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“What? No, I– no, I’m not pregnant.”
“Sorry,” she said, patting me on the back. “I was just joking, but the look on your face made me realize it wasn’t funny. I should have kept my mouth shut.”
“It’s okay.” I feigned a smile. “But you know, I think I might run to the bathroom.”
“Do you need any help or anything?”
“Oh no, I’m fine, really, just drank too much lemonade,” I said with a laugh. “I’ll be right back.”
I hurried away from the group, checking behind me to make sure no one was following me. I needed to catch my breath. This was all too much. My heart was racing as I found the nearest tree and hid behind it. I closed my eyes and leaned against it, remembering the fateful night I ran into Levi behind a tree.
I smiled, and part of me hoped he might come hide behind the same tree with me again. Then I remembered we were taking some space from each other, cooling things off.
All while pretending to be engaged, so that was going to be hard.
My stomach turned again.
I pulled out my phone, hopeful for a distraction. I checked my e-mail to see if I had an e-mail from the animal reserve yet.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw an e-mail from the Tanzania Wildlife Reserve titled: “Interview in Los Angeles.”
I opened it and found out that not only did I get chosen to move to the next round, but they had booked my flights and hotel. I’d known this was a possibility; they told me to be prepared. Everything would happen quickly.
And boy, they hadn’t been kidding.
I had a few days to prepare for the next set of interviews and a trip to Los Angeles.
After that, the next step would be even bigger.
A trip to Tanzania for a two-week working interview.
My heart raced and my stomach continued to twist and turn.
Chapter 14
Levi
“Man… don’t you think a fake engagement is a bit too far?” Clark’s usual smirk was replaced with a look of concern. He hadn’t attended Summer Fest, but I filled him in on the details as we shared a beer later that evening at my place.
“I mean, yes, I do, but it’s a bit too late now,” I muttered. I shoved my hands in my pockets and stared at the ground.
“This girl, she’s something else. She’s really got her hooks in you.” Clark let out a low whistle as he pulled out a rag and polished a spot on his precious car.
“She doesn’t have her hooks in me.”
“So, you’re still happily a bachelor? When she leaves, you won’t be brokenhearted?”
“I’ll get over it. Whatever happens, I’ll deal with it.”
“So, you’re admitting you have feelings for her.”
“I didn’t say that,” I scoffed.
“You didn’t deny that you will be heartbroken when she leaves.”
I shrugged. “Fine. I like her a lot. She’s the type of woman I could see myself settling down with.”
“Just like Beth. You could see yourself settling down with her too.”
