Page 21 of Knot Really Engaged
Well, at least one of us understands what I’m doing here. During the car ride, Liam and I were trying to come up with places he could’ve proposed that sounded good enough for our families. I guess it’s so that Lily can . . . “If you take the pictures, I have a graphic designer friend who could do it if you prefer.” I offer.
“I am one, too,” she smiles. “It’s part of my trade. That and I paint.”
I point at the beautiful wall art. “Are those yours?
She nods a bit timidly. “Yeah.”
“I love them, you should sell them.”
“That’s one of the reasons we’re opening a café gallery soon.” She clasps her hands together, barely containing her excitement.
“We?” I ask, curiosity piqued. I lean forward, eager to hear more.
“Ethan and I are partnering to bring the perfectplace for the art aficionado—and if you don’t like art, you can at least have a cup of coffee or tea with a delicious pastry.” Her smile widens.
“That sounds interesting. If you want me to help you with the marketing, let me know. Liam is really good at it,” I offer his services, because it’s the least he can do after putting his friend to help us with his mess.
“Thank you. I might take you up on the offer. For now, let’s work with this . . . Why are you faking your engagement again?” She raises an eyebrow, her gaze searching mine for answers.
I look down at my hands, fidgeting with my fingers. “Liam’s grandmother is sick, and he wanted to do something nice for her.” My heart clenches at the thought of sweet Grandma Cohen being sick.
“Nice would be sending her on a trip to finish her bucket list, offering to care for her while she’s undergoing treatment, or cooking dinner every night, not a fake engagement,” Lily says with skepticism.
“Though I agree with you, I understand why he did it. Liam tends to be very impulsive and not think about the consequences until way later,” I explain.
Lily raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know him well, but if he’s anything like Ethan or Max, that seemsout of character. So far I’ve learned that those two usually plan everything.”
I shake my head, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Oh no, Liam is the opposite of my brother and Ethan when it comes to making up shit to get something they want. He never plans anything. He’s the definition of spontaneous, and highly disorganized.” I chuckle. “Cal is a mix of the three of them.”
“I haven’t met Caleb yet,” she says, her tone curious. “But I assume the four of them balance each other out?”
“I wouldn’t use the word balance, but I guess when they’re together, they make sense.” I shrug and then add, “Though you haven’t missed much. Cal’s as obnoxious as my brother.”
“So, how close are they?” Lily asks, leaning forward, her elbows resting on her knees. “Sometimes I think that Max and Eth are just business partners, you know? Like I go out with my friends often, but they don’t seem to be those kind of friends.”
“Don’t let that fool you. They’re tight. Like brothers. The kind of friends who would help the other move a body or just fix a lie so they aren’t caught.” I pause giving her a knowing look as if saying, hence why we’re here. “The four have known each other since they were young—neighborsand all that. I’m almost six years younger than Max, so I really don’t know who met who first. By the time I was trying to catch up to them so they’d let me play, the four of them were inseparable.”
I guess it was kind of fun to run around with them. Max would always get annoyed while Liam would be the one keeping an eye on me in case I fell down or when I couldn’t run as fast as them he’d keep pace with me so I wasn’t left behind. I figure he has always seen me like the little sister he’s never had or something.
“Sometimes, when Ethan talks about them, I envy him. I have plenty of friends, but I don’t have a group like those four, you know. The kind you met during your formative years and you’re still calling each other—or setting up a business together,” she says, her voice tinged with a hint of longing. Her eyes take on a distant look, as if she’s imagining what it would be like to have such a close-knit group of her own.
“The four amigos are great, except when they’re not,” I joke, rolling my eyes. “It was awesome to grow up with them, but at times they were annoying as fuck.” I grin, shaking my head at the countless windows they broke and fires they almost set in each other’s houses.
“Later, you need to tell me more about them,” she says, holding up a black halter top that lookselegant and sophisticated, paired with a set of sleek, form-fitting leggings. “But right now, we have to figure out how to make this look and sound legit.”
My gaze sweeps over the outfit. “All black?” I ask, a hint of skepticism in my voice.
“We’ll accessorize,” she assures me. “It’ll be easier for me to work with the pictures and set them in the background I choose.”
As I take the outfit from her, my fingers brushing against the soft, silky fabric, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that settles in my stomach. This feels wrong, like I’m playing dress-up and creating an entire new narrative, but I have to remember this is for Grandma Cohen. Maybe even for my mother, who really thinks I need to settle down soon. Max and Jacob can be single forever, but not her little girl. It’s the internal misogyny that’s beenthere since childhood.
But I don’t have a choice. We’ve come too far to back out now. Too many people know, including Liam’s grandmother. So I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I head to the bathroom to change. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, my reflection staring back at me with wide, uncertain eyes.
But I push the thought away, focusing instead on the task at hand. I slip into the halter top, the fabric cool and smooth against my skin. Theleggings hug my curves, accentuating my long, lean legs.
Of course I can do this. This is so easy.
Super easy, right?
