Page 73 of Heart Breaker

“You will?”

“I will,” he nods.

“So, you’re serious that you want to go on a fake honeymoon?” I ask, surprised.

He gives me a wounded look. “Of course, I am. Tell your sister you need next weekend off.”

“We’re going to have a fake honeymoon for a fake wedding?” I ask.

“Why not?”

“Wes—”

“It’s two nights, Lottie. We could use the break. And I’m sure we can keep our hands to ourselves for one weekend.”

My pulse trips over itself. Spending a weekend alone with my hot husband feels dangerous, like striking a match and trying to convince yourself you won’t get burned.

“How long do you think it’ll take for my parents to figure us out?” I ask, taking the few steps to meet him in the hallway.

Wes studies me. “You think they’re suspicious?”

I shrug. “No. But that’s the problem.”

Something shifts in his expression.

“They just looked so happy tonight,” I sigh. “My mom kept looking at me like…like this exactly what she’s always wanted for me.”

“They love you, Lottie.”

“I know,” I whisper.

That’s what makes it hurt. Tonight was harder than I expected. I wasn’t ready for how much it would hurt to lie to my parents.

“To answer your question?” he says finally. “I don’t think it will take them long. Families are annoying like that.”

A humorless smile tugs at my mouth. “Great.”

I wait for him to leave, but he stays right where he is, eyes locked on mine. My breath catches at the expression on his face: intense and unwavering.

“Wes…we should probably stick to what we talked about in the car.”

He blinks. “Keeping things uncomplicated?”

“Yeah,” I say, but it sounds unconvincing even to me. “That.”

“Right,” he says quietly, but neither of us move. I’m very aware that we’re standing alone in a dark hallway, close enough that I can count the freckles scattered across the bridge of his nose.

Silence stretches between us.

Dangerous.

Getting lost in Wes would be so easy. The perfect distraction from tonight, from my dad, from the guilt that’s been sitting like a stone in my chest since dinner. One kiss from him and I would forget all of it, if only for a little while.

But then I’d wake up tomorrow, and the lies will still be waiting, and my heart would be in even deeper than it already is.

“Goodnight, Wes.”

“Goodnight, Lottie.”