Pretend to Love You by Julia Jarrett

Author:Julia Jarrett [Julia Jarrett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Julia Jarrett
Published: 2023-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter seventeen

Jude

I don’t know what I expected when I agreed to pretend to date Lily. But it doesn’t feel like much has changed. Aside from the lunch with her grandmother, we’ve gone out for dinner twice, and she’s dragged me out for a walk on her days off. Nothing has happened beyond holding hands or the limited touches in public. At the clinic, we have to be extra careful, walking a fine line between wanting to be convincing but not inappropriate, given she’s still my therapist.

The problem is, the more time I spend with her, the more time I want to spend with her. And the more I touch her, the more I want to touch her. She’s a beautiful woman, but more than that, she’s the most warm, genuine, authentically good person I know outside of my own family. And to top it off, I can’t forget how fucking good it felt waking up with her in my arms and kissing her.

I really want to kiss her again.

But I can’t tell if she wants that or if she wants to steer clear of anything physical. Which is giving me some fucking blue as hell balls.

The only silver lining is that the worried expressions on my mom’s and sister’s faces have faded when they look at me. Of course, the flip side is having to deal with their not so subtle attempts at interrogating me on how and when things started with Lily. I’ve deflected so far, but Mom is insisting Lily come to a family dinner, and soon. That should be interesting.

Tonight I let my brothers drag me out for drinks at Hastings. When Max mentioned Heidi was going to stop by as well, I sent a quick message to Lily.

JUDE: Drinks at Hastings with my siblings? Could be a good chance to put on a show.

LILY: That makes me feel like a Vegas showgirl. I’m not busting out the go-go boots for you, sir.

JUDE: Part of me really wants to know if you actually have go-go boots.

LILY: Only part of you?

JUDE: Well the other part of me is worried that if you do, that means my sister does. And that’s an image I don’t need.

LILY: Prude.

JUDE: Older brother.

LILY: My, my, Jude. Look at you, being borderline flirty with the banter. We’re bantering. I’m impressed. Wait. Are you smiling?

Damn it, my lips are turned up. It feels weird, like the muscles haven’t been used in a long time.

JUDE: Of course not. I don’t smile.

LILY: Uh-huh.

JUDE: Listen. Are you coming to the bar or not?

LILY: Kat and I were already planning on it. She’s been texting with Heidi.

When Beckett, my chauffeur for the night, and I arrive at the bar, Sawyer, Max, and Heidi are already there, a pitcher of beer and a stack of glasses on the table. They’re in the middle of a conversation but abruptly stop when we walk up.

“Well, if that isn’t a sign you were talking about one of us, I don’t know what is,” I comment drily, sliding into a chair.

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