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“Her name’s Sara, and she’s unlike anyone else I’ve met.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie. In fact, it wasn’t a lie at all. Sara was unique in her incredibly optimistic ways, even when she was trying her hardest to not argue with me, while inevitably failing.
She was unlike everyone my mom tried to set me up with, even if our relationship was only a rouse.
“She sounds wonderful, I need to know more!”
“You’ll learn more about her later, but I’m busy right now,” I murmured, hoping to steer the conversation away. I didn’t feel like coming up with more ways to describe her, even if more jumped into my mind.
“I’m so pleased, Griffin. She should have dinner with us sometime this week so we can meet her.”
“I don’t know, Mom—”
“I insist! We’ll go easy on her, I promise,” Mom said, smile audible through her words. “I can’t wait to meet the lucky girl.”
While my initial instinct was to try and find a way around it, I quickly remembered that Sara was my scapegoat. She was the prime opportunity to escape my mom’s incessant matchmaking, and I might as well take advantage of it.
I’d have to run it by her first, of course, but if our deal was still alive and well, then I couldn’t imagine Sara would have an issue with it.
“Fine,” I said with resolve, reminding myself that we needed to be convincing. “I’ll extend the invitation and get back to you on it.”
If anyone else had borne witness to what happened last night, they wouldn’t need any further convincing.
“That’s wonderful, honey. I’ve been waiting so long for this day, and I want you to know how proud I am of you. I’m sure you’ve picked a wonderful woman—”
“Alright, Mom, I love you too. I should get going now,” I murmured, hoping to avoid any mushiness.
As much as I wanted to get her off my back, I didn’t relish in lying to her. I didn’t want to make it harder for myself.
Mom scrambled over her goodbyes, taking longer than I had hoped, and when the call ended, my ears flooded with my music again.
Sighing, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and closed my eyes.
Not only was I supposed to parade Sara around my parents and pretend to be a couple, but I had to face her again after what happened; after we had a mind-blowing hookup, and I had to pretend like it didn’t change the trajectory of my entire weekend.
I could only hope she was still open to the arrangement and that I hadn’t told my mom for nothing.
Above all, I hoped Sara didn’t resent me for what happened after the club since he hadn’t exactly been on the best terms.
Only time would tell, and I couldn’t deny how it made me anxious.
Chapter 12 - Sara
The store had been busy all morning with customers asking for readings and potions of all sorts. It turned out that the warmer weather made many people worry about finding a new fling. Most wanted to know what was in store for them, and if they would be lucky enough to have someone new.
Between the many people coming in and restocking, Willow and I had been in a flurry of movement. But once lunch hit, the crowd waned, and we finally had the chance to stop and catch our breath. Willow went out to grab us both something to eat, which I was very thankful for.
Sitting by the reading table, I reached into my pocket and fished out the small note.
Had to run. Looking forward to our arrangement—G.
The note sent me into a spiral of mixed emotions. On the one hand, what happened between us was amazing. Despite the slight shame I felt for giving in to those unexpected desires, it was fun, and it was hard to regret it. On the other, he had left without waking me up or saying a word. I only had a note to show for it.
On top of everything else, it was ridiculous of me to agree to the fake relationship. It was hard to believe I even considered it in the first place. And yet, there was a slight beacon of hope within my chest—hope that I’d get to see him and potentially feel his touch again.
But the memory of how perfectly he held me and how he brought out a passion in me that had been hidden for some time seemed to overpower what embarrassment I felt.
Overall, my thoughts and feelings toward Griffin were a tangled mess. He was an anomaly, and I had no idea how to tread forward.
