Page 29 of The Write Track
“I wasn’t trying to do that when I said what I said. I just wanted him to get it through his head that I was done and there was no getting me back.” Her lower lip trembled until she reined in her emotions. “I still shouldn’t have said it. I’m almost never impulsive, but this time…”
“Bella, I promise whatever you said is going to be fine.” I meant every word. “Just tell me. I can’t help you figure it out until you do.”
She swallowed hard and nodded, clearly bracing herself. “It just slipped out.”
“What just slipped out?”
“I told him we were engaged. I thought he would back off once he knew there was no hope. He didn’t believe me, though.”
“He didn’twantto believe you.”
“He pointed out that I wasn’t wearing a ring. He truly didn’t believe me, and now I’m committed to the lie. Actually, I’ve committed both of us to this lie. You must think I’m a nut.”
I leaned back on the wicker couch and tapped my fingers on the arm as I debated our new predicament. “It’s not the worst idea in the world,” I said finally.
Her eyes practically bulged out of her head. “How can you say that?”
I shrugged. “Because even if he doesn’t believe you’re engaged, he’s going to look like the king of the douches if he pursues you when everybody else believes you’re engaged.”
“Everybody else? Who…?”
I could practically hear the gears in her mind working.
“We have a big retreat ahead of us, and more events at restaurants. We’re going to be interacting with other authors and readers. Everybody we come into contact with is going to have to believe we’re engaged this summer.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Bella didn’t look as if she believed me. “You’ve been nothing but nice to me, but I have it on good authority that you’re a dog.”
I barked out a laugh. “And whose authority is that?”
“Oh, I’m not answering that.” She averted her gaze.
“It’s fine. Bree has been calling me a dog for as long as I can remember.”
“I like Bree.”
“Bree is great,” I confirmed.
“You don’t strike me as a dog, but… she knows you better.” She held out her hands and swung her head left and right. “You can’t be a dog if you’re going to pretend to be engaged to me.”
“Somehow I think I’ll survive the summer without humping anybody’s leg,” I replied dryly.
“So you want to do this? You want to pretend we’re engaged?”
I shrugged. “It could be fun.” If only to get one over on Preston. “I don’t like your ex-boyfriend. He needs to learn a lesson about respect. I’m fine with making him think we’re engaged.”
“You don’t even know me, though.”
I shrugged. “I’ve known men like him.”My father was just like him.I didn’t tell her that. It wasn’t necessary. “He needs to learn boundaries. It’s fine.”
“But… other people are going to think it too. What if you want to start dating somebody for real?”
“That doesn’t happen to me. I mean, I’ll date someone for two weeks or so, but it’s never a big deal. I think I can forego that for one summer.” I grinned. “Actually, I’m kind of looking forward to it. It will be a pressure-free summer.”
“Yes, you won’t have to shave your legs or anything,” she replied, rolling her eyes.
I laughed at her theatrical response. “It’s fine,” I assured her. “We’ll be fine.”
“And the ring?”
