Page 49 of Filthy Twisted Devil

“Me neither,” says Brinley. “I’m of the firm belief that having a child and starting a business at the same time is a recipe for a nervous breakdown.”

“Technically, you're not starting a business,” Eden says. “You're just pivoting the business you already have.”

Brinley's eyes flash with mischief. “Well if it's not me or Pippa, you know what that means. Eden, you’re next.”

The group oo’s, and Eden sighs. “Please. Luke and I have barely started dating.”

“Yeah, the honeymoon phase,” Ryan says. “Perfect time for baby making.”

“If you time it right, you can get all Maura and James’s baby hand-me-downs,” Beau adds. “Score.”

“I’ll happily be the godmother,” Pippa says.

“Hey! I thought you wanted to be my baby’s godmother,” Cat complains.

“What? I can do both! I have great time management.”

“See? We all agree,” Pippa says, smirking. “Luke and Eden are having the next group baby. Don’t bother arguing.”

Everyone laughs, except for Eden and Brinley. My sister is scowling like someone just spat in her cereal, and all the color has drained from Eden’s face. I brace myself, because I have a feeling I know exactly what she’s going to say next.

“We’re faking it,” she blurts out. “Luke and I aren’t really dating.”

The room falls into complete silence, save for the Mariah Carey Christmas album playing quietly in the background. For a moment, everyone gapes at us. Then Ryan cries, “What?”

“Our whole relationship is fake,” Eden says. “I needed to get my overprotective brothers off my back, and Luke needed a PR overhaul. It solved problems for both of us, so we just ran with it. None of it was real.”

“Wow,” Cat says, her eyes wide. “I thought—well, I’m shocked!”

“You’re better actors than Beau and Brinley were,” James says, earning an elbow to the ribs from Beau.

“They are not!” Beau complains. “I figured it out immediately.”

Nate raises his hand. “I suspected.”

Ryan shakes his head. “Are you kidding? Have you all seen the way he looks at her? If that’s fake, then I have no idea what’s real anymore.”

The guys laugh, and I join in, a little uncomfortably. Eden’s face is Santa-red.

“Seriously, though, you can't tell anyone,” I insist. “If any gossip flags catch on, my reputation is ruined. And if Eden’s brothers find out, they’ll never leave her alone. So nobody outside of this room can ever find out.”

“Ryan,” Pippa hisses. “They mean you.”

I tune them both out as Ryan starts protesting his excellent track record as a secret keeper, even while the guys provide counterevidence. Normally, I’d be right there with them, reminding Ryan of the time he spilled the beans about three separate surprise parties. Right now, I couldn’t give less of a fuck.

I thought it would be a relief to tell everyone. Instead, dread weighs heavy in my stomach. Now that everyone knows, we won't have a reason to pretend. I've lost most of my reasons to touch Eden, to sit next to her or whisper in her ear. If I stop pretending, I lose the only parts of her I have—parts I didn’t realize I needed so much.

I’m totally fucked.

20

EDEN

When Beau takes Brinley’s hand and pulls her toward the center of the room, my heart leaps in my chest. I know what’s coming—Beau asked me for ring approval already, and I suspected he’d ask tonight, when we were all together.

I sit up straighter on the couch and subtly pull out my phone, ready to snap a picture. Luke casually strolls over toward me, and I can tell from his careful expression that he knows, too. We’re both crazy excited but determined not to ruin the surprise.

Beau stops and clears his throat. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”