Page 66 of Romance Languages

“Thanks,” she said, but didn’t move. “We haven’t really had a chance to talk. Julian says you two have been together only two months.”

“We’ve been friends for a lot longer, so it made the transition pretty seamless.”

“I think it’s wonderful. How did it all happen? What made you decide to take that jump?”

“It was something that we decided together. And I don’t know…Julian’s pretty fantastic. I don’t know why I resisted realizing that for so long.”

My fictional story was beginning to blur with reality. I just hoped it matched Julian’s version that she’d likely asked him about.

“That’s how my husband and I got together. Our friend groups overlapped, and we wound up at the same gatherings all the time. And eventually, he asked me out.”

“Yeah. You see the same guy across the hall for two years, you spend all the time with him at department meetings and faculty functions, and then suddenly you’re like ‘Whoa. I think I like this guy.’”

“Right.” Something about the way her eyes moved between Julian and me was unsettling, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. “I’m excited that you two are together. Hopefully, being with someone like you will give Julian the impetus to finally get his weight under control.”

The sweet talk about love came to a record-scratching halt.

“Huh?”

“You’re an athlete. You take good care of your body, seem to eat right. Your good habits will be able to rub off on him.”

Julian’s diet ran circles around mine. I leaned on our cafeteria pizza and hamburgers far more than I should have, while Julian brought Tupperware full of home-cooked meals.

“If anything, Julian’s good habits will rub off on me.”

An icky feeling hit the back of my throat. She opened her mouth to speak again, and I dreaded what would come out.

“You’re being sweet. Julian says he eats well and exercises, but I don’t see it.”

“He does. He is healthy.” Lord knew he had good stamina and endurance during our sessions, not to mention being able to stand in front of classes for six hours a day.

“I just want him to be healthy.”

“He is healthy. I just said that.” Ickiness coalesced into anger.

“You know what I mean, though? We get it.” We? We were a we? Because we were both slim? “He’s having trouble losing the weight, but you can get him on the right track.”

Fury fumed within my chest. But yelling at my fake boyfriend’s mother would not be a good move, so I went for a different tack.

“I don’t want him to lose a pound. Your son is fucking sexy. I mean, have you seen that ass?” I bit my lip as I snuck a peek at Julian’s luscious backside. “Your son is hot exactly as he is. He better not change. But don’t worry, Mrs. Bradford, I’m making sure Julian’s gettingpa-lentyof exercise, if you know what I mean.”

I winked at her and left her in my sex-tinted dust. I walked up behind Julian and gave his juicy ass a big, loud, for-the-cheap-seats grab. He yelped in surprise.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“Because you’re the sexiest man in here. Sorry, twins.”

Hunter and Ryder turned a deep shade of red.

I nuzzled my nose against his neck, planting a soft kiss on his collarbone. I sure as hell hoped his wretched mom was observingthis.

Grandma Judy handed the boys the signed contract, pleased by my very public display of affection.

“One more song please,” she requested.

“You got it!”

I didn’t ask Julian if he wanted to dance because there was only one answer I would accept. I clamped a hand on his waist and led us in a slow dance, our bodies leaving no room for the Holy Spirit. Turned out dancing with a guy was no different from dancing with a woman.

---