Page 30 of How To Fake A Fiancé

Why would Ian lie to my mom? How did she contact him? I sigh, starting to put two and two together. “It’s because he’s covering for me.”

“Why would he be covering for you? What for?”

I spend the next few minutes telling my bestie about the phone calls with my sister and mom last night and how Ian heard everything.

“I lied to my mom about being in a relationship. She probably saw your post on Insta with all of us, including Ian, and must have connected the dots from there since she knows about everyone else but him. Exactly why he went along with it…I don’t know. I wish he hadn’t.”

“So he heard everything?”

I nod. “Even offered to help, but I told him no.”

Kiera chuckles. “The balls on him.”

To anyone on the outside looking in, it’s obvious he’s got tenacity for what, or rather who, he wants. But that doesn’t help me in my current situation. “Stupid is what he is.”

“I think it shows how far he’s willing to go to get your attention,” she states. “It’s almost…romantic.”

“He’s being an idiot.”

“If it’s any consolation, he did give you a heads-up.”

“Yes, but now he’s put me between a rock and a hard place.”

If I don’t take him home, she’ll know something is up. But if I do bring him, when I still can’t figure out how I feel, I don’t know if I can control myself from tackling him onto my bed and have him thrust balls-deep inside me again.

I shiver in delight at the possibility.Feels so good, but so… No, wait, stop it, Kami.

I’m about to open my mouth to protest when I hear my phone go off again. It’s my mother. I groan. Can this day get any worse?

He did warn you…

I accept the call. “Hi, Mom.”

“Mija, I just got off the phone with Ian. Why didn’t you tell me about him sooner? He’s such a gentleman. A keeper, for sure. Six months, and you two didn’t post once about your relationship?” I hear the smile in her voice.

I do my best to hide the anger, gripping the phone tighter. How easy it would be to discredit him yet so damaging to me as well.

“I wanted to make sure it was serious between us, but yeah, he’s so…wonderful. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him.” My voice is cheerful, but my facial expression remains flat.

“And just so you know, you might be ending this Thanksgiving with a little souvenir on your finger.”

The hell I am. Who does he think he is for giving my mother false hope for a proposal?

“Time will tell.” That bozo has a lot of explaining to do.

“Trust me, I have a good feeling about this one. Let me know soon when you plan to drive down here.”

“Will do, Mom. Talk to you soon.” I end the call and turn to Kiera. “I’ll be right back.”

I must look like I want to kill something because then she grabs my arm. “What are you going to do?”

“I won’t be gone long. I just need to go kick Ian’s ass and give him a piece of my mind.”

I pull from her grasp, not looking back as I grab my purse and keys.

I drive into the Brick’s parking lot a few minutes later. I storm inside the building, and quickly spot Ian behind the bar. I make my way toward him.

He stares, smirking. “Sweetheart, to what do I—”

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