Page 19 of Rosé with My Fake Fiancé
I remember the night at the wine bar two years ago when Emma decided to stop dying her hair. While Jade has always been proud of her gray streak, which fits her so well, Sara was just starting to obsess about the scattered gray hairs that were coming into her dark brown hair, and she’d asked Emma for dying tips. A few at-home hair dye experiences later, they resolved to let their hair be natural.
My blonde is light enough that you can’t see the grays much, especially when I have my hair smoothed back like it is now. Emma thinks that’s why I look like the youngest of the group, but I’ve always admired her salt-and-pepper hair now that she stopped dyeing it.
“We should do this every month when we get together,” Jade says. “A girl’s night out. Really dress up and go out on the town.”
Sara checks herself out in the full-length mirror and brightens up. She reaches for her phone and snaps a picture. “Zoe is going to die when she sees me like this. Maybe she can join us when you come to Baden-Baden.”
Emma looks less sure, but that might be more about the dress than money worries. I catch Jade’s eye, and she glances at Emma, staring at herself in the mirror.
Jade slides her arm around Emma’s waist. “You look fucking bangable in that dress, I promise. We’ll be fending men off all night. But if it makes you uncomfortable, don’t wear it, okay? We can come up with something else.”
Emma tilts her chin up. “I like it, I swear. It’s just...” Jade releases Emma. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this sexy in my life.”
“Get used to it, babe. Now, Tessa,” Jade says while sidling over to me, “you’ve been in a very good mood today. Would that have anything to do with the fiancé?” She bats her eyelashes at me.
Fortunately, I’m saved from answering because Luc texts that he’s downstairs, so I herd my friends out the door. He’s waiting in the lobby, sitting in one of the large upholstered chairs when we get out of the elevator.
He’s in slim charcoal pants and a fitted button-up shirt, and he styled his hair. It still has a bit of that wild, tousled look, but somewhat caged.
Jade looks him over and nods approvingly.
He doesn’t notice, though. His gaze is on me, and I feel his eyes run up from my heels to the top of my head. My blonde hair is up in a twist, my face contoured, and the dress hides nothing. The Hervé Léger fits me like a glove, and Luc’s eyes heat up as he takes me in.
Jade hisses and waves her hand like she’s fanning away smoke. “Please, don’t mind us. Just eye fuck each other.”
That snaps me out of it. “Hush, you. Luc, you look great.”
“So do you,” he says, and touches a hand to my waist. He winks and leans in. “You look fucking amazing.”
A throat clears, and Luc humors Jade. “You all do,” he corrects himself. I make introductions, and Luc shakes hands with each of them. Then he slides his arm around my waist.
“Oh,” I say quickly. “You don’t have to pretend to be my fiancé around them.”
Luc squeezes me closer, but before he can respond, Jade interrupts. “Please, it’s such a hardship for him to put his hands on you.”
“Also,” Luc says, reaching into his pocket. He pulls something out and uncurls his fist, revealing a diamond ring. It’s simple, princess-cut and maybe a carat in size.
“Oh, Luc,” I whisper. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Try it on,” he suggests and then breaks our embrace. His hand trails down my left arm, gathering my hand in his, and I spread my fingers.
The ring slips on perfectly, Luc’s hands sure as if he knew it would, and emotions well inside me. No one has ever put a ring on my finger. A part of me whispers that it isn’t real, but a bigger part gazes at the beautiful, simple ring and wonders what the harm is in feeling loved and cherished for a night.
I swallow and clear my throat. “Is this your grandmother’s?”
“It is. I told her about you, and she loves a good revenge story.” His arms wrap me in a hug. His voice is rough when he says, “It looks good on you.”
I stare at the ring for a few more seconds after he lets me go and then glance up. My friends are all watching us, a mixture of amusement and swooning.
I brush it off and straighten, lightening the mood. “Are we ready to go dance like no one’s watching in front of hundreds of people?”
My friends laugh, and as we move, Jade takes Luc’s arm. They lead us out the doors, held by the hotel staff, and toward the metro.
Sara and Emma walk on either side of me. “He is really cute,” Sara says, leaning close to me.
“I know.”
“Like,reallycute,” Emma adds.
