Page 26 of Falling for My Billionaire Fake Date

Alex’s visit is also not a coincidence, it is a planned effort from his end to visit Aurora in Birchwood. I believe life is full of events made from efforts planned by other people.What does Alex want with Aurora? Surely, his only purpose in Birchwood isn’t to rub his engagement to Sophia in her face. Does he want her back? For some reason, that thought doesn’t sit well with me.

But Sophia and Alex? What are the odds?

Chapter eighteen

Aurora – Could There Be Anything Stranger?

There are situations that never make sense, no matter how you try to reason them from different points of views. A perfect example of such a situation is how Elena Wexler back in high school bought a pair of pajamas for two hundred dollars and wore them to school the next day as afashion trend.Or how some people don’t understand that dipping cookies in milk is the best way to eat them. Or how mom, out of the blue, packed her bags and decided she was done with dad and me, without so much as a reason or an excuse.

No, whatever the situation might be, they just never make sense to you.

And now, Alex is here in Birchwood with Sophia, who happens to be Jake’s ex-girlfriend, who is now engaged to Alex, my ex-boyfriend. I am Jake’s supposed girlfriend whom his family has come to meet in Birchwood, and Sophia happens to be Bella’sbest friend. Here I am, a supposed girlfriend with an ex-boyfriend now engaged, and an obvious bitter ex-girlfriend who seems to not have moved on or is just a malicious witch who eats other people’s happiness for breakfast.

It’s a never-ending loop. Like being lost in a maze. I can toss the situation around in my mind however I want, but I still feel lost. It’s like my head’s underwater, and someone is calling out my name.

And in another weird twist of fate, my head is currently resting on Jake’s shoulder while he rubs soothing circles on my shoulders. I’m in an alternate dimension where normal stuff doesn’t make sense, and random weird events spring up on you, strapping your mind into a really fast merry-go-round ride.

Not only do I have Alex’s return to deal with, I am unintentionally a part of a lie to Jake’s family, which I still don’t know how to straighten out. And don’t want to be a part of it.

I have to begin somewhere, at least, I think to myself. I sit up straight, leaning away from Jake’s body warmth and really soothing thumb massage. I admit I almost immediately miss the feeling of warmth and comfort, but we have to talk about the dire situation we have splattered at our feet.

Sighing, I adjust my position, so I can sit sideways, fully facing Jake. I tuck my hair behind both ears, exposing my face, which I had intentionally curtained with my hair moments earlier. The eye collision that I had with Jake had some funny effects that I’d rather not think about, and I definitely don’t want him seeing my face flushed.

But now, comfort time is over. It is time to get serious. The plan is to tell Jake I can’t be a part of his lie to his family, andhe should man up and tell them the truth. I have no desire to be a part of his lies, and Ireallydo not want myself involved with Sophia or, especially, Alex. Being involved with Jake means being involved with Sophia, like it or not, and the choice will be taken out of my hands. Not to mention that being involved with Jake and Sophia will lead to Alex’s unwanted presence.

I really don’t need all this chaos in my life right now. I love the peace and quiet that was my life before I met Jake. Things have not been the same for me since the night we were introduced. All I want now is to go back to my life, pre-Jake.

I feel a dull sting on my palm, and I realize I’ve been wringing my hands over my inner debate, a nervous habit I developed as a kid. Sucking in my lower lip, I look up to see Jake already looking at me with guarded eyes as if he can tell exactly what has been running through my mind.

“To be totally honest with you, Jake, it’d be best if we tell your mom and sister the truth about the situation being a misunderstanding. I don’t want to be part of this, and I definitely don’t want myself involved with Sophia,” I rush out. And as an afterthought I add, “and Alex.”

Jake sighs and rests his head on his forearms while pulling at his hair.

“It’s not that simple for me, honestly. I can’t just march in there and yell ‘Surprise! April Fool’s Day!’ But I can’t force you to be something you don’t want to be a part of. I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Aurora.”

Something about his tone saddens me, making me feel bad about wanting to run away from the whole thing, leaving him to deal with it all. He looks so helpless, resting hishead on his forearms and dragging in a breath as if trying to draw strength from the very act.

“How about we continue our conversation from where we stopped? Regardless of the situation, as long as Alex is in the picture, I’m involved too.” It’s a never-ending connection.

“And where was that?”

“Your mom said she came here with Bella specifically to see me. Wanna explain that? Also, are all these things related to your absurd request back in your office the other day?”

Jake stares at his fingers, twirling the ring he always wears on his right middle finger. He’s probably collecting his thoughts, so I make no move to rush him.

“Bells is getting married. Sophia, as her best friend, is automatically her Maid of Honor. And as her brother, I am the best man. Bella, bless her soul, felt it was a perfect opportunity to get us back together.

“She suggested we both be each other’s date. And in my haste to get out of it, I told them I have a girlfriend, and no girl wants to see her boyfriend in the arms of another during the wedding rehearsals and the wedding,” he continues, after a small pause. “And then mom suggested they meet my girlfriend during their visit to Birchwood today.”

“And that is why you popped such a ridiculous question during my interview?” That whole situation is finally clicking in my mind. He looks ashamed and rubs the back of his neck, a hint of pink on his cheeks.

“I’m sorry about that. I wasn’t really thinking. I panicked and . . . I can’t believe I asked such a question out of the blue!” he finishes, with a groan, while covering his face and letting outan embarrassed laugh. I snort at that and shake my head with a slight smile.

It kinda feels…nice, talking with Jake and laughing about the event that tempted me to slap his face to the end of the world.

“And that is why they mistook you for my girlfriend. But the fact that you are meeting with them today is a total coincidence. I had planned to take them to a different diner and tell them the truth about the situation. It’ll break Bells’ heart, but I would have explained to her why I couldn’t be Sophia’s date to her wedding.” As if reading my mind about the question I am ready to voice, he raises a palm to stop me from interrupting.

“We drove past your pastry shop this morning, and both mom and Bells fell absolutely in love with the coffee shopandthe pastry shop. They decided they’d love to have their breakfast here, and I couldn’t deny them without sounding weird or being awkward. And then you came in and misunderstood the situation. You totally got jealous, and you got mistaken as my girlfriend,” he narrates, with a wink at the end of his statement, and laughs at the incredulous expression on my face.

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