Page 15 of Knot Really Engaged

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I clear my throat. “They won’t find out. We’ll play along for a little while, just until after the anniversary party. Then we can quietly break things off in San Diego, no harm done.”

“How are we breaking up?” she asks. She shakes her head, her hair falling into her face. “Anything we do might harm our families’ relationship. They’ll want to take sides and . . . Liam, this is lying to your family. To my family. The Montgomerys and . . . everyone that’s part of our circle will be taking sides. How can you even suggest something like this?”

I want to tell her that no one will be doing such a thing, but that’s a problem for future us. We have to deal with the right now. Grandma.

“Because you always tell them the truth?” I counter, raising an eyebrow. “Like when you broke your mom’s favorite vase and blamed it on the dog? Or when you snuck out to go to that party in high school and told them you were studying at a friend’s house? Or how about when you crashed your dad’s car and said it was a hit and run?”

“I was young,” she says defensively, crossing her arms over her chest. Her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “This is wrong in so many ways, Liam.”

I sigh, my shoulders slumping in defeat. “I know it’s wrong. But Audrey, you didn’t see the look on my parents’ faces when I told them. They were so happy. Even Malcolm seemed pleased at the news. And the thought of being able to give Grandma one last moment of joy before she . . .”

Audrey studies me for a long moment, her gaze intense and searching. “I’m sorry about your grandmother, Liam. I understand this means a lot to you, but . . .” She steps closer, her hand coming up to rest on my arm. Her touch is warm, comforting, and I feel a flicker of hope in my chest. “I don’t know if I’m okay with giving hope to my parents—mainly, my mother—and then taking that away.”

“So, you’re willing to tell them that you and Ben broke up?” I challenge, my eyebrows raised in question. I can see the conflict playing out on herface, the way she worries her bottom lip between her teeth.

“That’s low, even for you, Cohen,” she sneers at me, her eyes flashing with anger. She pulls her hand away, crossing her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture.

“Come on, Little McCallister. Let me help you help me,” I beg her, my voice taking on a pleading tone. I step closer, my hands coming up in a placating gesture. “Please. I’ll owe you even though this is a win-win situation.”

Audrey stares at me, her eyes narrowed in thought. I can practically see the gears turning in her head as she weighs her options.

Finally, she lets out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping in resignation. “Fine. If we do this, we have to set some ground rules. No one can know the truth, not even our closest friends. And we have to be careful not to let things get too . . . complicated.”

“You mean, you’ll do it? You’ll pretend to be my fiancée?” I ask, my heart racing with a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and something else I can’t quite name.

She nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Against my better judgment, yes. But only for your grandmother’s sake. And onlyuntil the anniversary party is over. Once I board the plane back to San Diego it’s over.”

I cock an eyebrow, a smirk playing on my lips. “Fair. But at least admit this helps you too.”

She sighs, rolling her eyes heavenward. “Fine, it does, but don’t expect me to thank you for this. It’s too big of a lie.”

“Thank you, Audrey. You have no idea how much this means to me.” I reach out, pulling her into a hug before I can think better of it. She stiffens for a moment before relaxing into my embrace, her arms coming up to wrap around my waist.

“What are neighbors for, right?” she mumbles into my chest, her voice muffled by my shirt. “But listen to me well, Liam. Once we’re back in San Diego, we break up and it has to be your fault.”

I nod.

“Repeat it so I know it sinks in,” she orders.

I laugh, the sound startling in the quiet of the park. “Break up in San Diego, it’ll be my fault . . . Fine, I’ll take the blame for this one.”

She pulls back, rolling her eyes. “Just don’t make me regret this, Cohen.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Little McCallister,” I reply, releasing her from the embrace.

Then, suddenly, I remember one little detail. “We have to tell Max the truth about this relationship.”

“Nope. He will complicate everything.” She crosses her arms.

“He will kill me,” I say. “Remember, he’s a scary former SEAL. Love the dude. He’s my best friend and shit, but I’m afraid he’ll finish me off before I even get to give the news to my grandmother.”

She puts her weight on one leg and uncrosses her arms. “Fine, but only him.”

“Only him,” I agree, my gaze drawn to her pouty, kissable lips. The urge to lean in and capture them with my own is strong. I allow myself to wonder what it would be like to kiss her, to feel the softness of her lips against mine. Since the kiss is bound to happen sooner rather than later I ask with the most innocent voice I can muster, “Should we seal this with a kiss?”

Her eyes widen, and she takes a step back, holding up her hands in a defensive gesture. “Are you insane?” she protests, her voice rising an octave. “No PDA.”

I can’t help but chuckle at her reaction, the way her cheeks flush with indignation. “Relax, Audrey. I’m just saying this because we have to make this believable. They’ll expect us to hug and . . . do what couples do.”