Page 16 of Fore-Ever Yours

“Try me.”

Chapter 6

Matthew

Afterasleeplessnightand a terrible practice this morning, I’m on my way to pick up Beth. All night, I couldn’t stop replaying the evening in my mind. Agreeing to my agent’s idea, meeting Beth’s parents, her hand secretly in mine. But her expression lingers. She may have come around, but I can’t shake the feeling that she isn’t entirely confident in her choice.

I take a deep breath as my finger hovers above the doorbell, hesitating. The responsible thing would be to let her back out of this, walk away clean. But then I remember her career, and how she said she needed a job. I press the bell with a sigh.

She opens the door, looking radiant, bundled in a thick winter coat and a scarf wrapped around her neck. She lights up at the sight of me, and it sends an unexpected warmth coursing through me.

“Hi.” That’s all I can manage to get out.

“Hi yourself,” she responds with a grin. “Are you ready for this?”

It’s a simple question. But am I really ready to fake a relationship in front of the town? The whole world?

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I offer her my arm.

She takes it without hesitation as we head toward the car.

“Let’s walk. I’ll show you around town while we get our story straight.”

I nod.

“So we already told my parents we met in a coffee shop and bumped into each other. If someone asks when we got together or met, we’ll say it’s recent or new. Keep it vague.”

“Okay, that sounds simple enough.”

We turn onto the next street, which has a park to the right and some businesses lined up on the left.

“And if anyone asks about our first date, we can say…”

“We walked around the park and talked.”

“Good, again not a lie.” She smiles.

My chest tightens. “I’m sorry I put you in this position in the first place, Beth.”

“I’m not,” she says confidently.

“You’re not? But you don’t like lying.”

“Well, no, I don’t. But while I was talking with Desi last night, I realized how great of an opportunity this will be. I was at a crossroads with my career. I needed a job and haven’t had any luck securing one over the past few months. When we met, I was trying to decide what to do. I could either start my own company or start looking for jobs further away from home, which I didn’t want to do. I know I’ll be traveling for a few months with you, but the experience and money will be great for me in branching out on my own. You, Matthew Wilkes,” she pokes my arm, “are my first client with Elevate Marketing, ‘Taking it to the next level.’”

Wow. In less than twelve hours, she’s really come around to the idea. And she’s right, we’ve been so focused on the fake relationship that there’s still a whole other side of this deal—her career.

“I’m still working on the tagline,” she says nervously as I see the town square in view.

“No, I like it. I was surprised by your outlook, that’s all. Honestly, I thought you might back out.”

She pulls my arm, making me come to a stop. “I’m in, Matthew. I signed the contract. It’s a done deal.”

Not yet, exactly. I haven’t signed it, but she doesn’t know that.

“Hey, Beth!”

We both look over to see a blonde woman waving her down.

---