Page 76 of The Fake Dating Plan

Ax’s phone rang, and he got up with a start. In a few seconds, he was out of the room. Something was going on, I could feel it, but I did not know what, or how, big it was. All I could think of was what Gia had told me. Had shown me rather. I wasn’t sure if I could trust her, but those images were damning as hell. Still, it could be a misunderstanding. If I could talk to him, then maybe he would clear things up. I was determined not to make the same mistake I did last time. Not saying anything had ruined our relationship the first go around.

I heard the door slam and Ax came back in with the same rush of force he went out with.

As casually as I could, while taking a spoonful of the soup, I asked, “Everything okay?”

He took his seat and straightened to stare directly into my eyes. “Everything is clear.” He gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. I tried not to parse what that meant and instead asked, “you said you wanted to talk.”

He dramatically unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap, then pushed the bowl of soup towards him. “I did,” he said finally.

“Are we going to continue playing the suspense game or are you going to lay it all out?”

“How was work?”

“Suspense game it is,” I muttered more to myself.

“My work was fine. Great even. I had lunch with some old friends. Got a few texts from some old foes too.”

So the line of questioning wasn’t about work. I put my spoon down, delicious mushroom soup forgotten.

“What is this about?”

“Do you know the original purpose of this meeting was?”

Original?

“I wanted to give you this.” He took out a black velvet square box. The type that could only contain one thing. A ring. The sounds of the room disappeared. My senses became so hyper-aware I could hear the only sound from the apartment, that of the Chef and his staff clanking and pots and spoons in the kitchen. “It’s the same ring if you must know.”

“The same…”

“The ring I wanted to give you way back when.” He chuckled, but there was no humor in his tone. “I was a fool in college,” he smirked, “And I was a fool these past few months. Thank god I wizened up in time.”

“Axel…”

“Funny how you call me by my full name when you want to be serious.”

“What is this about?”

He flicked the box towards me. It slid down the table and landed next to my plate. “Don’t you want to see your ring?”

My eyes landed on the box. I had to admit it was tempting. Part of me wanted to know what ring he had given me. The other part, the more rational part, was screaming not to give in to whatever new game this was and confront him about what I had found out. The weaker part of me won. I grabbed the little thing and opened it. I was stunned into silence. In it was a beautifully cut diamond on a platinum gold band.

“My grandmother’s ring.” I whipped my head up. “I had to ask permission from my father to get that. He gave it back to me on Christmas day. ‘Do as you will,’ he said. But I knew the only reason he gave it to me was that he wanted me to give it to you. He was staring at me when he said it.”

“Ax…”

“If I hadn’t found out that you’re still with him—”

“Still with who?”

“Please don’t give me that. Don’t treat me like a fool.”

I carefully said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He glared at me. With his eyes on me, he took out his phone, swiped several times, and slid it over to me. I didn’t have the nerve to pick it up. Instead, I glanced down at the phone and specifically the messages on it. It was a conversation between Heron and Ax. Heron was accusing me not just of sleeping with him, but with his son as well. I rolled my eyes. Close to mirth, I said, “You believe this bullshit?”

It was Chad and me. We were talking and looked to be in deep conversation and knew each other intimately. That was the worst part. Anyone seeing this photo would think Chad and I were more than people who accidentally met at a studio. I was leaning into him too much. He was leaning into me too much.

“Remember when you said you two had nothing to do with each other, then or since.”

“And I was telling you the truth.”

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