Page 56 of Mr. Aster
“This is your fault,” I mouthed to him. “If we’d flown private, then,” I turned back to the people who weren’t listening to me because all they heard was fiancé, “we wouldn’t have just revealed our big secret.”
I knew I had the cringiest smile, but I just wanted to bury my face in my hands and hide. Why couldn’t we have taken thedamn private plane, so we only had to fake this relationship when we were prepared? Why didn’t I anticipate that he would book a regular flight just to seal the deal that he was off the fucking market? I swear, this man and his bullshit.
“How are we going to walk back this newest lie?” he said, putting his arm around me, bringing my ear to his mouth, sending shivers down my body with his warm breath.
I wanted to jerk away from him, but I couldn’t.
“Good question, and now we’re?—”
“On our way to paradise,” he answered, cutting me off because the fan club was still fully immersed in our charade.
“I’m excited about that,” I said, feeling utterly uncomfortable and eager to get the show on the fucking road so these weirdos would point their phones somewhere else.
We switched our phones to airplane mode while preparing to taxi down the runway and take off, and all I could do was close my eyes and try and figure out how we would get out of this newest lie. Why the fuck did that come out of my mouth? Where did it even come from? I was mortified that it slipped, knowing that Sebastian would probably question me about it, too.
Once we were at cruising altitude, I opened my phone, put it on Wi-Fi, and tried to forget everything that’d transpired before take-off. I never had any issues flying commercially, but I’d give anything to be in his family jet so that I could talk privately with Sebastian and work this thing out before his fan club destroyed my life with breaking news that Sebastian was engaged to the daughter of a local Napa Valley vineyard owner.
I exhaled, removing all thoughts about Sebastian, who was typing away on his laptop to my left, and the elderly woman sitting to my right.
Ding!
Avery: Engaged? Why didn’t you tell us? I had no idea this was why Sebastian invited everyone to Mexico!!!!!
I stared at the text, knowing we’d only been at cruising altitude for about thirty minutes. There was no fucking way the little shits across the aisle got their videos uploaded and seen that fucking fast.
I didn’t even know how to respond to Avery. This whirlwind of shit had just escalated to unimaginable heights. Of course, of-fucking-course, it wouldappearas though Sebastian had invited everyone to Mexico to celebrate a surprise engagement.
I dared to glance at Sebastian. He was intently focused on his laptop screen, and I wondered if he was typing so rapidly because he was putting out fires that I’d started by speaking without thinking. My eyes drifted to his screen, and I sighed in relief when I saw he was working on some graphs and numbers that most likely had to do with business at the winery.
I sat silently, still not responding to Avery because I had no idea how to get out of this. Should I bite the bullet and tell everyone IwishedI was engaged to this man?
No, that would make your relationship look like the joke you already know it is,I thought while biting my thumbnail, concentrating.
Ding!
Private Number: Well, where should we buy your ring? Can’t have you engaged to me without one.
I glanced over at Sebastian and saw the amused expression on his face. I knew that once he found out thisengagementhadgone viral, the lighter side of him that I’d been enjoying would be history. Instead of talking to him, since all eyes were on him anyway, I texted him back.
Darcy: How did you get my number?
Private Number: Your father
Darcy: Oh. Well, I’m not sure why you want to get a ring.
Private Number: Because everyone in the world has blown up my phone asking about our engagement. It’s on social media. Everyone in the social media-verse has seen you saying the words, my fiancé.
I felt my blood pressure spike and my face flush red in panic. I glanced over at Sebastian. He was still having fun with this while I was trying to figure out how we would break off our fake engagement once these silly little lies ended after the charity event that I should have never recommended. I quickly added Sebastian’s name to his contact info so I wouldn’t accidentally open the next random text from a nosy private number and think it was him. If this situation could worsen, that would be how it would happen.
Darcy: I’m so sorry about this, but we need to get out of it somehow.
Sebastian: Too late. The words came out of your mouth. It’s all over social media, cupcake.
Darcy: Remember our rules. No pet names are allowed.
Sebastian: That rule was for when we were fake dating. We’re engaged now, so I can call you whatever I want.
Darcy: This is funny to you?
