Page 156 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
“Nah, I like that I can take you at your word.” I take a deep breath and stand up a little taller, my insecurities yielding their grip the tiniest bit.
“You okay?” he says, reaching for my hand.
I nod and lace my fingers through his, letting him tug me out from behind the pillar and toward the welcome table outside the ballroom.
Jocelyn’s eyes go wide when she sees us approaching hand in hand. I want to run again, but Perry squeezes my fingers once like he knows exactly where my mind just went, so I throw my shoulders back and go with it.
“Perry,” Jocelyn says. “When you RSVP’d for two, I just assumed you were bringing one of your brothers.”
Well, okay then. Now I see what Perry meant about her beauty fading as soon as she opens her mouth.
“Hi, Jocelyn.” He drops my hand and slips his arm around my waist, tugging me into his side. “This is Lila. Lila, my ex-wife, Jocelyn.”
Jocelyn makes no move to shake my hand, so I just snuggle in a little closer to Perry. Might as well take advantage while I’m here. “Hello,” I say as sweetly as I can. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Her eyes narrow, and she purses her lips as she looks down at her clipboard. “Lila is your . . . date?” Jocelyn asks, her pen poised as if this is some required question she has to ask. I almost laugh at her posturing. Does she really think we can’t tell what she’s doing?
Perry tenses beside me, his fingers pressing into my side, and I squeeze him back, hoping he knows what it means.I’m here. She’s ridiculous. I’m still not opposed to cheeseburgers and overpriced M&Ms.
“Not just my date,” Perry says. “She’s my . . .”
He pauses, an uncomfortable silence stretching forward while Jocelyn’s look grows more and more smug.
Girlfriend. Just say it, Perry. Better yet, tell her we’re engaged and wipe that snotty look right off her face.
I slip an arm around Perry’s waist, tucking myself even closer.
“Girlfriend!” Perry finally says, a little too loudly.
Yes. Well done.
“My very serious girlfriend,” Perry adds.
Jocelyn’s eyes narrow.
Very serious girlfriendmight be pushing it, but I’m all in to sell this thing if it means Perry doesn’t have to deal with Jocelyn’s patronizing smugness. I reach over and pat his chest, smiling up at him. “We’re practically engaged.”
Jocelyn drops her clipboard, and it clatters to the table, causing the woman sitting to the left of where Jocelyn is standing to swear. “Geez, Jocelyn, be careful.”
Jocelyn shakes her head, her eyes looking anywhere but at Perry, and for a moment, I almost feel sorry for her. But then she rolls her shoulders, and her shrewd gaze turns calculating. “A girlfriend just in time for the reunion. Howconvenient.”
She clearly doesn’t believe us. Or maybe she just doesn’twantto believe us? Either way, I’m going to do anything I can to sell this story.
For Perry.
If I happen to have the best night of my life pretending I’mpractically engagedto Perry freaking Hawthorne? Well,someone’sgot to do the job.
She turns her gaze to me. “Maybe we’ll have the chance to get to know each other a little better tonight, Lila. We can swap stories, have real girl talk.” She leans forward. “I could even give you a few pointers on how to handlethis guy.” She points at Perry and rolls her eyes. “Trust me. You’re going to need them.”
Oh, I hate her.
I snuggle in a little closer. “That’s so kind of you to offer. But I think I knowexactlyhow to handle him.”
Jocelyn openly scoffs but backs down when the woman sitting at the table shoots Jocelyn a wilting glare before leaning forward and offering us a wide smile. “We’re so glad youbothcould be here,” she says, her voice suddenly louder than everyone else’s. “Dinner and wine are covered. There’s a cash bar inside if you’d prefer something else. Karaoke starts at nine.”
“Thanks, Grace,” Perry says. “It’s good to see you.”
The woman’s expression softens. “Sure thing. Enjoy your evening.”
