Page 35 of Signed, I'm Yours!
“Nothing.” He shakes his head and turns to his friends. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“Fiancé,” I correct him.
“What?” everyone exclaims in unison, and the elevator shakes, adding to the drama.
“You’re engaged?”
“Your fiancé?”
“Since when?”
Oh crap. Here we go again.
“Maybe he keptit from us because he doesn’t like us anymore. Or worse. He doesn’t love us anymore.”
“I don’t hate you guys,” Jack tells Brandon, but it’s aimed at all of them.
I kinda wish we’d come up with a different lie for his friends. Of course they feel betrayed that their best friend hasn’t told themabout meeting the love of his life. Because if I’m someone’s fake fiancé, I’m most definitely the fake love of their life.
“But when were you going to tell us?” Zeke asked.
“Now?” I offer, but I’m not sure if it’s any help.
“Exactly,” Jack says and stops in front of a red door with the number thirteen on it. “That’s why I brought Seojun with me for movie night.”
“I thought you’d forgotten about movie night,” I tell him.
What happened to me keeping my mouth shut? Why am I not following my own rules? Why am I making things worse?
“No, honey. I didn’t forget. I was acting,” he grinds between his teeth.
“Ah. So you didn’t tell him he was meeting us either!” Zeke points from Jack to me with a look of sheer revelation.
“That’s right. I’m as surprised as you guys.”
I know I’m a supervillain, but that’s out there in the cruel, cold world of New York. In here, surrounded by kind strangers, I’ll let Jack be the bad guy. He can handle it. He’s got the power for it.
“Right. Yeah. Surprise!” he exclaims with a genuine smile that makes me feel just a tinge of guilt.
Only a tinge though.
It’s not my fault this guy can only see the good in everything without reprieve. Yeah, maybe I’m taking advantage of him, but I can’t have these people looking at me funny if I’m gonna have to watch a movie with them.
“Hm…” Robin says as Jack opens his front door and steps inside.
“But why keep it from us?” Brandon cries again.
I really hate seeing this guy wrap himself in knots over this. Or the glares Zeke is giving. Or how annoyed Robin looks. Actually, I’m not enjoying seeing Jack take the fall for this at all. And I can’t understand why.
“It’s my fault, you guys. Jack was protecting me. I’m…I’m still in the closet, see.”
Five pairs of eyes all turn and stare at me, and I can’t say I blame them. Here I am, wearing the most flamboyant clothes, makeup, and nails to the T, claiming I’m not out.
“You are?” Zeke asks.
I nod very slowly as if that will make it more convincing, and Annie slaps Jack’s arm.
“And you surprise outed him to us? Shame on you!” she says.
