Eli’s chuckle held no humor, only a somber acknowledgment of the gravity behind her words. “No more kisses like that one kiss,” he repeated, solemn as an oath.
“Are we clear on everything?” she asked, needing to hear it all laid out.
“Crystal,” he responded, extending his hand once more—not as a vow this time, but as a pact between equals. “Partners in crime.”
“Partners,” she echoed, shaking his hand firmly.
“Meet me tomorrow at Sparrow Catching at eight thirty,” he said, and then headed to his truck.
Was this a date?No,she quickly reminded herself. It was a fake date. Totally acceptable.
Her fingers trembled as she closed the front door behind her, watching Eli’s truck drive out of the driveway.
“Everything okay?” Aubrey’s voice sliced through the stillness, laced with concern.
Willow met her friend’s gaze. “Eli proposed something...unconventional.”
Aubrey’s eyebrows knit together, her stance shifting as if ready to pounce on whatever threat loomed. “What kind of unconventional?”
“A fake relationship,” Willow confessed, the words hanging between them.
“Fake relationship?” Aubrey’s astonishment resonated in the space, her sunny disposition momentarily clouded. “To...what? Why?”
“Apparently, it’s to shield me from mean comments, protect my reputation in town.” Willow laughed.
“Does he think this is some sort of game?” Aubrey crossed her arms, her protective instincts flaring.
“No, it’s not like that.” Willow sighed, trying to articulate the reasoning behind the madness. “He’s just offering to stand with me in hopes that whoever is doing this—oh, and he’s got a detective looking into this and Niko to make sure he’s not behind it—will back down if they think I’m dating him. Because, you know, he’s big and scary.” She grinned.
Aubrey pursed her lips. “Charly should hear this,” she decided abruptly, reaching for her phone. The device chirped to life, its speaker filling the room with the promise of solidarity.
“Hey, you two. What’s up?” Charly’s voice, warm and soothing, flowed from the phone.
“Willow has news,” Aubrey said before Willow could even draw breath to speak. “Eli wants them to pretend to be a couple.”
“Wait, pretend?” Charly’s confusion mirrored Aubrey’s earlier reaction. “Is that wise?”
“Exactly my point,” Aubrey chimed in, her curls bouncing as she nodded emphatically.
“Rules are set. Boundaries established,” Willow interjected. “Open communication. No romance. It ends after New Year’s.”
“Okay, so we’re seriously considering this?” Charly’s tone was equal parts skepticism and intrigue.
Willow sighed, and then told Charly and Aubrey every single thing that Eli had said during their talk and explained why she’d gone along with it. She needed—for her mental health—for this person to back off.
When she finished, Aubrey still didn’t look convinced, her eyes softening with concern. “Willow, I’ve seen the way Eli looks at you. There’s caring there, maybe more.”
“Care doesn’t erase the past,” Willow replied. “You both know what I’ve been through. I can’t just jump into something real because it’s convenient.”
“But it’s Eli,” Charly interjected gently. “He’s been through his own hell. He understands what it means to rebuild from broken places.”
“Look, I know you’re both worried,” Willow said firmly. “But the fake relationship—it’s just a shield. Nothing more. We’ve set boundaries. It’s all been...negotiated.” Willow stepped back, wanting this conversation to be over. “Right now, this is about protection—mine and The Naked Moose’s. I can’t afford any more rumors or whispers.”
“Okay,” Charly conceded. “We trust you to know your limits. Just remember we’re here for you, no matter what happens.”
“Thank you,” Willow murmured. “It actually feels good to have a plan, instead of having a breakdown in the bar.” A genuine smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “I’m not going down without a fight,” she declared, the determination in her voice ringing clear.
“Never thought you would,” Aubrey replied with a grin.
