The Player + The Pact = I Do by Louise Bay

Author:Louise Bay [Bay, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

Jules

I’m starting to think the double tequila shot before I came out this evening was a bad idea. But after seeing my dad, I needed something to help me chill out before meeting Sophia. Part of me wanted to cancel tonight and run back to my mom. But I don’t want to let Sophia down.

“Shots!” Sophia calls. I know I should say no, but alcohol makes it easier to lie to my friends that I’m engaged and not tell them I saw my dad today. Both topics feel equally forbidden.

Sophia still hasn’t straight-up asked me if the engagement is real. She’s asked me some more questions, almost daring me to be honest with her. I explained that we’d shared a kiss and he’d decided he didn’t want a fake fiancée anymore. She’s going along with it. It’s all I can ask.

“Only one more,” I say.

“You’re going to need them, trust me.” She winks at me and nods towards Natasha, one of our old school friends. She lives in Ohio now but happened to be in town.

“Why am I going to need them?” I ask.

“Because,” Natasha says. She digs around in her bag and pulls out a plastic tiara. “This.” She squeals. Part of me dies inside.

“No,” I groan.

“Yes!” Sophia takes the tiara and places it on my head.

The headpiece has a short veil in front, prickly and stiff. I feel about as comfortable wearing it as I would a real wedding tiara.

“It actually suits you, which spoils the effect a little,” Sophia says.

“You mean it would be better if it made me look terrible?” I ask. Sophia isn’t the kind of friend to set anyone up for a fall, so it’s a weird thing to say.

“More… I think it would be better if it didn’t look like it could have been a deliberate choice.”

I laugh and reach up to pull it off, but both Sophia and Natasha stop me. I don’t know if it’s the booze or the way it’s just good to see my friends again, but I relent and let the wonky tiara be.

“So how did you meet him?” Natasha asks. “I feel so out of it in Ohio. I didn’t even know you were dating.”

“I live with her and I didn’t know,” Sophia says. “I thought you hated your boss.”

“He’s your boss?” Natasha asks.

I’ve been a little vague with Sophia about my change in employment and relationship status. Of course, she knew why I took the assistant job, but I’ve just told her my role at the hotel is temporary.

“What’s with the sudden change of heart?” Sophia asks. “I don’t get it.”

I shrug. “I’ve always thought he was hot,” I say. Again, it’s kind of true.

“Thinking someone is hot is a far cry from marrying them,” Natasha says.

“True. What can I say? I found out he’s… different to how I thought he was.” Now that is one hundred percent true. Yes, Leo is a flirt who’s had more than his fair share of women, but he’s kind and sweet and humble.

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