Page 42 of Faking It with my Billionaire Grump

My eyes fly wide. “Greg?”

“Oh, yes,” Chris adds. “Mel has her man on the job.” He grins. “Tilly is her best friend, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know that,” I drawl sarcastically. “Thanks for letting me know.” I look at Joey. “And to answer your question, no, it didn’t work. The city slicker hasn’t bought the fake engagement.”

The guys look disappointed for me. “What are you going to do?” Phil says.

“More to the point, what’s Tilly going to do?” Chris says. “This is her problem, not Jake’s.”

“I think it’s a bit late for that, man,” Phil says. “Look at him.” He jerks his head at me. “He’s committed now.”

“You should get out while you can, Jake,” Chris says, leaning over the pool table to line up his shot. “You tried; it didn’t work. Wash your hands of her and move on.”

“We’re getting married,” I say bluntly.

Chris completely misses the white ball, and in no time, all three are gawking at me. Then they all protest at the same time.

“Are you out of your mind?” Chris blurts.

“No way,” Joey cries.

“This is nuts,” Phil balks.

I raise my hands to calm them all. “It’s not real. Just like the engagement isn’t real,” I assure them. “But we figure it’s the only way he’s going to leave Tilly alone.”

“How is this your problem?” Chris presses.

“Listen. I know you guys are worried about me, but I have everything under control.” None of them look convinced. “Do you really expect me to stand by while Tilly is in trouble? I mean, really? After the history we’ve shared, what kind of guy would that make me? Even without our history, what kind of guy would that make me?”

Their stern expressions fall a little. Chris drops his gaze and shrugs, Phil looks sympathetic, and Joey looks at me knowingly. These guys know me better than anyone. I’ll help anyone if they are stuck, and they know it. In fact, I have on many occasions.

Sure, what I’m doing could be seen as crazy, but if I’ll help a stranger, I sure as heck am going to be there for someone I’ve known for most of my life.

They’re now nodding and shrugging; it’s hardly convincing, but I almost believe they get my point.

“So, Tilly Collins is going to make an honest man out of you,” Chris says.

He’s clearly trying to be understanding, and I’m grateful for that. These are my best friends. I don’t want tension between us because of my decision.

I slip my hand into my pocket and pull out the small box I found in the junk room earlier. I flick it open, and they all gawk at it with wide eyes.

Chris balks. “Is that…?”

“Yes,” I nod. “It’s the one I bought just after prom.”

They’ve all seen this ring before. I showed it to them ten years ago when I told them I was going to ask Tilly to marry me. I was so sure she would say yes, I’d already bought our wedding bands. Once I proposed, I was going to let her choose her own engagement ring.

“Are you sure this isn’t tempting fate?” Phil says.

I shrug and shake my head. “The worst has already happened. What’s there to be worried about? Besides, this marriage is pretend, just like the engagement.”

Joey gives me a long look. “Yeah. Right.”

They all start laughing then while at the same time giving me knowing looks. I laugh along but shake my head, letting them know they’ve got it all wrong.

They have got it wrong, right?

Tilly arrives the following morning at the same time as usual. I’m curious as to whether she’s told her parents what we plan to do, and so, once she’s out of the truck and on the porch, ruffling Elsa’s fur, I ask her.

---