Page 16 of Her Inconvenient Wedding Date

I never paid much attention to his broad shoulders before, but now I can’t stop staring. With Hunter next to me, I feel extra girly, even dainty. Not like a damsel in distress, but a woman who doesn’t mind being desired and doted on. The thought is so foreign to my brain, I quickly squash it. I’ve learned to be strong and independent, someone who can hold her own in a department full of men. I don’t know what to do with this reimagined identity of mine, but part of me likes it.

I like who I am when I’m with Hunter.

“Here, take this.” His deep voice echoes in my ear as he leans over and places his jacket on my shoulders. “You have goosebumps all over your arms.”

“Nothing gets past you, does it?” I murmur with chagrin. “Thank you.”

“It’s these contact lenses; they work wonders. They help me see a lot better.” He gestures to the menu as we step up to order, “What would you like, Lil? My treat.”

“Oh, you go ahead. I’ll order on my own.”

“I insist. I’d like to treat my fiancée to tea.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got it?—”

“Girl, why are you refusing him?!” The barista, who looks like a recent college grad, glares at me as if I askedfor a boba tea without the boba. She shakes her purple-dyed hair and sighs. “You don’t know how good you have it. The rest of us are out here swiping left, just praying for a guy who wants to take care of us, while you’re here denying your man the opportunity? Please let him buy you a drink.”

Hunter grins and gives the barista a high five. “Well said, thank you. So, Lil, what would you like?”

What would I like? Maybe for my stomach to stop dipping every time I breathe in the scent of Hunter’s cologne that lingers on his jacket. And for this fake relationship to stop messing with my head. The more time I spend with him, the more I realize how amazing he is—he plays the drumsandloves puns?!—, how I’m not good enough for him, and how much I need to focus on the facts. What I—and apparently the barista—need is a reality check.

“Thanks for the pep talk,” I say to her, “but he’s not really my fiancé. We’re only fake-engaged because the only way my younger sister, who’s real-engaged, can get married is if I get married first. He’s just my colleague who was nice enough to go along with this wild plan of mine.”

“Huh.” She quirks one brow as her gaze flits between me and Hunter and back again. It’s a good thing we’re the only customers in line because this conversation is taking a while. “That was way more information than I needed to know, but okay. I think you guys still make a cute couple, real or not. You should lock him down before someone else tries to. Believe me, good guys are hard to find.”

“Oh, I know. I once went on a date with a guy who did a whole PowerPoint presentation during dinner.”

“Nooo.” Her mouth twists in horror. “That should be illegal!”

“Right?”

“I am so sorry that happened to you! You know what, your drink’s going to be on the house. It’s the least I can do.”

“Oh, that’s sweet of you, but you don’t have to do that.”

“Yeah,” Hunter adds, “you don’t have to do that. What happened to our agreement to not deny her man—that’s me in case you forgot—the opportunity to buy her a drink?”

The barista narrows her eyes disapprovingly at him. “Sorry, but it ended when I found out you’re not really her man.”

“But—”

She turns to me and says, “So, what’ll it be?”

“I’ll take a large Oolong milk tea with 25% sugar, no ice, and boba, please.”

“Got it. And you, sir?”

Buzz!

I pull my phone out, and my mom’s disconcerting face pops up on the screen, urging me to take her call. If I let it go to voicemail, I might as well say bon voyage because she’ll be sending me on a guilt trip, no return ticket provided. I quickly let Hunter know I’m stepping away, then find a table to sit down at. “Hey, Ma,” I answer, “how’s it going?”

“Fine, just fine.” Her voice is more chipper than usual, which means she’s probably doing her favorite activity—playing mahjong. As expected, the clinking of plastic tiles sounds in the background. “How is my future son-in-law doing?”

“Bruce? I think he’s okay. Mei didn’t say anything when I talked to her yesterday. Why do you ask?”

“Not Bruce. I’m talking about Hunter.”

“Oh,thatson-in-law.”

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