Page 109 of Highball and Chain

“He did kiss me. It wasn’t half-bad, but my heart wasn’t in it.”

“Because Enzo owns it.”

“Something like that.” I grumbled. “But I need to end things with him. I can’t be the reason he makes the wrong decision.”

“Isn’t that his choice to make?”

“Yes, but it’s my choice to remove myself as a variable in the equation.”

She sighed. “I’ll support you no matter what, but I don’t agree with you on this one.”

“Thanks for having my back.” I fake yawned.

“Don’t make any rash decisions. Sleep on it.”

“Good idea. I’m going to crash. Have a good night…day. Have a good day.”

I tossed the phone to the side, curled up, and buried my face in the pillow. The damned thing smelled like Enzo. I pulled it closer, closed my eyes, and prayed for sleep.

Ten minutes, and a good cry, later I called Jack. Despite what Maggie thought, this wasn’t a rash decision. I’d made up my mind and would deal with the fallout.

“Shanna? Everything okay?” Surprisingly, he seemed wide awake.

Rather than sugar coating the situation, I decided to go with the brutal truth. “I have a huge favor to ask. A huge, potentially very awkward favor.”

“Lay it on me, baby.” Not surprisingly, he seemed high on pain meds.

“I need to make Enzo believe we’re involved.”

Jack laughed longer than necessary.

“Forget it.”

“Hold your horses.” He seemed to struggle to regain his composure. “What’s going on?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I got that when you asked me to be your fake boyfriend.” His voice thickened. “I saw the way you reacted to him in the shop. Did he hurt you? I swear to God, I’ll kill the son of a—”

“No, it’s nothing like that.” I regretted not taking the time to think through this conversation before I called. “I love him, and I think he might feel the same, but it isn’t going to work between us. I need to do something that will convince him I’m not the woman for him.”

Jack sucked in a breath. “You’re sure about this?”

No.“Absolutely.”

“What’s the plan?”

“Shanna?” Enzo knocked on my door. “I called Gabe, but he wanted you on the line.”

Shit. “Give me a minute. I’m on the phone.” I scrambled for the bathroom for a bit more privacy.

“Is that him?” Jack sounded entirely too happy.

Panicking, I tried to imagine what I’d say to my boyfriend while my lover stood in the hall. “Yes. I know, Jack, but it’s hard. I haven’t been completely honest with him.”

“Ah, it is him. Repeat after me. I love you, Jackson Landry. I’ve always loved you. I don’t know what I was thinking when I told you I needed to take a break and fuck a Marchionni.”

“Not helping,” I whispered.

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