Page 76 of Empty Net

“Well, am I wrong?”

I shake my head, still laughing. “No. No, you’re not wrong at all. She’s a total bitch.”

“Secondly, I can’t believe you two are dumb enough to cook up this plan. I mean, seriously? You’re practically feeding Fox to the sharks. You know if you give your parents an inch, they’ll take a mile. How did you not see this coming?”

“I don’t know. I thought it would just get them off my back for a bit. I figured they hate me, so they wouldn’t be invested like they are when it comes to Sadie.”

“Please. Your mother seizes any chance she gets to take control.”

Something about that sends a shudder down my spine. Am I like her more than I thought? Because I want to have control in the bedroom? And possibly even in the boardroom?

“So, are you actually getting married?”

“No!” The single word bursts out of me quickly. “No,” I say, softer this time.

She nods, pleased by that answer. “Do you think your mother knows this is fake?”

“If you had asked me that before today, I might have said yes. But considering she’s currently planning our engagement party as we speak, no.”

“A party? You’re going to fake this in front of everyone?”

I shrug. “What choice do we have? Tell everyone it’s just a big hoax? Just come out and say, ‘Oopsie. Our bad’? No. We’re going to have the party, then break up. That’s the plan.”

“At least you have a plan. I certainly didn’t with Hutch. One day, we were having a little fun, sleeping together, and—” Her eyes widen. “No.”

“What?”

“Tell me you’re not sleeping with him.”

“Wh-What?” I force a laugh. “Of course not. I… We’re…” I groan. “Oh, who am I kidding? Yes, we’ve slept together. But it was only one time!”

And a half. But I don’t tell her that.

I squeeze my thighs together, a reminder of what just happened against my front door. It’s safe to say my high from the orgasm is long gone, and I could definitely go for another to chase away the tension that’s already crept back into my shoulders.

“Lilah…” She titters, relaxing back into the couch for the first time since we sat down. “You’re playing a dangerous game, you know that?”

I don’t say anything because I don’t know what to say. Of course I know we’re playing a dangerous game. I’m well aware of that. But I can’t seem to stop it.

I wonder if that’s because I don’twantto stop it.

“Look,” she says, folding her hands in her lap. “You’re an adult. You both are, so whatever you two are doing is entirely your decision. I just…I think you should be careful, Lilah. I know you don’t believe in love or relationships or any of that stuff, but Fox does. He pretends he’s like the other guys in the Serpents Singles Club, but I don’t buy that. He’s too sweet for that. He has a big heart, and I don’t want to see him get hurt.”

She doesn’t have to clarify that she doesn’t want to seemehurt him, but Fox and I know this is fake, and we’re notpretending it’s anything but. We won’t get hurt because there are no feelings involved.

“Thank you. I promise to take your words to heart.”

She nods. “All right. That’s all I want. Have you told Sadie?”

I shake my head. “Not yet, but I guess that’s another phone call I need to make. I’m sure my mother has already spread the word across the pond.”

“That woman. I swear,” Auden mutters.

Then we’re quiet. We stay that way for a long time, not really saying anything, and I am acutely aware Fox is still in my apartment, potentially listening to all of this.

“Well, I’d better get going,” Auden says after a while. She stands, pulling her purse over her shoulder. “I have some errands to run—and apparently a new dress to buy for your engagement party.”

I try to hold back my groan as I follow her, walking her to the door, where she throws her arms around me. I hug her tightly, needing it more than I realize. I hate that Auden found out about this from anyone other than me, but I’m glad the secret is out now. It’s been killing me to keep it from her. Plus, having someone other than Fox to talk to about it will be nice.

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