Page 43 of The Wife Situation

“I forgot something.” She sounds breathless, like she ran back to the apartment. “What’s with the guilty look?”

I cover my face. “I signed an NDA and can’t talk about it. But I really,reallywant to talk about it.”

This makes her laugh as she plops down beside me on the couch. “Is this aboutMr. Calloway?”

“He told me to call him Easton,” I say.

She’s smiling. “Already on a first-name basis. Nice.”

I clear my throat, knowing I need to watch what I say because this has to be locked tight if it will work. “Well, he also wants to date me.”

“NowI have a million questions. What the hell?” She stands and paces. “The answer is yes. Right?”

“I’ve known him for a week.”

“So what? Dating is the first step to forever, Lexi!” she squeals, and I see happiness radiating over her.

I almost feel guilty, knowing it’s a sham that I have to set up perfectly for everyone to believe.

“You do know he has a twin brother, right?” I ask.

She tilts her head at me. “Oh yeah, but isn’t he divorced or going through one? That’s a lot of baggage andother womandrama. No thanks!”

I burst out laughing. “I have no idea. But Ididmeet him.”

Her mouth falls open. “Meeting the family too? Damn, girl. Wait, did you tell him you’re anti-love? Like, he’s aware?”

“Yeah,” I admit. It’s the truth. “He understands and doesn’t care.”

She laughs loudly. “He’ll break you of that.”

“What? No!No, he won’t. It’s not like that, trust me.” I wish I could tell her everything.

“It’sexactlylike that. Men like Easton Calloway don’t date just anyone. Especially him. This is a huge fucking deal.”

I shake my head, because she’s being serious and that scares the shit out of me more than anything. “You act like I’m going to fall in love with him.”

She pulls her phone from her pocket and pulls up photos of us. “Are you sure you haven’t? Look at how you’re kissing him. Totally into it. No shame. I would be too.”

She continues, “Not to mention the day you tried toMission Impossiblea watch return. You couldn’t evenspeak. Now, he’s picking you up in a vintage car with flowers and sends you home in a limo after an open-mouthed tongue kiss?”

“Actually …” I shake my head, not wanting to go deeper into it because the optics are on point and she’s confirmed that for me. Weston picking me up in Easton’s car was more calculated than initially intended, especially seeing the photos. Westonknew what he was doing—sneaky bastard. “Okay, you got me. You’re right.”

“Do you plan on seeing him tonight?”

I lick my lips. “No. Why? Do you want to do something?”

“Nah. I think I’ll come home, shower, and watchBridgertonin my pajamas.” She checks her phone. “Shit, I gotta get going. If you call it quits with Easton because you’re too scared of falling in love with a gorgeous-as-fuck billionaire, tell him you know someone.”

I snort. “You’re terrible.”

“My body is ready.” She chuckles, walking past me. “I still want my trip to France, okay?”

She moves toward the door.

“Wait, I thought you forgot something?” I ask.

“Oh.” She pulls her subway card from her pocket and smirks. “It’s right here.Sometimes, the risk is worth the reward, Lexi.”

---