Page 83 of Just Act Natural

“So you two met on that hike Lila did?” Griffin looks like he’s battling laughter. “I’m trying to imagine how that went.”

“I had a lot of fun, thank you very much.” I turn my nose upat my soon-to-be brother-in-law. He’s honestly the best, but he doesn’t need to turn his teasing against me this early in the night.

He arches one eyebrow. Really, they’re all leveling me similar looks.

“Okay, it wasn’t the time of my life,” I say. “But I finished it. I didn’t ask to be airlifted out or rescued by the National Guard.”

Hope beams her smile my way. “I’m proud of you. You weren’t sure you could do it, but you did it anyway.”

I’ll take the praise. I don’t want to get sidetracked tonight talking about the hike, but itwasn’teasy.

“Tell us, Grant,” Mom says. “What drew you to Lila?”

Hope hisses, “Mom,” but otherwise, our little circle goes completely silent. I’m surprised nobody asks to turn down the music so they don’t miss a word of Grant’s answer.

I still. We didn’t discuss any of this in our hastyLet’s pretend fake dating will be easyconversations. We should have prepared a cover story, or an alibi, or a deadly allergy Grant could fake right this minute.

He releases my hand and slips his arm around my waist, grounding me. “I don’t think it was any one thing. I was enchanted from the first moment I saw her. She’s gorgeous, obviously, but she has this bright, shining enthusiasm that’s impossible to ignore. Like she’s made of light.”

Mom sighs. Frankly, I do, too.

“And she has a huge heart.” Grant keeps praising me like he’s gunning for a raise down at the fake boyfriend factory. “The real question is, how could I have met her and not been drawn to her?”

I maybe stare at him too obviously, but what else can I do? That might be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. If Iwatch him long enough, something in his expression is bound to confirm whether that’s fake or real. An eyebrow twitch or a smirk. Anything. But he just gazes back at me, looking for all the world like he truly means it.

He leans down and kisses my temple to cap it off. I don’t know if he’s trying to really sell it, or if he just wants to make my knees go weak. It’s working either way. Kudos to him.

Mom’s eyes are suspiciously watery. “That’s the sweetest thing. We’re so glad you two found each other.”

“And Lila?” Dad says. “What interested you in him?”

His voice holds an edge I don’t remember hearing before. Josh’s cheating and the little he knows of the rest of his behavior has ticked up his protectiveness a notch. Until right now, he hasn’t had anywhere to direct it.

“Well…” It’s only just this minute that I realize what a horribly intrusive question that is. Putting someone on the spot and asking why they fell for their partner? That’s got to go against some kind of party etiquette, doesn’t it? “He was always really…kind to me.”

That answer lands like a balloon slowly losing air and making a rude sound as it falls to the floor. Their eyes on me are like feelers searching for a better response.

I risk a sideways glance at Grant. His tiny, fake smile makes me want to kick myself. He was honest—or as honest as a real boyfriend would be. He fully immersed himself in the character. I can do the same. And I won’t even have to make anything up.

“We all know I was never going to be amazing in the wilderness,” I start in. “And I wasn’t, right from the beginning. I was tired and slow and completely unprepared. But Grant didn’t care how long it took me to get over a rise or complain when I stopped to retie my shoes twenty times a day just to catch mybreath. He was patient with me and always made sure I was taken care of.”

I hug him a bit closer even though I can’t look up at him right now. “He never spoke badly of me or anyone else, and he never lost his positive attitude. I knew right away he was nice, but I learned he wasgood, too. And…yeah. I’ve never met anyone quite like him before.”

They’re all still watching me, but every last one of them has the same sort of smile on their face—the way you look when a little kid has told a story that revealed a lot more personal information than you were expecting to hear.

“And he saved me from several vicious birds,” I throw in. “So he’s pretty much my own personal superhero.”

“Lila,” Mom scolds. “Did you have a ribbon in your hair again?”

“No. There’s just an alarming number of birds in the wild.”

Griffin turns to Hope. “I’m missing something here.”

I hold a hand out to stop her. “Please don’t tell him right now. As a good hostess, it’s your duty to not embarrass your guests.” I take my case straight to her fiancé. “Grant loves the outdoorsy stuff even more than you, Griffin. You guys should discuss that.”

“Lila.” Mom apparently wants me to stay on topic.

“If you need suggestions for anything, let me know.” Griffin doesn’t seem to mind the subject change. Apparently, he has an impressive arsenal of scenic spots and favorite outdoor activities he’s shared with Hope. From all she’s said, most of them involve making out in the woods.

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