Page 57 of Fake Fiancé for the Billionaire Rockstar

“Just… I need some space, Carmen.”

Before I can beg him to stay any longer, he tugs the shirt over his head and disappears from the room. I want to follow him, but my feet stay glued to the floor and I don’t move until ten minutes have passed.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

I was going to tell him I’ve fallen for him, that I wanted to give our relationship a real try, but everything is ruined.

A text comes in from Declan, begging for me to call him when I get the chance, but I swipe away the notification. Just as I do that, more text messages come in from my family wanting to talk to me. It’s Layla’s text that makes me pause and scrunch my brows together.

Layla: I figured this day was coming. You’ve been balancing on a tightrope with Donny since this whole thing started. Call me.

How did she even know what was going on?

Instead of trying to figure out the answer for myself, I ignore everyone else’s messages and call my sister. The line rings a few times, then she’s shuffling on the other end. “Hey there, sis, looks like you got yourself into a situation.”

“How did you know?”

She chuckles. “I wasn’t born yesterday. You guys were obvious, and I told Donny as much before you guys left. Are you okay?”

A sob slips past my lips and tears start rolling down my cheeks as the gravity of my situation comes crashing into me. “I-I love him, Lay.”

“Figured as much,” she whispers. “Why is that a problem?”

“He thinks I did this. Walked out.” Another sob breaks free and I drop to the floor. “I was going to tell him I wanted to be more. I was ready to say to hell with my values and see where this could go.”

“Then, tell him that.”

“He walked out, Lay, don’t you get that?” I shake my head and swipe angrily at my eyes. “He made his decision.”

“Everyone is angry, Carmen,” Layla says softly. “You guys lied to everyone you cared about, and now emotions are running high. Give him a minute to cool off before making any rash moves.”

“I’m sorry,” I choke out.

She sighs heavily into the line. “You don’t have to apologize to me, Carmen. I understand, and figured you’d do something like this eventually if everyone wouldn’t get off your back.”

Frantic knocks sound on my front door and I lift from the floor, hurrying to see who it is. Mia, Julia, and Mallory are all standing there breathlessly and I wave them inside with a frown. “Uh, Lay, I’ll call you later. There’s a few people here I need to talk to.”

“Call me if you need me. I love you, sis.”

“I love you, too.”

The girls are looking at me silently as I hang up and turn around, heading straight for the couch that looks comfier the more I stare at it. They follow me. No one utters a word, and I curl onto one end of the couch while the girls find their own seats.

“Babe,” Mallory says softly, reaching over to place her hand on my thigh. “Are you okay?”

As soon as she asks the questions, more sobs tear through my body and I hug my knees closer to my chest while the girls all wrap their arms around me.

Mia’s hand rubs soothing circles over my back, warm and gentle. Julia clings to me like a lifeline, her fingers digging into my arm as though to keep me from drifting away. Mallory threads her fingers through mine, the squeeze firm, grounding. Their touch keeps me from falling apart completely.

It’s all a sign to let me know that I have people in my life who’ve got my back.

Once my sobs calm down, the girls move away from me to give me some breathing room, and I look at them with a sad smile. “He walked out,” I choke out, “thinks that I did it on purpose.”

Their mouths drop open in shock and Mia frowns. “I’m sure he just needs time to think. Both of you probably do.”

“I don’t.” They stare at me expectantly and I look down at my feet, noticing the polish that’s starting to chip off. I reach out and use my nail to scrape more off, while sighing heavily. “I’ve never felt like this about someone, and I want to see where it can go.”

“Does he know that?”

---