Page 77 of Empty Net

“Are you going to tell Hutch about this?” I ask, worrying my bottom lip between my teeth.

“Yes. He’s my partner. I don’t hide things from him.”

I nod, understanding. “That’s fair.”

“But I won’t tell anyone else. Not even Rory.”

I exhale heavily, relieved. “Thank you. You’re thebestbest friend in the whole world.”

“I know,” she says coolly.

We hug again, and Auden leaves, her warning ringing loudly in my ears.

Be careful, Lilah. I don’t want to see him get hurt.

I am being careful. I won’t hurt him. We know what this is. We know it’s fake. We’re fine.Thisis fine, right?

I press my back against the door, squeezing my eyes shut tight. I can’t help but laugh at how different this moment is from when I was in this same position just a half hour ago, Fox between my legs.

Sweet Fox. Kind Fox. Fox, whodoesbelieve in love.

It’s fine. We’re fine, I tell myself, but I can’t help the little bit of worry that creeps in at the edge of my thoughts. What if we aren’t fine? What if we’re blurring the lines too much?

And what if…what if I do the stupidest thing of all and fall for my fake fiancé?

CHAPTER 14

FOX

I am going straight to hell.

I heard every word between Lilah and Auden and never once did I do anything to tune them out.

I’m too afraid to tell my mother the truth because I don’t want to turn into the bitter old woman she is.

Is that what Lilah thinks will happen? Does she not see how incredible she is? With parents like hers who believe she’s not good enough no matter what she does, I’m betting not.

They must have really done a number on her over the years if she believes she’s like her mother, though. She’s not. I know I haven’t spent much time with the woman, but I know Lilah is nothing like her. Sure, she likes control, and her mother clearly does too, but it’s different. Lilah doesn’t want to controlotherpeople. She just wants to be in control ofher, and who doesn’t want that? Who doesn’t want a say in their own lives?

I push off the tub’s ledge, looking in the mirror for the first time. Fuck, I look a wreck. Thanks to Lilah’s hands, my hair is sticking up everywhere, and I look tired, probably because this is when I’m usually taking my pre-game nap, not hiding in a bathroom. This whole thing has gotten much more out of hand than I ever thought it might. It was just supposed tobe one party, one evening of faking it. Now, we’re hosting an engagement party.

I could have said no, though. At any point, I could have told Selene to fuck off, and I could have told Lilah I was out. Yet, I couldn’t. I took one look at the woman sitting next to me and saw that defeat in her eyes as her mother made snide remarks about her, and I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave her to battle them alone.

So, I got down on one knee, spoke from my heart, and asked Lilah to marry me. Sure, it was fake, but fuck, I’d be a fool if I didn’t admit there was a tiny part of me that got lost in the moment. It almost felt real for just a fraction of a second.

We’re going to have the party, then break up. That’s the plan.

That’s been our plan all along, and I’ve been fine with that, but now? Now, I don’t know what I want. I rub at my chest, not liking the idea of breaking up with Lilah one bit, which is silly.

I shake away the thought and do my business, cleaning off my face and washing my hands. After spending far too much time in the bathroom even after Auden is gone, I do my best to gather my wits and gently pull the door open. I peek my head around the frame and find Lilah standing with her back fitted against the front door, just where I had her earlier.

She looks shaken, completely out of sorts. The urge to put her back together hits me strong, and I march over to her, intending to do just that.

“You okay?” I ask her softly.

Her eyelids flutter open at my intrusion. She nods. “I’m all right. Are you?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

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