Page 26 of Last Minute Fiancé

So we would deal with this.

Even if nobody at this table believed me, even myself.

It didn’t help that he was still holding my hand, and I didn’t want him to let go.

The fake engagement thing was the easiest part. That was the part we could talk through.

The fact that I also wanted him?

That was the part I knew would twist everything.

But there was no going back now. And I was truly afraid there never had been.

ChapterSeven

Luca

The work retreat for Addison and her company wasn’t during the best time for me. Thankfully, a friend of mine and Colt’s had been able to step in and take care of the patients I had. But I didn’t work seven days a week all the time, so I had actually been able to do this.

I would’ve done this for Addison even without the lie. Because she was my friend, and I hated her ex, and her boss, and her job. She needed me, so I would step up.

But the fact that we weren’t actually talking about the elephant in the room was driving me crazy.

The event was at a huge lodge that catered to corporate execs and retreats for team building and bonding. I found it odd that they wanted families and spouses there, real and fake, but that was fine. If this is what Addison needed to get ahead, then I would help her.

But I knew she was using this idea of a promotion and beating her ex as a way to not think about what was actually going to happen.

“We’re almost there,” I said after a moment, and I realized the awkwardness in the car wasn’t just on my end.

“You’re right. And I’ve been so busy at work, and so have you, that we actually haven’t made any ground rules.”

I raised a brow even as I kept my attention on the road.

“What kind of ground rules are those, Addison?” I asked, trying to keep my tone calm.

She was pregnant. Having our child. And we weren’t talking about it. If we didn’t talk about it, I couldn’t come to terms with it or make it feel real. Perhaps that was why we were doing this, but if this is what we needed to do for her fucking five-year plan, then we would.

I was not going to become my father or my mother. I would not be a deadbeat parent that left when things got complicated. I would be there. I just needed to figure out exactly what there meant.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking at her briefly before tearing my gaze back to the road. “What do you think, Addison?”

“Stop saying my name like that. I know this is ridiculous. I know you put your life on hold for this weekend, and I’m so grateful. I owe you.”

“You don’t fucking owe me. We’re best friends.”

“Best friends are allowed to owe each other.”

“Fine, then you owe me a conversation.”

“I was trying to have one right now.”

“How about a conversation about the fact that we’re having a kid. An actual real-life baby. Not one that we can schedule at a time that is more convenient for us both.”

“Luca…”

“What?”

“Let’s figure out this whole retreat and the fact that we have to lie the whole time before we get to that part.”

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