Page 120 of Strictly the Worst

“I’m sorry. I’m just hormonal.” If this doesn’t put him off me then nothing will. “My period is due any day.”

He lets out a long breath. “Thank god. I was about to book the next flight home.”

“You’re coming home in two days anyway,” I point out, sniffling. “And you don’t need to fly back because I’m an idiot.” He’s the one who has to cope with being away from home, and all the jet lag.

“It would be a win-win.” There’s a smile in his voice. “I’d get some fucking sleep at night.”

“I’ll give you all the sleep this weekend,” I promise him. “I’ll make you sleep so good, baby.”

He laughs and it feels so good to hear it.

“Unfortunately, we have to go out on Saturday night.”

“We do?” Well there goes my plan of not getting out of bed for two days.

“My family is in town. They want to catch up. And meet you.”

My chest tightens. “Why?” I ask, because I genuinely have no idea. I’m not rich like them. Not glamorous. Linc showed me some of the photographs from his brother’s wedding. The dresses there were more expensive than my bathroom cost. I know because Page Six said so.

And now I’m thinking about Jared’s parents, and how they never liked me. I’m pretty sure they did some kind of happy dance when they found out about our separation.

“Because they want to meet the woman who puts a smile on my face. And I want you to meet them, too.”

And now I feel worse than ever. A tear rolls down my cheek because this man knows exactly how to sweet talk.

And he is sweet. The sweetest. I miss him so much.

It’s stupid to feel such a crisis of confidence, I know that. But everything inside of me feels on edge.

It’s just the hormones, I tell myself. That’s all it is.

If Linc wants me to meet his family then I’ll do it for him.

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll do it.”

“Of course you will. And they’ll love you.”

I’m not sure they will. And isn’t that the bitch? Because I’ve fallen in love with this man. I need to tell him, but I’ll do it when saying it doesn’t make me cry.

“I miss you,” I whisper instead. But it means the same thing.

I miss you. I love you.

God, I hope his family doesn’t hate me.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-NINE

TESSA

Linc arrives at my house extremely late on Friday. I ended up getting a key made for him. Much to his annoyance, I left it under a pot at the front of the house, because I needed to get to bed and Zoe is at a friend’s for a sleepover before going to her dad’s tomorrow. Still, he must have found it because I wake up to him laying in my bed, his arms around my waist, spooning me from behind.

I turn to look at him and his eyes catch mine.

“When did you get back?” I ask him.

“About an hour ago.” He presses his lips against mine. “Flight was delayed by an hour. Some motherfucker missed the boarding call and we missed our takeoff spot.”

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