Page 60 of Fake Fiancé for the Billionaire Rockstar

I shake my head. “I’m good, really.”

Everyone stares at me for a few more moments, then they nod and turn toward the front door. Mia is the only one who stays behind and she waits until they leave before taking a few steps toward me with a small smile.

“She really loves you, Donny. None of us realized someone was listening to our conversation, or thought that they would make money off the story. It was an accident, that’s all.”

“I love her, too,” I whisper and shake my head. “Everything would be fine if I had just let her talk instead of rushing out.”

With my past, I didn’t want to let her get the chance to hurt me. I didn’t want her words to pierce me in such a visceral way that I simply walked out before they could make their mark. Mia nods and smiles. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Just talk to her. We’ve gotten too attached to just let her walk away from us now — she’s family.”

Family.

My mom had a lot to say about the situation and was hurt that I would go to such lengths to make her happy. She told me that she’s only ever wanted the best for me and apologized about being too devoted to my love life. I’ve still got a lot of making up to do for lying to her, but she’s more understanding about why I did it.

I also managed to tell her how I really feel about Carmen and that even though it started as a fake engagement, it’s turned into much more than that. Mia is talking of family and she’s right, but I want to create a different kind of family and to create it with Carmen.

“I’m, uh, gonna head to bed,” I say. “I’ve got a lot of apologizing to do in the morning, it seems.”

She gives me a quick hug, then hurries out the front door and lets it fall shut softly behind her. I let out a rough breath and run a hand through my hair while looking out at the cityscape in front of me. This view is nothing without the woman I love standing next to me, and there’s only one way I can make sure to get her back.

I need to get her back.

***

I’m in the middle of pouring a bowl of cereal as I stare at the TV in front of me, Kelly’s Morning Show flashing across the screen. Kelly is on top of everything when it comes to celebrities and I don’t doubt that she’ll be doing a segment on the truth of my fake engagement. I should probably turn it off, but something keeps me from doing that.

Kelly waves to the camera, a big smile on her face, and the screen turns to black before a plethora of commercials starts up. I take that moment to pick my phone up and find Carmen’s name in my phone. I texted her once this morning, asking if I could come by so we could talk, but she still hasn’t responded to me.

What if she’s already left the city and gotten away from me?

I shake my head at the negative thought and frown. No, I’ve got to think on the positive side of things. There’s a chance she chose to sleep in today, especially after yesterday’s events, and she’ll respond in a couple hours.

I’m making a big deal out of nothing.

The commercials come to stop and Kelly’s smile pops back onto the screen.

“I told you that we had a special guest waiting for us when we got back, and I’m very excited to announce that Carmen Blackwood is here with us!”

The sound of Carmen’s name has me dropping my spoon back into the bowl and I blink a few times at the screen. One of the camera’s zooms out, away from Kelly’s face, and sitting across from her is none other than the woman I’ve fallen in love with. She’s smiling, but there’s a nervous quality to it that makes my heart race.

What is she doing?

She’s got a pencil skirt that shows the right amount of soft, creamy skin, and a blouse that ties around her neck. Instead of her hair being pulled up, she has her auburn locks spiraled around her face and I can’t help but be mesmerized by her.

“Kelly, hi, I’m so glad that you could get me in at the last minute,” Carmen says, crossing one leg over the other.

“After everything I’ve been seeing, how could I possibly pass it up?” Kelly says with a chuckle, the crowd surrounding them following suit. “You wanted to come on and tell your side of the story. I’m interested to know what that is.”

Carmen smiles, then darts her attention toward the camera. For a moment it’s as if she’s looking right at me and I pause in the middle of the living room. Thank goodness the guys aren’t here right now, or else they’d see how far gone I am even when she’s not standing in front of me.

“That’s right,” Carmen says, still not taking her gaze away from the camera. “The article wasn’t wrong. Everything about our engagement was a sham, a way to get our families off our backs.”

The crowd gasps, but Kelly sits straighter and leans forward with a sparkle in her eyes. “And what about now?”

My heart stutters in my chest as I wait for Carmen to answer.

Carmen’s voice wavers, but she presses on, refusing to let the doubt seep in. Her heart pounds in her chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on her shoulders, but for the first time, she’s not afraid to speak her truth.

“Well, it turns out that this fake engagement was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I found a man I’ve come to love in the most unexpected way.”

---