Page 18 of Faking It with my Billionaire Grump

Yes, it will, and I have to keep that objective in the forefront of my mind, no matter how many snarky looks I get.

“Do your mom and dad know?” Jake asks as we pull into the parking lot.

I turn to look at him. “Know what?” I mean, it’s a bit of a vague question.

He turns the engine off and looks back at me. “That this is a fake date, and the reason you’re doing it?”

I nod. “Of course.”

“And they’re okay with it?”

“Sure,” I reply.

What I fail to tell him is how they reacted when I told them. He certainly doesn’t need to know that Mom got all gooey and excited.

“Oh, Tilly,” she gasped. “Are you getting back together?”

Honestly, there are times when I wonder if the woman has hearing problems. I had sat them down and explained the entire thing and the reason behind my doing it, and that’s the answer she gave me.

“No, Mom. Weren’t you listening?” I replied, struggling to curb my frustration.

“I was,” she said, “but you never know. Maybe this date will lead to other things. I don’t think Jake’s ever gotten over you, you know, and—”

“Mom,” I said, firmly cutting off her fantasy for my future. “It’s not happening. Jake and I have both moved on. Besides, I’ve just ended a relationship. I have no intention of walking straight into another one. And certainly not with Jake Coulter.”

Dad had sat there quietly, considering what I had told them, and then he said, “Do you think this is a good idea, Tilly? You know what this town is like. News of you and Jake will spread like wildfire.”

He was saying so much more in those few words, and I knew it. He was warning me of the backlash that was likely to come, but I’d already considered it. When I left so abruptly last time, I knew I was the subject of all their gossip. Mel told me, though I do think she played it down to protect my feelings.

People were angry for Jake’s sake, and I can’t blame them. I’d run out on him with no explanation, leaving him to pick up the pieces and try to figure out what had gone wrong. Baskington is a very close-knit community, and I know they pulled together tocomfort him. I have no doubt I’m seen as the devil’s daughter around here, which is why I’m currently feeling a little sick.

“Shall we go?” Jake says, pulling at the handle of his door.

By the time I’ve gathered myself, he’s opened my door for me. It’s a very gentlemanly gesture, but I know it doesn’t mean anything. Jake and his brothers were just raised right.

“Thanks,” I say, slipping off the seat.

Jake looks uncomfortable, like he wants to say something but doesn’t know how.

“What?” I ask.

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “I mean, do you want us to hold hands or something?”

I’ll be honest, I hadn’t thought about that. We are supposed to be dating. But for me, it’s just too much.

“We’re together. That should be enough,” I say.

I can see the relief physically wash over him, and while I understand his reasons, I can’t help but feel a little hurt. But hey, maybe I deserve it, right? He went through a lot more pain than this when I up and left without a word.

We cross the parking lot together and are nearing the front of the bar when a bicycle and its rider come flying around the corner.

Jake’s arms fly out and grab me, pulling me out of the way, but in these stupid heels, I trip over myself and my full weight lands on him. Clearly, he’s not expecting that because he then loses his balance, and the two of us go careening into the ornate bushes that surround the bar.

“Ow,” he cries, grimacing.

I got the better end of the deal given the fact that I landed on top of him. That’s one way to get the town talking.

“Are you okay?” I say, pushing myself off him and standing.

---