, fine, I had a crush on you when I was younger. You’re a hot hockey player. It’s only natural.”
To my shock, the light dims in his eyes.
“I’m not a hockey player anymore.”
The raw pain in those words pulses between us. I want to reassure him that it doesn’t matter to me, especially not since whatever we do would purely be fake. Yet, I get the distinct impression that he doesn’t want my platitudes right now.
He tilts his head to the side, still studying me. “My family might stop worrying so much about me if they thought I was involved with someone. But you’re close to all of them. How do we handle this ending eventually?”
There’s a steady acceptance in his voice, no trace of the earlier grief. I latch onto his response, relieved that he isn’t automatically pushing me out the door and telling me to never come back.
“We’ll just pretend for a couple of months or so, then part ways amicably. No one expects me to have a serious relationship, anyway, so it’ll be easy.”
I say that last bit airily, hoping he doesn’t see my own pain the way I saw his. Judging from the serious way he’s studying me, I failed. Guess I have to hope he doesn’t call me out on it.
“Fine. We’ll let everyone think we’re together for a while. What exactly did you have in mind?”
“We can keep it simple. A date here and there, just to be seen in public. You’ll come with me to lunch with my nana. Most importantly, we won’t bother correcting anyone’s assumptions.”
“You think that’ll be enough?”
“I…I mean...” I sputter, unsure how to respond.
“You’ll have to come with me to family dinner, and probably more than a date here and there. We’ll need to be affectionate. Hold hands. Maybe even kiss.”
“I can handle that if you can.”
Brown eyes twinkle back at me; he’s close enough I can see the flecks of gold in them, but his features remain impassive.
“You’ll have to smile, Jude. At least once or twice.”
His lips quirk up ever so slightly. “Don’t push it.”
Good enough for now. But I think I have a new mission in life. Make Jude smile.
Chapter sixteen
Lily
Turns out, Jude being the quiet one out of the two of us is a good thing. At least, it is when he isn’t being a grouch. His steady, serious silence is oddly centering for me. Which is very much needed, since today is the day we go live with our ruse. It’s our lunch date with Nana at Camille’s. It accomplishes two things — spending time with Nana, and the two of us being together in a public space to confirm the rumours.
I’m nervous, but Jude is calm. I can see why he was such a natural leader for his team. Nothing rattles him, not even my incessant rambling as we drive from his apartment back to my house to pick up a book that I promised to lend my grandmother.
“I’ll just be a minute; did you want to come in or wait here?” I say, turning off my car and staring straight ahead at my house.
“I’ll come in.”
