Page 58 of Strictly Pretend

“Don’t tell anybody about this. I don’t want this being leaked anywhere until we know the outcome for sure.”

“Of course. That goes without saying.”

“Thanks for keeping me up to date. Anything else I need to know?”

“Your father said he’s coming in tomorrow,” Luke tells me.

I groan. “Just don’t let him go on my computer.” Last time he crashed it.

“I won’t.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you next week.”

I hang the phone up and stare at the walls of the yurt. Luke is right, I should be doing a damned victory dance right now. Because at the very least we have the best lawyers and way more money to fight a court case than Emma and her granddad do.

I could probably walk out of here right now and tell her I’m ending our arrangement because I don’t need her to look at the new unit anymore. I don’t need her to do anything.

But the thought of it makes me feel irrationally angry. At myself mostly, but also at Luke for calling me and telling me.

Only a few minutes ago she was touching me all over like I was some kind of work of art. She was making me hard, and I was forgetting why we were here.

I even asked her to marry me. Though of course I didn’t mean it. It was just for show.

But I can’t go. I can’t leave her here alone to face everybody and explain why I hightailed my way out of Montana. I’m a piece of shit, yes, but I’m human, too.

Sighing, I change my clothes, putting on the shorts I’d packed along with a t-shirt that Linc gave me for Christmas, because I had about five minutes to pack and it was near the top of my pile of clothes.

And as I walk out of the door I decide that I won’t mention the newly found contract to Emma. I won’t even think about it myself. I made a gentleman’s agreement to be her date for this wedding and I’m not backing out of it.

Even if we both know I’m no gentleman.

EMMA

“I want to hear everything,” Mia says to me as we walk through the forest. “You and Brooks Salinger, damn I never would have thought that would happen.”

Out of all my old school friends, Mia knows me the most. Probably because we were best friends until the day I got thrown out. We’d both cried buckets as we said goodbye. And yes, she’d tried to keep in touch with me, but I was in a bad place back then. I’d lost my parents, my school, my home.

The only anchors I had left were my grandparents and the shop. I clung to them so tightly there hadn’t been room for anything else.

And then time had passed and we’d all grown up. I’d kind of made friends at my local high school and then before I knew it we were all in college and things changed again.

But then I bumped into her at JFK when we were both flying to different places and it had felt like time had gone backward. She was still so lovely and friendly and delighted to see me. She’d insisted on me accompanying her into the first-class lounge, even though I was flying economy, and then my flight had been delayed and she’d canceled hers, telling me she’d take the next one out.

It had been a reminder of how different we were that she could cancel a first class flight without batting an eyelid, but I hadn’t felt envious at all. Just pleased that we were getting to spend time together after all the years.

We’d met up regularly. Then she’d invited me to a party where some of our old crowd would be and that’s where I reconnected with Cassie.

And where I’d met Will.

In so many ways it had felt like a fairytale. Like I’d found a new family who wanted to be with me. But looking back, I think I was a novelty to Will. Somebody from outside of the crowd, but still part of it. He used to call me his ‘little bit of rough.’

I thought it was an endearment. Now I see it differently.

“It’s all your fault,” I tell her. “He took care of me at your wedding, remember?”

“I do.” She smiles. “Which means if you two get married I have to be chief bridesmaid.”

I swallow hard, remembering the stupid fake proposal Brooks gave me. The way it had made my heart hurt. “Of course you would be,” I say, keeping my voice light. “I owe you for that bridesmaid dress you made me wear.”

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