Page 9 of Bright Lights and Summer Nights

Peyton looks at me from over Emma’s shoulder. “You’ve never introduced someone to the family, Pres. I’m sorry for being a little excited about it.” Despite her argument, she does pull away and let Emma go. Although I want to take a step closer to Emma and make sure she doesn’t run for the hills, I don’t. I stay where I’m at. She probably thinks I’m some creep just randomly pulling her into being my fake girlfriend for the night. The least I can do is give her some space.

“So nice to meet you.” To Emma’s credit, she keeps her voice composed. She even gives Peyton a warm smile, making the tension in my muscles soften slightly.

“I cannot believe you brought a date to the wedding and didn’t tell me.” Peyton points a finger at me before poking my chest.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m just here for the night,” Emma lies. Or maybe it isn’t a lie. I don’t miss how my stomach drops slightly at the thought of not seeing her again after tonight.

“Nonsense. You have to come to the wedding. You have to come to all the celebrations,” Peyton demands, leaving no room for argument with her tone.

“She’s just here to keep me company tonight. Don’t worry about adjusting anything for the week. I know how carefully you planned it out,” I add, realizing I didn’t think this through at all when I lied about Emma being my girlfriend.

Peyton waves her hand dismissively. “Are you kidding me? I’ll be upset if she doesn’t come to the wedding week events.” She turns her attention to Emma, grabbing her hands and holding them close to her. “You’ll come. Right?”

“Ummm…” Emma looks at me with fear.

I give her an apologetic look, hoping she knows none of this was my intention.

Maybe I should just tell Peyton it was a misunderstanding. She knows how clingy Marsha can be. If I just admit that I lied about Emma being my girlfriend because I was trying to get Marsha off my case, I think my sister would understand.

“Gram! Come meet Preston’s new girlfriend!” Peyton shouts, getting the attention of someone I’d really prefer not to lie to.

“Oh shit,” Emma says under her breath. Unfortunately, it was just loud enough that Peyton heard it.

Peyton gives Emma a reassuring look. “Gram is amazing. You’ll love her.”

Emma looks over at me, her eyes wide. “Honey,” she begins, emphasizing the word honey a little too much. “Don’t you think it’s a little early to meet Gram?”

“There she is!” I say, looking over at Gram, who is closing in on our little circle. My grandmother is easily one of my favorite humans on the planet, if not my favorite. She’s always so effortlessly cool—and takes shit from no one. She helped shape me into the man I am today, and I do feel a twinge of guilt that I’m going to lie to sweet, old Gram.

Gram barely spares me a second glance. She shoos me away with a wave of her hand and goes right for Emma. “You’re too beautiful for him,” Gram says immediately before even introducing herself.

Emma’s jaw drops. Apparently, Gram’s quick wit is enough to stun Emma speechless. She tilts her head and purses her lips. Before she can find a response to Gram’s words, Gram beats her to it.

“I thought I’d die before ever seeing Preston bring home a woman for us to meet.”

CHAPTER 6

EMMA

I can’t do this. I absolutely cannot do this. Preston’s Gram looks exactly like Betty White, and no one—and I mean absolutely no one—can lie to a woman who looks like the angel that is the Betty White.

“Hi,” I manage to get out, despite the feeling of my throat swelling up from nerves. “I’m Emma.”

Grammy’s cold hands wrap around mine. She seems so frail as her fingertips dig into mine. “It’s so nice to meet you, Emma. I’m Lois, but you can call me Gram.”

All I can do is nod. I think I want to kill Preston. I was having a great time with him—I even pondered if maybe I should allow myself just one night of fun with him because he seemed like he’d be absolutely mind-blowing in bed. Now, I’ve found myself sucked into some charade for his family as I pretend to be his girlfriend. I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to role-play, but I envisioned it happening in the bedroom to spice things up, not at a family event where I’m getting the hopes up of a sweet old lady.

Was Preston’s sister’s friend really that bad? The moment I get him alone, I want to ask him what stage clinger we’re talking about for him to go to these great lengths to keep her away.

I realize that I’ve been internally panicking for too long as his grandma watches me closely, waiting for me to answer. “Oh, Gram seems special. I’m good with Lois.”

She scrunches her nose as if I just said the most ridiculous thing ever. “If you call me Lois, I’ll be upset. I know it must be serious for Preston to bring you to Peyton’s wedding. You’re family now.”

Family?

I can’t be part of his family. Fuck, I barely had my own family growing up. It was just me and my aunt, nobody else. I don’t know how to be a part of a family, and I don’t particularly want to learn by pretending either.

I should run. I wore the worst heels possible to ever run in, but I should make it work and run for the damn hills.

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