Page 37 of Faking It with my Billionaire Grump

“Jake.”

I turn to see George coming after me, and I wonder if I’ve forgotten something in the store. But I notice his hands are empty, so he must want me for something else.

“What’s up?” I ask when he reaches me.

“I meant to tell you that Katie’s birthday is in a couple of weeks. We’re having a barbecue and you and…” He pauses, looking a little unsure.

“Tilly?”

“Yes. Tilly. You and Tilly are invited.” He looks at me warily. “Is it true? Are you guys really pretending to be back together to get rid of her ex?”

I’m about to answer when I hear raised voices behind me. George and I both turn to look, and immediately, I know I need to go. Tilly is still on the other side of the street, only now, she’s arguing loudly with Bryan.

Without looking away, I say, “I need to go.”

“Sure,” George replies, but I’m already walking away.

I take long, determined strides across the street, and upon reaching Tilly, who seems relieved to see me, I look Bryan in the eye.

“What’s going on?”

I’m head and shoulders above him, but that doesn’t seem to deter him as he scowls up at me. “None of your darned business,” he spits, looking at me like I’m something he’s wiped off his shoe.

Throwing an arm across Tilly’s shoulder in a relaxed fashion, I glare back at him. “Actually, it becomes my business when you’re yelling at my fiancée.”

“Really?” Bryan sneers, looking from Tilly to me and back again. “This is what you want me to believe, Tilly?”

“Hey,” I say sharply. “Talk to me.”

He ignores me completely and snorts, looking back at Tilly. “You’re too good for this loser. I mean, look at him. What can he possibly offer you that I can’t?”

“How about a little respect?” I snap.

“You know nothing about Jake,” Tilly cuts in abrasively. “You stand there in judgment, but it’s you who’s yelling at me in the middle of the street. Jake has never done that, and I know he never will. He’s a better man than you’ll ever be. He’s loyal, faithful, kind, and supportive. All the things I want and need.”

“I was all those things to you,” Bryan argues.

“No, Bryan. You weren’t. You never have been, and you never will be. You saw me as competition. Something to control, like a pet. Jake sees me and loves me for who I am. And I love him for who he is. Just get it into your thick head. It’s over.”

“Not yet, it isn’t,” Bryan barks.

But he knows he’s lost this battle, and turning on his heels, he storms away.

“Nice guy,” I quip.

I didn’t notice, with all the hullabaloo, but Tilly has her arm wrapped around my back. She now looks up at me and places her other hand against my chest.

“Thank you, Jake.”

I gaze down at her, and in that moment, I want to wrap my arms around her and protect her from all the badness of the world. It’s an overwhelming feeling that takes me by complete surprise. I loved this woman once upon a time. I’d do anything for her. But I have a very real feeling that my protectiveness now is not just because of our past connection.

“We should go.”

We head to the warehouse and pick up the feed. All the way there, Tilly is quiet, like her mind is working overtime.

“Did he ever raise a hand to you?”

I pray the answer is no, but if she tells me he did, Bryan and I are going to have a whole lot more to talk about.

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