Page 23 of The Hearts We've Broken
“I know they say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else, but you couldn’t have picked literally anyone else?” She kept babbling on. “I mean,my God, Juniper, he’s got one of the biggest reputations in Montana, and not in a good way.”
“Nat—”
“You should probably go to the doctor, because God forbid?—”
“Natalie!” I cut her off then leaned in. “Listen to me. Youcannotspeak a word of this to anyone, but it’s not real, okay?”
“Huh?”
“The relationship. It’s fake. I want revenge.”
She blinked a few times, as though she was processing the information I just gave her. “Well, that’s healthy,” she muttered, and a twinge of regret for telling her the truth rose in my chest. “I suppose it’s better than you actually being in a relationship with Silver Creek’s notorious playboy but, again, you couldn’t have chosen anyone else?”
I huffed out a breath. “Come on.” I gestured for her to follow as I walked behind Liv to the end of the bar and disappeared around the corner to the back office. Rudy wasn’t in tonight, so it was the best place to have a private conversation with her. “I needed it to be Mikey because of Ava. I can’t just haveanyfake boyfriend,” I explained.
“I’m not sure I’m following.”
“Ava and Mikey had a one-night stand last year. I recognized him when he came into the bar, so I made a move. Was it the most mature thing to do? No, and I acknowledge that, but neither was fucking my boyfriend—sorry,ex—behind my back.”
Natalie blew a raspberry. “Wow, okay, that’s…a lot. I can tell you’ve already made up your mind, but just be careful. I know I’ve said that before, but I mean it. He’s got a reputation bigger than his entire career. I’d hate for your heart to get broken twice in a year.”
I winced a little. “The whole purpose of this fake-dating arrangement is so neither one of us gets hurt. Wehave a whole set of rules written out. The system is in place so no one catches feelings.” Sure, rules could be broken, but they existed so we could check one another when things started to get out of hand. Besides, I had no intention of breaking our rules.
My goal was to help Mikey with whatever it was he needed, and then get my end of the bargain. I’d be using him just as much as he’d be using me.
“All right. I believe you.” She raised her hands in surrender before laughing softly. “You’re something else, Juniper. Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
I smiled in response. “Come on, let’s get out of here before Liv comes looking for me.”
Tucker
So I have a request
I didn’t know requests were in our agreement
Tucker
This one’s kind of important…
What is it?
Tucker
The Houston Rodeo is coming up
I was hoping you’d come with me
CHAPTER TEN
mikey
Juniper never answered my text about the rodeo, and I was starting to get anxious. We’d be heading out on the road soon, and a key component to getting the most out of the bet was being able to prove I had a girl until the end of Houston. I didn’t think it’d be too believable for the guys if my girlfriend didn’t come support me at one of the biggest rodeos of the year.
The guys had been bothering me about it all week, too.
The Silver Creek Cowboys (And Ellison)
Ellison’s Husband
