Page 51 of Fake Fiancé for the Billionaire Rockstar

He scoffs. “Jace is talking to them, and I’d hate to see what Mallory would do if she caught sight of their hands all over him.”

The security guard clears his throat, pulling my attention back to him, and sighs heavily while shifting uncomfortably on his feet. “What am I doing, guys? Sending them packing?”

“Jace got it. Just go keep watch, so no one thinks they can sneak their way up here.”

He nods curtly, then descends the stairs just as Jace comes barreling past him toward us.

“Eventful night, huh?” I ask, smirking.

Jace grunts in response, then takes a seat at one of the tables leaned against the glass wall overlooking the dance floor. The rest of us follow suit and that’s when the nerves come back full force.

The table is silent for a moment, then Evan nudges me. “So, mind telling us what the hell is going on? I’d rather not be here longer than necessary.” His eyes dart toward the stairs, like he thinks the women are going to manage to worm their way through the velvet rope, but we both know it’s not going to happen.

“Right,” I choke out, then quickly take another sip of beer. “Things are… complicated.”

“So uncomplicate them?” Jace says with a shake of his head. “This is what you needed to tell us? That your life is in shambles or some shit?”

I sigh heavily and shake my head, convincing myself not to take another sip of the beer or else I’m worried I’ll never stop. “Not exactly. My relationship with Carmen is complicated.”

“Now this,” Evan says, smirking and leaning forward, “is what I say is a good reason for the get together.” He stares at me and blinks a few times, patiently waiting for me to keep going with the details.

“It’s more for you,” Brent says easily as he leans back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest. “Isn’t that what you’re going to say?”

“How are you coming to that conclusion?” I ask, brow arched.

He chuckles. “We’ve all been there, man. It’s not hard to see it when it’s happening to someone else.” Our lead singer leans forward and nods toward me. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

Love?

That wasn’t exactly where I was going with this, more so I wanted to tell them that my feelings were falling into dangerous territory and get their advice on how to go about it. Now that Brent asks, though, is that what this is?

Even as I sit here with the guys, the urge to grab my phone and text Carmen is gnawing at me. The idea of being away from her for even one night makes my chest tighten. It’s irrational, I know that. But the thought of her not being there, of her slipping away after what we’ve shared... it’s unbearable.

I never realized how much space she’s taken up in my head until now. I never thought much about love, or what it would be like when I felt it.

Brent takes my silence as confirmation and Evan whistles before smirking.

Evan leans in, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “So, Romeo, what’s the plan? You can’t just drop the L-bomb on us and leave us hanging.”

I run a hand through my hair, suddenly feeling exposed. “I don’t know, man. This wasn’t exactly part of the plan.”

“Plans change,” Brent says, his voice calm but steady. “The real question is, are you ready for this one?”

19

Carmen

I’m rushing through myapartment, desperately trying to find my heels, when there’s a sharp knock on my front door. My perfectly styled curls tumble in front of my face as I bend down by the couch, checking underneath.Nothing. I lift up with a groan and head toward the distraction I don’t need right now.

It’s probably one of my neighbors, coming to complain about the noise I’ve been making, but they’ve picked the wrong time. I’ve been plenty polite since moving in, but tonight, I have no problem snapping at them if I need to.

My breath hitches when I pull the front door open and I almost lose my footing.

That’s definitely not a neighbor.

I clear my throat and force a smile. “Donny, I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

He stands there, his eyes sweeping over me, lingering for a moment before he frowns. “Hot date,fiancée?”

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