Page 10 of Eligible Best Friend

A furrow forms between Samuel’s brows. “I didn’t realize you, uh, that you were seeing someone.”

Ford saves me. “We haven’t come out in the open yet since we work together and all. We wanted to prove to everyone that we can do both without it affecting our job.” He lifts a shoulder, his arm still around me. He makes me feel petite and not many men can do that. “But I happened to be here with my mom and you caught us, so I guess this is the day we’ll announce the big news.”

“Congratulations,” Samuel says woodenly.

Guilt gnaws at me. For the deception. For making Samuel feel like crap and like an idiot for driving out here from his conference to woo me back. But I’m tired of the pull toward him when he hurt me so badly. All I have to do is remember the ecstatic sounds his ex made while she was bent over the mahogany desk he said always reminded him of the color of my hair. My resolve hardens.

He shoves his hands in his pockets and spears me with his dark, intense gaze. “So you haven’t told your parents yet?”

“No. I’ll talk to them later. They’ve been so busy.”

His nod is deliberate, but his mouth is pressed in a line. His gaze bores into me like he senses the lie. Ford knows me, but Samuel knows me almost as well, and in ways my partner doesn’t.

“I didn’t mean to party crash,” Ford says. “But since we’re all here, you two are welcome to join Mom and me. She doesn’t know yet either, but she’ll be delighted. She loves Lia.”

That part is true at least, but my stomach churns at lying to his sweet mom. She’s endured a lifetime of lies.

“No, I should probably get going.” Samuel pins me with his amber stare. “Don’t worry about the tab, Aurelia. I’ll take care of it.”

There he goes, being a good guy again. Taking the high road when he could ream me out for drawing him in and not telling him I was taken, which, in my defense, I didn’t know yesterday. “I appreciate it, Samuel. It was nice to see you again.”

He gives me a look that asks Was it? and I offer a tentative smile. He threw away five years in a second. I wish I could do the same. I’ll settle for amicable if only to help myself get over him.

He strides away, but Ford and I don’t move, standing alone outside the restrooms.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” I mutter.

“You and me both. But it makes sense. Cass can’t find any fault with you.”

She’ll try. “My mother will find so much fault with you because you’re not Samuel.”

A low rumble leaves his chest and I grin up at him, startled that his face is inches away. Surprise lifts his brows, and he tugs his arm away from me and stuffs his hand in his pocket. “Then I’ll have to use my charm more than ever.”

“How long are we going to do this?” I have a fake boyfriend and the pressure’s been lifted from my chest. I can take a full breath. Samuel’s attempts to win me back have been deflected, and I have someone to help battle my parents. But this is Ford. I doubt he does even fake dating for long.

“As long as we need to.” He holds his elbow out and I wrap my hand around his arm. “I guess that was our test drive. Ready to see my mother?”

* * *

Ford

Pretending to be Lia’s boyfriend is both my best and my worst idea. Samuel’s not giving up on her. He was congenial and he might’ve conceded today, but I didn’t see defeat in his eyes. He’s biding his time, and his question about whether or not Lia’s parents know said everything. He has Mrs. Wescott’s full support and she can wear Lia down better than anyone. It’s why Lia’s in a different state and not in California.

Mom likes Lia, if only because she’s a girl I actually talk about and all in a positive light. I think even Mom knows that if I haven’t tried to date Lia, she must be someone special. Cass will find it difficult to use her against me when it comes to Jayden. Unlike me, Lia doesn’t sleep around, she wasn’t responsible for the breakup of her last long-term relationship, and she comes from a family possibly more affluent than Cass’s.

However, if this plan goes balls-up, I’ll lose my best friend and a damn good partner.

Lia’s hand is loose around my elbow as we walk to the table. Mom looks up and smiles at us both. The server’s filling Mom’s water and sees me coming.

“Shall I get another place setting?” she asks as she tops off my water next.

“Yes, please.” I ask Lia, “Did you already order your food with—” I almost mention Samuel, but Mom’s gaze jumps from our faces to Lia’s hand on me.

“No. Not yet.” She smiles and it cuts right through me like nothing else. This one is a full-on politician’s daughter. Her hair shines under the lights and the gloss on her lips only enhances how full they are. She embodies grace and refinement. Take her photo and put her on the cover of Time.

That look only raises the stakes higher. This is the Lia that the world got before she climbed into the cab of the ambulance with me. I don’t know this Lia, the one that can smile and turn aside invasive questions about her and her parents and say the right things to cement her fiancé’s political climb. The Lia I know, Wescott, is real. She no longer has the fiancé and she’s the one who bitches about arrogant ER residents who think they’re gods to be worshiped by everyone else in the hospital.

“Hi, Mrs. Monroe.”

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