Page 26 of The Fiance Dilemma

“Whoa. Did you just hang up on Cameron Caldani?” I asked him in disbelief. “Do you not know the man?”

Before Matthew could respond, our phones started ringing again. Only the ID-callers were switched. Matthew declined his best friend’s call, too.

“You’re ballsy,” I breathed out, letting my call go to voicemail. “And they are insistent, which can only mean one thing.” I studied Matthew, gauging how this made him feel. “A part of me expected you to call Adalyn yesterday. After I left. It’s really okay if you did.”

“I didn’t,” he said, brows knotting. “You didn’t tell them anything?”

I shook my head. “I was waiting for today. In case you… called it off. And it would really be okay if you wanted to check with Adalyn to see if she’s comfortable with this. You’ve been best friends for years. And I’m Adalyn’s sister, but I’m new to her life. You get shotgun on the conversation if you want to reassure her, and them, first. Or make sure I’m trustworthy. Or—”

“Do you really believe that?”

I didn’t want to ask him for clarification, so I didn’t. Luckily, the perfect distraction came in the shape of a trail of notifications making my hands ping.

ADALYN:We’re not mad, just surprised. And happy!! Why are you not picking up? We know you’re together. Someone texted me a picture to say congrats.

CAM:Oh. I’m actually mad.

ADALYN:Ignore him. There’s nothing to be mad about. Except maybe you guys not telling us earlier? BUT WE AREHAPPY. My best friend and my sister (!). I have so many questions. But please know, there was no need to hide your relationship. Or your engagement.

CAM:That’s exactly why I’m mad.

CAM:Also, congrats. Happy for you. Now answer the bloody phone.

ADALYN:Please

I stared at the screen, all kinds of emotions rioting in my stomach. They were all mixed, and they took up all the space in there. Probably more than that, judging on how heavy my whole body felt.

“They… They’re not questioning if it’s real,” I heard myself say. “They’re not asking us if we’re together. Just assuming we hid it. Do you think that’s good? Or bad? I wasn’t expecting someone to text them. I thought I’d have a little time to think about how to tell them. And what to tell them. If you hadn’t already, of course. God, they must be so hurt. Disappointed. Although Adalyn doesn’t sound super hurt or disappointed. Do you think that’s weird? We need to tell them the truth. Unless you think they’ll… freak out. Convince us not to do it. I mean, let’s face it, Cameron hates anything that has to do with the press or media, and Adalyn will go all overprotective on you. You’re her best friend. She’ll probably get into a fight with Andrew over this. And Bobbi. Maybe even me. The whole PR drama is already bad enough. And they’ve been under so much stress with the Club. It’s only one year old, and I know they’re getting a lot more attention after Andrew mentioned it in thatTimearticle. So how— God. I—I think I’m getting a little sweaty. Dizzy? Do you think they’re on their way here? I don’t know if I can face them. Or tell them the truth. Oh God, just the idea is making me—”

Matthew’s hand fell on my forearm, bringing my gaze up. “Deep breath.”

I inhaled deeply, holding his gaze. Immediately realizing I hadn’t done that in a minute or two.

“We don’t need to tell them,” Matthew said.

“We don’t?”

“Not if the thought of it is giving you a goddamn panic attack, no.”

“I’m okay,” I whispered. I wasn’t, but the noise in my head had quieted with that deep breath. Or Matthew’s words. “I’m fine. And this shouldn’t be my call. You shouldn’t be pushed to lie to your best friend just because I’m a wreck. It should be your call.”

“You’re wrong.”

My only answer was a frown.

“It’s not my call,” he insisted simply. Matter-of-factly. “And I don’t get shotgun on anything. Me getting that based on some strange seniority of friendship, it’s bullshit, Josie. She’s your sister.” He paused, as if to make a point. “You get to make the call. Or at the very leastwedo. Together.”

My head worked out his words, but it was all chaos upstairs again. I didn’t know if I could trust myself. My decision-making capabilities had been really off lately. It was… selfless of Matthew to say that. It made me feel… good. Worse. Relieved. Shook up. My voice came out weird. “You’re talking like we’re in a relationship.”

“Are we not?” Then, a little louder. “We’re engaged.”

My eyes widened at first, but then I realized. We were in the stands. Still. I swallowed, trying to get ahold of my thoughts. “We are.”

Matthew nodded, as if that was all he needed as confirmation. “I’ll return their call after the game. I’ll handle most of the initial heat on why we kept it hidden from them. Or why I proposed so fast. You have enough on your plate with Bobbi, and I was planning on bringing this up with you anyway.”

My throat worked around the air stuck in my throat. Matthew had… thought of this. It didn’t matter if for a day or a few hours. He was far better than me at problem-solving, and that… made me feel a way I wasn’t able to fully grasp. Guilty? Selfish? Grateful? Relieved. Maybe all of those things.

Before I could look too much into it, he was slipping the phone back into the pocket of his jeans and plucking something else out, distracting me.

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