Page 40 of Give My Everything
“I thought it was funny,” I mumble, earning me a grin.
We stand in silence, waiting for the guys to come back, and I spend the free moment assessing Hannah. The girl who popped up in Hermosa Beach without any warning. Lucas’ surprise and very secret sister.
But hardly any time passes before the men return, both striding towards us looking every bit the strong, handsome, rich men that they are.
My stomach dips a little bit when Ben gives me a satisfied looking smile, though it falls away when I see Wyatt looking tense and uncomfortable.
“They’re going to seat us together,” Ben says. “They would have made it work, but I figure this is a great chance for Wyatt and Hannah to get to know you a little better.”
I feel like I’m listening to him underwater with subtitles. Like, I hear the words he’s saying and I can understand them, but it sounds murky.
He can’t be…seriously suggesting this, can he?
Wejusthad a conversation about making sure we’re on the same page. Was that just lip service?
I look to Wyatt and see that he doesn’t look as happy as Ben about the decision, only confirming that it’s true.
“Calloway, party of four.”
The hostess re-calling us as a group has us all moving awkwardly in the direction of the front.
Well. A dinner with my fake fiancé, ex-boyfriend’s sister and his best friend.
This will definitely be a first date to remember.
Or one to forget.
I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
We’re thirty minutes into dinner when I start to feel sick, but I try to push it aside since we’re actually having a decent conversation and I don’t want to look like I’m faking something in order to get out of having dinner with my date’s brother and employee.
Or perhaps I should say my ex’s best friend and sister.
Either way.
“So you’re enjoying Hermosa Beach so far?” I ask Hannah, trying to make sure I’m participating.
She nods. “I love it. It’s been an adjustment. It’s very different from Phoenix.” Then she looks to her left, at her man. “But Wyatt’s been really great.”
He reaches over and I can see him put his hand on her knee, his expression warm.
“And Lucas has been just…so instrumental in me feeling at home. You know? We’ve been doing family dinners—me, him, Wyatt, Ben, and Ivy.”
There’s a long pause as I consider what she just said.
“Wait…what?”
Hannah’s eyes go wide and she turns to look at Ben and Wyatt, unease coloring her skin.
“It’s good to know the word hasn’t gotten around, then,” Wyatt says, his eyes locked on Ben.
Ben lets out a long sigh and shifts his weight in his seat, turning slightly so he’s looking at me.
“Ivy isn’t justoursister. She’s our legal sister, not blood, since we were adopted, which is all public knowledge. But whatisn’tis that she’s also related to Lucas and Hannah. The three of them have the same father.”
My mouth drops open as I search their faces for any kind of hint that this is some sort of joke, but all of them are looking at me with serious expressions.
“Who…who else knows?” I finally choke out once the first bang of shock has worn off.
