Page 21 of The Hearts We've Broken
The rest of the evening was much lighter as we all shared jokes. They didn’t drill Juniper with any more questions, and it made me think this whole fake-dating masquerade might actually work.
“Wait, so how did you and Colter meet?” Juniper asked.
A few awkward laughs filled the room.
“She quite literally ran into me in a bar, and I accidentally said something about her eyes. She didn’t want anything to do with me, but I wasn’t willing to give up on her. It took a bit of time, but I finally got her to soften up.” Colter planted a kiss on Ellison’s head.
“If it were any other cowboy, I don’t think it wouldhave worked on me. But Colter was different. Special. I’m grateful it worked out the way it did,” Ellison added.
Juniper smiled. “That’s sweet.”
Juniper excused herself to go to the bathroom, leaving me alone with my friends.
“Is it just me or does she look familiar?” Jake asked. “I feel like I’ve seen her before.”
I’d also felt the same way, but I couldn’t place where I’d recognized her from.
Hayden and Reid exchanged a look, but neither of them said anything.
“She doesn’t look familiar to me. Maybe you just recognize her from Rudy’s. After all, she said she started working there.” Ellison shrugged, providing a reasonable explanation.
The rest of the guys, except Reid, seemed to accept her answer. I raised a brow at Reid, hoping he’d speak up, but he didn’t. Probably a good thing, because Juniper was coming back.
“Thank you for having me over. I had a fun time.”
“You’re always welcome back. Next time the guys rope, you’ll have to come with Mikey. Really see them all in action.” Ellison grinned.
Juniper nodded.
“I’ll take you home?” It was getting late, and I was slightly worried something would come up to scare Juniper away. I offered her my hand, and she took it. “I’ll see you all later. Thanks for dinner, Ellison.”
We waved and headed out the front door.
Juniper let go of my hand the second we were out of the house and the door was shut behind us.
Once we got in the pickup and started back down the road, I said, “I think that went well.”
“I think so, too. We were definitely believable. Now we just have to keep the act up for a few more weeks, right?”
“Yep.” I couldn’t pinpoint why, but my heart dropped a little. It definitely wasn’t because of the reminder that all of this was fake, though. It couldn’t have been. It was my idea, and I didn’t have time for a real relationship.
My phone buzzed in the cup holder after I’d dropped Juniper off at her house.
Lawsy
You sure you don’t remember that girl from somewhere?
Nah. Do you?
Lawsy
I have my theory, but if you don’t remember her, then I’m probably wrong
It’s not important. Anyway, I think this will be good for you. Settling down, that is
Maybe
CHAPTER NINE
