Page 48 of Forever and Other Lies

“Seriously, Brennan. I’m not in the mood for your crap tonight.”

“Yet, you sat down. Uninvited. Next to me!” His phone dinged, and he swiped to read the incoming text message, groaning as he did.

Jayna leaned over his shoulder, not bothering to hide the fact that she was reading the text on his phone.

“Is this guy for real?”

Derek stuck the phone in his back pocket and took a long swallow of whiskey. “He’s legit. Rumored to have mafia ties. Lots of friends in high places and even more friends in low places.”

She let out a whistle. “So, is this threat real?”

“Yep.”

Jayna’s eyes flitted to the table in the corner. Lance was watching her. Interesting.

“You should show the boy toy that you can do relationships.” Derek’s eyes followed her gaze. “Get some poor schmuck to date you for a while. Make Lance Romance jealous.”

Her gaze shifted back to Derek. She stared at him long and hard. “For once, Brennan, you’ve actually had a great idea.”

She stood and grabbed his hand, yanking hard until he stood as well.

“What’s happening?” he asked.

“We’re dating, schmuck, make it look good!”

“Whoa, I wasn’t offering to be the schmuck!” He pulled his hand free.

“Too bad.” She grabbed his hand again, steering him toward the dance floor. “I need a fake boyfriend and you need a fake girlfriend to keep you out of a full-body cast.”

“Hooking up with another chick is not going to help me.” Derek wrapped his arms around her waist, and she looped hers around his neck.

“Oh, we are not hooking up!” Jayna scrunched up her nose. “This is pure show. You tell the mob boss that your old girlfriend reappeared and is pregnant. You’re going to try to make it work for the baby’s sake. Get married.”

“Whoa!” He pulled back, blinking rapidly. Oh, she was really enjoying the look of panic on his stupid face. “I go from being a fake boyfriend to a fake fiancé?”

“Unless you have a better idea to keep yourself out of traction?”

“This is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard, and I’m the king of stupid ideas,” he moaned.

“And when has the fact that an idea is stupid ever stopped you from going through with it?”

He shook his head rapidly back and forth. “No one will believe that we’re a couple.”

“Why not?” She frowned.

“Because you’re you and I’m me. We’re basically the same person. Anti-relationship people.” He looked at her like she had just lost her mind. And maybe she had. Was she actually proposing that they date?

Her eyes found Lance again. He was definitely watching her with Derek. It might be a really stupid idea, but it may just work. She had nothing to lose, and Derek—well, he could lose his ability to walk unassisted.

“We’re perfect for each other!” Jayna exclaimed, her eyes growing large.

“No, we are not!” he said, enunciating each word. “I hate you and you hate me.”

“Love and hate are a fine, blurry line,” she quipped.

“No one will buy it.” Derek’s eyes narrowed.

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