Page 27 of Knot Really Engaged
I push away the treacherous thoughts and the rage. What happened with Ben will take time to assimilate and heal from, and Liam . . . Well, Liam is just pretend.
But it’s obvious that this fake engagement is a ticking time bomb, and I can’t afford to get caught in the blast radius when it inevitably explodes. My heart clenches at the thought of what might happen if we don’t do this right.
“Everything okay?” Liam’s deep voice rumbles beside me, far too close. I glance over at him, his focus on the road as we drive to our parent’s house. The sight of him, so handsome and familiar, sends a pang of want through me.
Stop right there Audrey Elizabeth. What is wrong with you? Liam isn’t hot. He’s not sexy—not at all.
And maybe this is just some glitch since I’m still recovering from the lack of sleep from Monday or the mess this fake engagement created yesterday or . . . I won’t even continue to think why these thoughts are occurring. That’s a good enough excuse.
I paste on a bright smile, waving my phone. “Just my mom being . . . Well Mom. You know how she gets when she wants to celebrate something—like her daughter’s engagement or better yet, her wedding.” I force a laugh, trying to sound nonchalant, but even to my own ears, it sounds strained.
He huffs a laugh. “That I do.”
As we come to a red light, he reaches out, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. His knuckles skim my flushed cheek, and I can’t help but lean into his touch, craving the warmth and comfort it provides. “Don’t let her overwhelm you. This is supposed to be fun, remember?”
Fun. Right. Pretending to be deliriously in love with your brother’s best friend while battlinginconvenient emotions that kiss and the nearness to him are creating.
I’m having a total blast.
This is a lot better than any theme park in the entire world.
Yeah, so fucking fun. I swallow hard, trying to ignore the way my heart races at his proximity.
For the sake of everyone I nod, plastering a grin on my face. “Of course. Fun. That’s what we’re here for.” The words taste bitter on my tongue, a harsh contradiction to the sweet warmth of his touch.
And as much fun as I’m supposed to have, I can’t help but add, “With all these questions she’s asking . . . I think she’s too excited about our upcoming nuptials.”
Liam doesn’t say anything, so I continue, “Mom is going to be heartbroken when we break up.” My voice is small, barely above a whisper. The guilt is eating me alive, gnawing at my insides like a ravenous beast. “Or worse, they’ll be so angry when they catch on to the lie. Max is right, this is a disaster in the making.”
“Aud, you need to stop giving me a list of reasons why this won’t work or why we should stop,” he says, his tone gentle but firm. He reaches over, his hand finding mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze. The warmth of his touch sends ajolt of electricity through me, and I can’t help but cling to the comfort it provides. “We’re past that. This is the part where we just make it happen and hope for the best. Also, wouldn’t it be fun to prove Max wrong?”
I groan, my head falling back against the headrest. My mind races with doubts and fears, but I know he’s right. We’ve come up with a solid story and it’ll be over soon.
Liam parks the car in front of his parents’ house, a safer place than mine. He gets out, walking around to my side and opening the passenger door for me. His hand extends, an invitation and a promise. I take it, my fingers intertwining with his as he helps me out of the car. The simple gesture feels so natural, so right, that it takes my breath away.
We walk toward his house, our hands still clasped together. The warmth of his touch sends a shiver down my spine, and I can’t help but marvel at how perfectly our hands fit together, like two puzzle pieces meant to be connected. As we approach the front door, I take a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that flutter in my stomach like a swarm of butterflies.
Liam glances at me, his eyes searching mine. Those deep, soulful eyes that seem to see straight into my heart. “Ready?” He presses a lingering kissto my temple, his lips soft and gentle against my skin.
Breathe, Audrey. This is all for show . . . Isn’t it?I close my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my racing heart. But even as I tell myself that this is just an act, I can’t help but wonder if the heart palpitations and butterflies in my stomach are more than just the nerves of getting caught. If my reactions to Liam could mean a lot more.
I nod, a small smile playing on my lips. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.
He scoffs. “Somehow I don’t believe you, but remember, I’m right here with you. We have a story which is perfect and a united front.”
“United front. You’re with me,” I repeat, hoping that it’s enough not to have an anxiety attack while everyone begins to interrogate us.
I can do this,I repeat in my head.Sure, you can.
But in all seriousness I think it’s more like:You’re fucked, Audrey Elizabeth McCallister.
Chapter Fourteen
Audrey
As we stepinto Liam’s mother’s house, the sound of excited chatter and laughter fills the air. My eyes widen in surprise as I take in the scene before me—not only his parents—and stepdad are here. Also my entire family is gathered, their faces beaming with joy.
“What’s going on?” I mumbleunder my breath, my heart racing with a mixture of nervousness and confusion. I glance up at Liam, seeking reassurance, but he looks just as taken aback as I am.
