Jess turns her attention away from me and back to Lauren. “This has absolutely nothing to do with what we discussed. Nick and I, well, we’re still figuring it out, to be honest, but whatever is happening here is genuine.”
I open my mouth to attempt to get some answers, but Jess squeezes my hand and gives me anot nowlook.
Lauren watches all of this play out, but her emotions are unreadable. “Well, I hope you two are able to figure it out. Please let me know if and when you want to make all of this”—she gestures to the tight grip we have on each other’s hands—“public because I will be all over that.” Her head cocks to the side. “I wonder if we could get you onGMA…they love you, Nick, and I think they would eat this story right up. Two romance authors who fell back in love while writing a book together? It’s perfection.” Her phone lights up in her hand. “My ride is here, but this conversation is not over!” She starts to head for the front door. “Have a great Christmas and let’s chat as soon as I’m back in the office!”
Her last words are swallowed up by the automatic doors closing behind her.
For a second we just stand and stare at the place where Lauren stood.
Then I turn to Jess. “Want to tell me what that was all about?”
She sighs and tugs on my hand, pulling me toward the restaurant. “Today is going to be quite the day of reckoning, isn’t it? But I need food in my system before we have a whole bunch of serious conversations.”
I follow her lead, and after we’ve been seated and have ordered two huge breakfast platters and another round ofcoffees, I clasp my hands in front of me on the table. “Do you want to go first?”
“Sure.” She takes in a deep breath. “I ran into Lauren in the lobby a couple of days ago and she told me that if you and I were to be in a relationship, it could really help both of our careers.”
I reach across the table and take her hand. “Please don’t take this the wrong way because I really don’t mean to sound like a dick…”
“I asked the same thing. I see how it would help me, but how would it benefit you?”
I squeeze her hand, thankful I didn’t have to say it out loud. “What did she say?”
“She said that it’s time for you to move on to the next phase of your career.” She smirks. “Basically she thinks it’s time for you to stop being Romancelandia’s favorite bachelor. Time for you to settle down and wife up, I guess.”
Wifing up doesn’t sound so terrible if I’m wifing up Jess.
Jess leans forward in her seat. “Honestly, looking back on it, I might have read too much into our conversation. I know she wasn’t actually suggesting we fake date or anything.” A smile tugs on her lips, but she tries to hide it with a sip from her coffee. “Maybe I was hearing what I wanted to hear, you know?”
“You wanted an excuse to fake date me?” I can’t help but be excited by that declaration. In our world, fake dating is a hop, skip, and a jump away from an HEA.
“I admit nothing.”
“Well, I’m glad she didn’t actually ask you to fake date me. That would have been extremely inappropriate.”Though if I have anything to say about it, Lauren’s greatest PR wishes will all be coming true.
“So you’re not mad?”
My brow furrows. “Why would I be mad? Did what happened between us last night have anything to do with your conversation with Lauren?”
“No.” Her response is quick and firm.
I shrug and sip my coffee. “Then I have nothing to be mad about.”
“Even though I didn’t tell you?”
“We weren’t together at the time. If it didn’t affect your actions, then a conversation with Lauren doesn’t matter to me.”
“Are we together now?”
The server chooses this very inopportune moment to interrupt us. Of course it isn’t until the plate of steaming food is set in front of me that I realize how ravenous I am. I burned a lot of calories last night.
“I really want to answer that question when my stomach is not growling offensively loud.”
Jess grins, picking up her fork. “Fine, but don’t think you’re escaping this conversation. We’re just putting it on pause.”
“I don’t want to escape this conversation, Jess.” I want to tell her everything. I need to tell her everything. All I can do is hope she’ll give me another chance after she knows the whole story.
Third Christmas
