Page 54 of The Guy Who Fake Dated Me

“I’m not surprised.” He glanced around. “I think you’re the last one to arrive, but we have a couple of minutes. Can we chat?”

Alarms went off in my head as he dragged me to a corner of the large room, complete with gleaming wood floors and sculpted pillars along the walls. Everyone else had gathered around the small breakfast buffet.

“What’s up?” I asked when we stopped. Was he going to threaten me? Grill me? Ask me out for drinks?

Kyle crossed his arms and studied me for a second. “Victoria is my favorite cousin.”

“After the animal shelter, I’m not sure she feels the same way.”

Kyle shook his head and ignored my comment. “I only caught a few glimpses of the two of you last night, but I have to say, she looks happy.”

“Victoria always looks happy,” I pointed out.

“Not like this.” He frowned. “She told me the two of you weren’t very serious, but I’d say she was lying to me.”

“It’s a little more complicated than that,” I admitted. “We’re trying to make a long-distance relationship work. It’s not easy, so we tell people we’re still getting to know each other.” I decided to toss out one more thing that should keep him off my back. “We don’t want to get her mom’s hopes up.”

That drew a laugh out of him. “Trying to manage that might be more than you can handle.”

“Victoria is the lead on that one.”

“Good plan.” Kyle paused and lowered his voice. “Look, Victoria can get a little…intense…when she likes a guy. Don’t let it freak you out.”

Intense? In what way? I shot him a questioning look, but he didn’t get the chance to answer.

“Kyle!” someone shouted from across the room.

His head turned in that direction, then back to me. “Do me a favor and treat her right.”

“That’s the idea.” I watched as he jogged away to join six other guys who had gathered in the center of the space.

It was sweet that he’d made time to talk to me. There was no verbal threat, but I got the feeling that he’d be at my door all the way up in Big Bear if I broke Victoria’s heart.

All I wanted was for Victoria to be happy. What I hoped is that her happiness included me.

I made my way around to the buffet to get some food as he started to talk.

“Thanks for coming, everyone. Yesterday was all about Natalie’s family tradition. Today is about mine.” Kyle gave a wide smile as he took in the room. “In my family we always do group dances at the wedding. I prefer line dancing, but Natalie had a special request.”

A murmur ran through the ranks, and I noticed William glancing at the exit. Probably wondering if he could make a break for it before anyone noticed.

Kyle went on. “I didn’t even know what a Bollywood film was until I met Natalie, and while they’re still not my favorite, they have grown on me. Natalie requested that we do a Bollywood inspired dance for the ladies at the reception.”

That drew an unmistakable grumble.

Kyle waved for quiet and pointed at the six guys standing with him. “We’ve learned the core of the dance number.” He gestured at the rest of us. “You guys have a few simple steps that anyone should be able to do. I guarantee that the focus will be on us, so none of you need to feel self-conscious.”

Several men looked excited, others apathetic, and a couple mutinous.

I, for one, thought it would be a good time. And to make sure William didn’t bolt, I walked over to him and said, “This sounds fun.”

His dark expression told me I’d ruined his chance of escape. “I don’t dance.”

“You think that guy does?” I jerked my head to a round man who looked like he’d gotten sweaty just getting to this room.

William made a strangled noise.

“Come on. Live a little.”

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