Page 121 of Lovestruck at Sundown
“We just ate,” William said. “But thank you.”
“Aaron.” Naomi jerked her head to the side and lifted the plate with his panini and chips, signaling Aaron it was time to eat.
It all looked pretty domestic and cordial to me.
“Good evening.” Aaron nodded at us and grabbed his plate and Naomi’s, taking them to the small four-person dining table.
“Water?” Naomi asked Aaron.
“I think there’s half a jug of lemonade in the fridge,” Aaron replied. “If you don’t mind.”
“Sure.” Naomi poured two glasses and brought them to the table. She sat down, and before tossing a chip inside her mouth, she said, “So what’s up?”
Aaron took a bite of his panini but kept his attention on William and me. He seemed curious to know what this impromptu meeting was all about.
“We were thinking if you guys faked a romantic relationship out in public it would make the Aaron cheating allegations go away,” I said, feeling agitated after saying that in a single go without stopping to breathe.
Naomi’s lips parted, and she immediately turned to look at Aaron, who was staring at me with wide eyes.Traitor, his eyes said.
“Not a good idea.” Aaron wiped his mouth with a napkin. “No one is going to believe it. Your publicist in a relationship with your bodyguard? It’s too convenient to sound convincing.”
“Then make it believable,” William said. “I don’t give a fuck about the media, but it’s not me who they’re talking about. And even if Guille keeps pretending she doesn’t mind, I know the scrutiny is taking a toll on her mental well-being.”
“I’m sitting right here,” I reminded him, feeling transparent. William had always been able to see right through me. I didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily, but it was annoying and frustrating having to deal with having random people you don’t even know talking about you all day. I wished I didn’t care. I wished I could let the words slide off me, but I couldn’t. I didn’t know how. I wasn’t used to having my personal life being discussed in more than twenty countries.
It was one thing for them to critique my outfits, hair, and even my attitude at events. But things were getting out of hand, and William was right. I was feeling stressed and increasingly anxious about it. Especially knowing my father was probably seeing how this unfolded before him. Not that I should’ve cared. I hadn’t talked to him since Christmas.
“It’s … a brilliant idea, and one I would’ve normally thought of myself,” Naomi agreed in a dry tone. She didn’t seem excited about it, but I could see the publicist nuts and bolts starting to move inside her head. “We have been living together since January. They have no reason to doubt our relationship is real.”
“But youdespiseme, Miss Lieberman,” Aaron said mockingly. “You said so yourself last night. Sorry …shoutedlast night.”
“Oh, honey,” Naomi replied in a condescending tone, grabbing Aaron’s hand and rubbing it with her thumb. He stiffened in his seat. “Don’t expose our dirty laundry with our lovely guests. And don’t be silly. I was mad at you because you couldn’t get the drying machine going after I asked you to, even after I texted you twice about it. But I made you dinner today, didn’t I?”
Aaron gently pulled his hand off Naomi’s grasp. “I’m still terrified of being poisoned every time you cook for me, little witch.” He lifted the bread and pretended to inspect the contents of his panini.
Naomi pushed one of her brown unruly curls off her forehead and laughed a wicked, open laugh. “Well, it’s only my turn to make dinner every other day, and I’m glad you’re terrified. The doubt should be enough to keep your paranoid ass in check.”
Aaron grumbled, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“See?” Naomi waved at Aaron as if he were a brand-new car in the Price is Right. “Was that convincing? We hate each other enough for people to think we’ve been together for longer than it took us to come up with this plan.”
“So, what’s the plan, exactly?” I, more than anyone else in this room, was most interested in implementing it. But I wanted to know what they were thinking. How far they were willing to go to make this believable and put the Aaron gossip behind us.
“You’ll probably have to hold hands and kiss in public to tease the media,” William said, squeezing my knee under the table. I knew he was baiting them. “It’s the only way.”
Naomi took a bite of her sandwich and stared out the window as she processed what William had just said. “We need to make it look natural,” she agreed. “Before releasing any statement of ourrelationship, it would be wise to be seen together in public.”He nudged Aaron’s arm. “So when are you taking me out on a date,ahuvi?”
Aaron glared at her as he took another bite of his “poisoned” panini.
“What’sahuvimean?” I asked, bracing my elbows on the table and looking at them with dreamy eyes. They would make a great couple if they didn’t hate each other’s guts. The height difference was adorable, and Naomi seemed like the type of woman who could keep Aaron on his toes. He was always lonely, and I wished he would find someone special. Not that I knew if that was something he was looking for. But don’t we all want to love and be loved in return?
“Tell her,ahuvi,” Naomi encouraged.
Aaron swallowed and said, “It means something likemy love.”
“Awww! I love it!” My response was genuine.
Naomi laughed.
