Page 79 of Fake Love

Something that I’m afraid to tell Jen.

I watch as he reaches the women and places a hand on each of their shoulders grabbing their attention.

Jen looks up at her dad, giving him a smile before looking around and meeting my gaze.

Her smile grows a bit more as she gets up from where she was sitting and walks over to me.

“Are you having fun?” she asks, her smile growing a little more.

Because her smile is contagious, I give her one of my own, putting the conversation I just had with her dad on the back burner.

“I can definitely see why this is your safe place. You can sit here for hours.”

Jen looks around, waving at a little girl that passes by.

“You’re right about that, I’ve done it before. Want to see my favorite part?”

Without even thinking, I take her hand in mine and bring her body closer to mine. Loving every single inch of proximity between us.

Loving it more than I’m allowed to.

“Show me.” I say to her, giving her a grin.

Because while the aquarium may mean nothing to me, it does mean something to her.

And even if this is fake, I want her to be happy, protected and to feel safe in all aspects of life.

Including when she’s with me.

But I can’t help agreeing with Javier on one thing.

I am undeserving of his daughter. Very undeserving.

Being undeserving of this woman, still won’t stop me from holding every moment I can get with her as tightly as I can.

23

JULY 12, 2022

Jennifer

I understand it now.

I see why Maddox wanted to escape, wanted the pain to go away, wanted to lose himself instead of being at his mom’s side through her sickness and potentially losing her.

It was in the way that he hugged her when we walked into his childhood home. It was in the way that he helped her clean the kitchen even if there wasn’t a thing out of place. I see it in the way he cares for her, in how he loves her.

Maddox didn’t use drugs because he was trying to escape his mom’s sickness. He used them to cope with her death even though she is still here.

Since I met the man, I wondered what caused him to get so deep into such a dark place. He

And now I know.

Maddox will be absolutely shattered if he loses his mom. She’s his everything and not having her in his life will be the end of him.

I know if it was my parents, I would be the same way.

Which is why when Maddox asked if it was okay if we stayed here for the night instead of going to his apartment, I said yes.

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