Page 32 of French Martini

“Uh oh. You fucked up.”

“How?”

“You told him you’re taking me to dinner.”

“We’re friends.”

“Us, or you and him?”

“Me and him, and us. You know what I mean.”

“But you’ve fucked him?”

The crassness in the statement would never bother me normally, but it sure the fuck does when it comes to Lowen. “I said it’s not like that. I didn’tfuckhim.”

Sam raises an eyebrow. “Ooh, I hit a nerve. You have real feelings for this guy.”

I open my mouth to object, but nothing comes out. “Let’s say you’re right. How do I fix it?”

Sam’s expression softens. “Tell him how excited you are to show him what you got and how you can’t wait to spend time with him. You know, the truth.”

Blowing out a breath, I nod and turn my gaze to my phone.

Me: I can’t wait to show you what I got. I know you said you don’t care what anyone thinks of me, but I can’t look shabby next to the prettiest man in the city.

The dots pop up again, but when nothing comes through, I continue.

Me: Want to come over tomorrow and see the stuff? I’ll give you a fashion show.

I add a smiling emoji.

Finally a text pops up.

Lowen: Okay.

“All he said is okay.”

Sam scrunches his face up. “Oof. What’s the relationship here? Friends with benefits?”

“Not exactly. We are friends, but it’s more than that. We work together a lot, and up until New Year’s Eve, nothing ever happened. We kissed that night, and it opened the door a little, but he’s got a lot of reasons for keeping me at bay.”

“But you want more?”

I nod, clenching my jaw.

“And you’re going to an event with him?”

“He needed a date.” I’m not willing to explain the rest. “It’s important. He’s receiving an award for his work overseas.”

“Brilliant. My assessment, based on my limited knowledge, is that he likes you too, but he’s struggling with that. My guess ishe doesn’t even know why he’s jealous right now, and he doesn’t like that he is.”

“What do I do? Treat him like a friend or…?”

Sam pats my hand. “Follow your heart, Oakley. Anyone worth a shit would appreciate that.”

I blow out a breath and just go for it.

Me: Sam is just a friend with great fashion sense, and I want to impress your crowd, but mostly, I want to impress you. I want you to feel proud of your fake fiancé.

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