Page 28 of Summer Fling
"I wanted to let you know about something else new in my life," Dalton said.
The room quieted again.
I drew in a shaky breath as Dalton took my hand in his. I couldn't look away from him because I didn't want to know what anyone was thinking. I felt my face get hot.
"I'm dating Blake."
There were a few seconds of silence, and then Joy said, "How wonderful."
Shep shook his head. "Oakley's not going to like it."
"Oakley doesn't have to like it. But I'm entitled to have a life. We haven't been together in a long time, and there's no hope of us ever getting back together," Dalton said, his hand squeezing mine reassuringly.
"When did this happen?" Cooper asked, his brow furrowed.
We'd expected Ivy and Cooper to be skeptical since they were closest to me, and I'd never mentioned liking Dalton.
Dalton looked at me with affection. "We were attracted to each other when we'd see each other at family events, but neither of us acted on it until she moved in."
The tenderness in his expression was so convincing; I almost believed him.
Sensing that everyone was waiting for me to confirm his feelings, I said, "Now that we're living together, it was impossible to deny our feelings for one another."
"That's what happens when you're forced to live together," Hazel teased.
I remembered Ivy talking about how Brady pretended to be engaged to Hazel in order to get some accreditation for his video-game show, and Hazel wanted to please her grandmother. It sounded crazy when I heard it, but now that we were also pretending we were together, I understood why they'd done it.
Would they be the ones who'd see through our charade? I chanced a glance at them, but they didn't seem to be concerned. Brady stacked a cracker with cheese and meat, and Hazel was watching the kids play in the living room.
Maybe they were thinking of having their own kids one day, and our relationship didn't register on their radar.
"That was a little different because we were friends first," Brady said before he popped the cracker into his mouth.
This might be harder to pull off since we weren't that friendly before I moved in. But hopefully, we could act like we were together, and it would make up for any doubts. That put more pressure on me.
Throughout the announcement, Dalton continued to hold my hand, his palm a steady, comforting presence. There was something about him being by my side that felt good.
Joy clapped her hands. "I'm happy that all my kids are finding their significant others. I couldn't be prouder of each and every one of you."
Dad placed a hand on her shoulder. "She's just happy that you all are living on the island together again, and she can see you all the time."
Conversation picked up again, and the attention wasn't on us.
Dalton let go of my hand in favor of putting his arm over my shoulders. He drew me close and said into my ear, "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
His breath tickled my hair, and his mouth was so close to my skin that it sent tingles down my spine in anticipation of more. I liked being cradled in his arms, and I loved that his attention was focused on me. When Lilliana was with us, his focus was on her.
Dalton was potent. When he focused all his charm and attention on me, it was hard to remember that this wasn't real. He was acting, and this relationship was for show. We needed his family to believe it was real so that everyone else would too.
Then we had to convince Oakley and a judge. I'd never felt so much pressure before.
"We've got this," he said with one more squeeze of my shoulders, and then he stood straighter, keeping his arms draped over my body.
It was nice, a familiarity that I'd never had with a boyfriend. I usually wasn't that interested in public displays of affection. But his touch gave me a warm feeling in my chest.
Hayden helped get Lilliana in her high chair and sat next to her. I guessed while Hayden was around, she'd be watching Lilliana. She seemed to enjoy children.
"If you ever need a sitter, I'm happy to help."
