Page 38 of Broken Dreams
I doubt they give a to-go cup and there’s no way I’m finishing more than one.
“Of course, aglass.” The way he says it tells me I just insulted him again.
Addison’s attempt to hide her grin says I did as well.
He returns a minute later, placing them down in front of us and then taking our orders. Once he is gone, I grab mine, lifting it in the air.
“What do we toast to?” she asks, raising hers.
“To the beginning of a very beneficial relationship.”
eight
ADDISON
“I’m going to go over and say hi to them.”
“Who?” Grady asks.
“The Kopaskeys. You need them to see us, don’t you?” I ask. There’s no point in this whole fake dating thing if we aren’t going to make every minute count, right?
He glances over at their table. They’ve finished their meal and Luke is handing them the dessert menu.
Grady looks back to me. “I think I should go.”
“I’m going to use the ladies’ room, and on my way back, I’ll pretend to have just spotted them. You need to act like you don’t know they’re here. Otherwise, you should’ve gone over earlier. Besides, we’re on a date, how rude would it look if you left me to see a business associate? Trust me.”
He lets out a long sigh and nods. “I trust you.”
I do as I said, heading to the bathroom, checking my makeup, and reapplying my lipstick. Dinner was great, and so much better than my last three dates. Grady and I laughed, talked about the kids, and I really explained what Run to Me is and why it started and how Blakely, who is also Emmett’s wife, and I needed to do something to help kids in need.
If I didn’t remind myself every ten minutes that this is all for show, I would be having the perfect date.
But this is afakedate.
I head out, purposely walking around the other side, and then stop as though I just saw them for the first time.
“Lily! Mateo!” I exclaim as I make my way to their table. “I didn’t see you guys here.”
“Addison. Hey!” They both stand, and Mateo leans in to kiss my cheek. As soon as he steps back, Lily takes me in her arms. “Oh, you look amazing. Are you out with the girls?” She looks around.
I don’t have to work hard to make myself blush. “Oh, umm, no, actually. I’m on a date.”
Her eyes widen. “A date? Really?” Now she really scans the restaurant. Grady is doing an excellent job at not looking this way.
I pull my lips into a tight line and point low. “See the guy against the window?”
She tilts her head and her brows raise. “I do now.”
“That’s Grady Whitlock, my...date.”
Mateo makes a low noise in his throat. “You know Grady, huh?”
“I do. Our kids are in the same daycare class. We’ve been talking the last few weeks and...I don’t know, he asked me out. Actually, it’s a little more complicated than that.”
“How so?” he asks skeptically.
I need to make sure I sell this and really talk up how great he is. Mateo likes men of character. People who do the right thing, no matter what.
