Page 14 of Trial and Error

Isobel rolls her eyes as she smacks her husbands arm playfully before resting her hand on her swollen belly. “Leave them alone,” she remarks. “I remember when Elias bought her over for the first time and I just knew they were made for each other.” She looks over at Lorna, directing her next words at her. “Plus, if Tom and Bridget hadn’t broken up, the two of you wouldn’t be together, so I guess it’s a win for everyone!”

I graciously look at Oscar and Isobel, and know I’ll need to thank them as soon as we’re alone for being such amazing people. Elias strokes my upper arm with his fingers as I lean into his side. Reaching forward, he grabs my wineglass and hands it to me and brushes his lips against my temple.

“Your brother and Isobel are incredible actors,” I mumble under my breath. “They deserve an award.”

Elias’s chest rumbles as he laughs quietly. “Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that’s surprised by their commitment to this.”

“Didn’t you guys just get engaged, too?” Natalie asks Oscar, and then looks over at me with a mischievous grin. “Getting engaged this summer seems to be a theme for your family. Did you guys plan out a mood board together?”

Isobel snorts, and I can’t help but laugh along. “These two can’t do anything without each other,” she says.

I look around the table and my eyes settle on Lorna, who is no longer smiling but leaning back into her chair with a sad look on her face. “I feel bad for Lorna,” I whisper to Elias, my skin erupting in goose bumps as his fingers continue to stroke my shoulder. “She shouldn’t have to be in the middle of this.”

He nods then shrugs. “Sucks for her, I guess.”

The two of us fall into silence as we listen to the conversations around the table. There isn’t much else to say. He’s done me a huge favour by stepping in tonight, and I have no idea how I’m going to thank him for all he’s done.

The rest of the night flies by, and Elias and I stay cuddled up to each other. It’s around nine p.m. when Lorna and Tom excuse themselves, saying their goodbyes hastily.

Natalie waits until they’re out of the room before she lets out an exasperated sigh. “What the actual fuck happened there?” she mumbles and reaches across and pinches my arm.

“What the hell?” I yelp, snatching my arm away from her. “What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me? Girl…” my sister shoots back as she reaches across the table and grabs the tumbler of whiskey Elias just ordered and throws it back.

“Please, help yourself,” Elias says sarcastically, removing his arm from around my shoulders, and Natalie glares. “You think you need that more than me right now?”

I lean forward and rest my forehead against the tablecloth and let out a loud groan. “This whole thing is so embarrassing.” I hear a few chuckles, and I groan even louder. “Just leave me here to wallow in my own self-pity.”

Natalie scoffs. “Get over yourself.” I lift my hand and flip her the bird. “I’m serious, how the fuck are you going to wrap this thing up?”

She has a point.

“I’m undecided,” I grumble. “Maybe Elias found someone more his league and decided I’m not the one for him, or maybe I get whisked away by a Danny Ramirez look-a-like?”

“Who the hell is Danny Ramirez?” Oscar asks.

“He’s in Top Gun: Maverick, babe,” Isobel replies, “Maybe there doesn’t need to be a big elaborate breakup? If you ever run into them again, you can just say it didn’t work out and that’s that.”

Elias nods. “Yeah, do what you’ve gotta do.” He looks down at me and flicks the tip of my nose with his index finger. “Just hit me up if you ever require my services again.”

All of us laugh as I jab my elbow into his side. I lift my head from the table and let out a loud yawn. “All this acting has been exhausting,” I mumble as I look over at my sister. “Ready to head out?”

My sister nods and stands from the table. She looks over at Oscar and says, “See you in the morning, boss.”

Oscar smiles up at her and raises his glass in her direction before taking a sip.

Natalie then looks over at Elias and smirks. “It was nice to have a brother-in-law, even if it did only last five hours.”

He laughs and nods. “Short but sweet.” He looks over at me as he pulls his phone from his suit pocket and hands it to me. “Put your number in there, you know, just in case I’m the one who needs rescuing.”

I roll my eyes but take his cell from him and type my number in. “I’m sure you could find a better fake fiancée.”

“Maybe.” Elias smirks. “But I doubt it.”

Natalie and I are quiet in the Uber on the way back to my apartment and the only sound that fills the silence is the sound of Taylor Swift playing on the radio. When we reach my apartment, I get out of the vehicle and my sister follows. She wraps her arms around me and gives me a squeeze.

“While I think you’re stupid for what you told Tom”—she gives me a pointed look—“you could’ve had a much worse fake fiancé, because Elias Cohen sure is something to look at.”