Page 49 of Faking Mr. Right

“What? No, I– no, I’m not pregnant.”

“Sorry,” she said, patting me on the back. “I was just joking, but the look on your face made me realize it wasn’t funny. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“It’s okay.” I feigned a smile. “But you know, I think I might run to the bathroom.”

“Do you need any help or anything?”

“Oh no, I’m fine, really, just drank too much lemonade,” I said with a laugh. “I’ll be right back.”

I hurried away from the group, checking behind me to make sure no one was following me. I needed to catch my breath. This was all too much. My heart was racing as I found the nearest tree and hid behind it. I closed my eyes and leaned against it, remembering the fateful night I ran into Levi behind a tree.

I smiled, and part of me hoped he might come hide behind the same tree with me again. Then I remembered we were taking some space from each other, cooling things off.

All while pretending to be engaged, so that was going to be hard.

My stomach turned again.

I pulled out my phone, hopeful for a distraction. I checked my e-mail to see if I had an e-mail from the animal reserve yet.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw an e-mail from the Tanzania Wildlife Reserve titled: “Interview in Los Angeles.”

I opened it and found out that not only did I get chosen to move to the next round, but they had booked my flights and hotel. I’d known this was a possibility; they told me to be prepared. Everything would happen quickly.

And boy, they hadn’t been kidding.

I had a few days to prepare for the next set of interviews and a trip to Los Angeles.

After that, the next step would be even bigger.

A trip to Tanzania for a two-week working interview.

My heart raced and my stomach continued to twist and turn.

Chapter 14

Levi

“Man… don’t you think a fake engagement is a bit too far?” Clark’s usual smirk was replaced with a look of concern. He hadn’t attended Summer Fest, but I filled him in on the details as we shared a beer later that evening at my place.

“I mean, yes, I do, but it’s a bit too late now,” I muttered. I shoved my hands in my pockets and stared at the ground.

“This girl, she’s something else. She’s really got her hooks in you.” Clark let out a low whistle as he pulled out a rag and polished a spot on his precious car.

“She doesn’t have her hooks in me.”

“So, you’re still happily a bachelor? When she leaves, you won’t be brokenhearted?”

“I’ll get over it. Whatever happens, I’ll deal with it.”

“So, you’re admitting you have feelings for her.”

“I didn’t say that,” I scoffed.

“You didn’t deny that you will be heartbroken when she leaves.”

I shrugged. “Fine. I like her a lot. She’s the type of woman I could see myself settling down with.”

“Just like Beth. You could see yourself settling down with her too.”

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