Page 22 of Last Minute Fiancé

“I feel like we keep asking ourselves that question.”

We hadn’t found any answers. We were going one step at a time and ignoring the largest step, the one we should have considered first.

But I didn’t want to trap him in this. I didn’t want to force the conversation and force his decision.

I would rather be a single mom who had to figure out her life, where work didn’t make sense and the emotions rammed at you from all sides, than force Luca to be by my side.

And I wasn’t quite sure that I was ready to look into the details or complications of that yet.

There was seriously something wrong with me, but it wasn’t time.

We had another obstacle to deal with first.

“I got the time off from work, thanks to my staff being amazing, and so we’re on this trip. And they’re going to want to know why. And bythey, I mean my staffandmy brothers and sister.”

I turned to Luca and nodded. “So, we’ll tell them I needed a fake partner.”

“Fake fiancé,” he said dryly, and I winced.

“It’s ridiculous. I shouldn’t have to fake a relationship in order to get a promotion. Who does that?”

“Patriarchal societies that we can’t escape. However, we’ll get through this part, and then we’ll get through the things that matter.”

His voice was raised at the end, and I nodded.

“Okay. That is what we will do. We will tell them about the ridiculous situation we’re in with my work, but nothing else.”

He raised a brow. “At some point they’re going to notice when you start showing. But of course, we will probably have answers before that happens.”

I opened my mouth to say something, and then nearly jumped out of my skin when someone rapped their knuckles against the window.

I turned to see August standing there, a frown on his face and a grocery bag in his hand.

“You two just going to sit there all night? Everything okay?”

His words were slightly muffled through the glass, but I could hear him just fine.

I waved him off and he took a step back.

“We’ll talk soon,” I said quietly to Luca, who shook his head because he didn’t believe me.

I didn’t believe myself either.

But if we talked, then everything was real. And nothing felt real at this moment.

So we would, eventually. Once we had more answers. And once I was done allowing myself to be afraid that he would leave.

Because he said he would be there, but what did “there” mean?

Luca again shook his head as I opened the door to get out.

“Everything okay?” August asked again, frowning as he looked at me, then over at Luca as he walked up.

“Everything’s fine. Just a long day at work.” I winced. “But you understand that, you have to deal with students.”

“I don’t know, I’d rather deal with high school students dealing with hormones and rage versus finance bros.”

“Okay, you’ve got me there,” I said with a hollow laugh.

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