Page 88 of Fakers with Benefits

“I’m serious. She can take several seats if she thinks I’m going to stand by and watch her flirt with my man. Hell no. My character would never.”

Vlado clapped me on the shoulder. “Never change, Nicky. Never change,” he managed through peals of laughter.

“And mess with perfection?” I asked haughtily. “Not a chance.”

“Are we interrupting something?”

I whirled around. Evan abruptly stopped laughing.

An attractive couple stood behind me. The man was an older, slightly doughier version of Evan, and the woman reminded me of an old-school Hollywood starlet.

Evan’s parents?

Evan cleared his throat and leaned in to air-kiss the woman’s cheeks. “Mom, Dad. We were just about to come find you.”

“Well, luckily we found you.” His mom looked me up and down with a carefully neutral smile. “You must be Nick.”

“It’s so wonderful to finally meet you, Mrs. Williams.” I gave her my best smile. “Evan has told me so much about you and all the good work you’ve done.”

Her smile shifted to one that looked a little less polite and more genuine. “It’s wonderful to meet you too, Nick. Please, call me Adelaide.” She held out her hand. The ginormous diamond rings decorating her fingers gleamed under the ballroom lights.

Taking her hand in both of mine, I gave a gentle squeeze. “The room looks beautiful. So elegant and understated.”

She beamed brighter.

“And the flowers are perfection. The gloriosa is so underrated but such a bold and powerful choice.”

Adelaide’s smile only grew wider. “I was a bit concerned when my florist suggested them, but they really do make the room, don’t they?”

“They do. The pops of color, the vibrancy of the arrangements, the symbolism. All of it is chef’s kiss.” I mimicked kissing the tips of my fingers and tossing the fake kiss into the air the way cartoon chefs always did.

Now that his mother had been won over, time to tackle his dad. Metaphorically speaking.

“And it’s so wonderful to meet you too, Mr. Williams.”

“Grant.” He stuck out his hand. Now I knew where Evan got his resting bitch face.

I shook it. Unsurprisingly, Grant squeezed my hand way harder than was necessary. I just smiled placidly and let him. My grip strength came from working a pole twice a week while he spent his time sitting on his ass and bossing people around. I could have easily crushed his hand if I wanted, but I didn’t play those macho games.

“Nick Sorensen.” I resisted the urge to wipe my hand on my pant leg when he let go. His palms were weirdly damp, but not quite sweaty. Like he used way too much moisturizer.

“So you’re the one who’s made my son realize there’s more to life than playing the field.” Grant’s smile was an exact replica of the one Evan made when he was talking business to people he disliked. Polite, but not polite enough to hide his obvious disapproval.

I didn’t like being on the receiving end of that smile.

“I suppose I am.” I laughed, making sure to use my inside laugh. “But I could say the same for Evan. He’s opened my eyes to what’s important in life.”

“And what would that be?” Grant asked dryly.

“Friendship, and companionship.” I smiled at Evan adoringly. He returned it and tucked me against his side. “Before Evan, I never knew what a true connection with someone was. I didn’t understand how life is just…better, when you’re with your best friend.”

“That’s a lovely sentiment.” Adelaide looked between us. “As a mother, it’s wonderful to hear someone speak so highly of your son.”

“You did an incredible job raising him. He’s…” I cut myself off with a shy laugh. “I could gush for hours about how amazing he is.” I looked at Evan and turned up the moon eyes. “I’m so lucky to have found him.”

“I’m the lucky one, darling.” Evan pressed a soft kiss against the side of my mouth.

The greedy bitch in me wanted to grab his head and give him a real kiss so Maryse and any other wannabe gold diggers knew I didn’t come to play.

---