Page 53 of Love Beyond the Illusion
“Let’s get the pleasantries out of the way so that we can get into the good stuff—” Avery starts to say before Lina interrupts her. “—like, what is going on with you and Jack, and how was your visit with him in Wine Country?”
Avery nods her head. “Yeah, spill it.”
I laugh and glance at Bailey to my left, and she’s biting her lip and shrugging her shoulders.
“I love you guys so much,” I say. “So, how’s life?”
Lina frowns. “Seriously?”
A plate with different types of bruschetta is placed in front of us. “Okay, ladies, here is a compilation of our most popular bruschettas, including my favorite, brie, apple, and fig,” Travis, the head chef, says, turning toward me. “Don’t worry, Piper. I left off the green apple. Lina clearly said you don’t like them and threatened me if I forgot.”
I smile, winking at Lina. “Thanks.”
“Of course, babe.” She winks back.
“Enjoy.” He turns around and walks back through the sea of restaurant-goers.
“I’m surprised with how obsessed Mason is with you that he isn’t here tonight with us.” Avery sneers, taking a bite of the salami and pesto bruschetta.
That same stupid grin Bailey always has on her face at the mention of Mason is back. “For your information, he and Luca have a fun night planned, building an oversized Hot Wheels course in the middle of our living room. Mason will probably feed him chicken nuggets and let him stay up way past his bedtime.”
“Harry must be jealous that Mason stole his mini-best friend from him,” I comment.
“Oh, for sure, but my brother and Mason have such a brotherly relationship that they fight one minute, and then they’re inseparable the next,” Bailey replies.
“Okay, okay.” Avery’s hands fly up in front of us. “We love hearing about your perfect little life, B, but I’m dying to know about Piper and this mystery Jack guy.”
“Fair enough.” Bailey rests her hands under her chin. “Tell us, Piper Moon.”
My body starts to warm and even sweats a little. “Um, well, like I said on our group chat, Jack and I met a couple of weeks ago at the Las Vegas airport when Bailey and I were on a layover—”
Bailey says, “He went to college with my brother and Mason, and they hired him to do the concept marketing for this restaurant.”
Lina nods her head. “Okay, so he’s not brand new.” Then, she turns to Bailey. “So, you’ve known him for a while?”
I open my mouth to speak, but Bailey interrupts again, causing a bubble in my throat. She may be more excited about Jack and me than I am—wait, there isn’t aJack and me.
I need to tell them.
I need to tell someone.
“Yes, and he was at Harry’s wedding too,” she continued excitedly.
“How you described him over text, he’s Lina’s twin?” Avery adds, causing the three of us to erupt into belly laughs.
“I guess you could say that.” I take a sip of water.
Avery’s eyes grow wide. “Lina is hot. Yeah, Piper!”
My stomach churns with the unease that I should tell my best friends the truth.
“There’s something that I should tell you guys,” I say before this conversation has the chance to go any further.
Lina’s face softens. “What is it?”
“Jack and I aren’t dating, and we’re not suddenlyin love. We’re in business together.” I shift a little in my seat.
Looks of confusion sweep across each of their faces.
