That got her attention. Her brows lifted.
My heart thudded in my chest. It was a wonder she couldn’t hear it from where she sat. My momhadbeen asking to meet the girl with the curls and the grin and the personality that had sent me ‘head over heels’.
“She’ll be in town this weekend,” I went on. “Thought we could grab dinner. She’s going to love you.” For a second, she just blinked at me, lips parting like she couldn’t believe I’d said it.
“You’re serious,” she said softly.
“Dead serious.” I gave her a small smile, suddenly nervous in a way I wasn’t used to being. “Figured it was about time, yeah?”
She opened her mouth, closed it again. And then — she laughed.
“Oh, Ansel.” She waved a hand like I was being ridiculous. “Come on. We’re not actually doing that. You’re not really talking about introducing your mom to your fake girlfriend, are you?”
The smile dropped from my face before I could stop it.
I must have misheard her.
I blinked once, brow furrowed. But she didn’t repeat herself, didn’t clarify or qualify what she had just said.
“Juniper—” My voice wasn’t as soft as I wanted it to be, quite the opposite, in fact. “D’you wanna run that by me again?”
I watched her swallow, watched as her eyes grew wide and she tried to shrink herself. But she shook her head.
“Help me understand, June.” My eyes narrowed. I didn’twantto shout, that wasn’t the answer. “Help me understand what about this—” I pointed to both of us. “—isfaketo you.”
“I—” She started, but clamped her mouth shut tight.
“No, no. Please Haddock.”God. “Explain how you separate it.”
“I didn’t mean—” She took a deep breath, and I could see from across the room how shaky it was. “It’s just different. You know? Just for the public eye.”
“For thepublic eye.” I laughed. “And what was last night, June? Were you livestreaming while my head was between your legs? Did thepublicwatch you come undone on my tongue?”
Her cheeks flushed, still avoiding my gaze.
“I didn’t think so.”
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to ground myself, but my chest was too tight. “God, you’re just like him.”
Her head snapped up, eyes flashing.
“Joel.” I let the name hang there, sharp as glass. “The guy who treated you like you were disposable. Maybe you liked it better that way — easier than actually being chosen for once.”
She flinched, visibly.
“Fuck.” I turned my back, jaw tight. “I’ll book you an earlier flight home.” My hand trembled just above the hotel room doorknob. “I need to get out of here. My driver will pick you up when it’s time for your flight.”
I turned around.
I shouldn’t have.
Her eyes were glassy, lips parted just enough to hurt. “For the record, Juniper… You’re the only girl I’ve everwantedto take home to my mother.”
Pulling the door open, I paused. Begging,pleading, for her to say something.
But she didn’t.
She didn’t stop me. Didn’t fight me.
