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“It’s a fake date,” she chimes, finally relaxing a little.
I smirk, wink, then turn back to my office. However, I have no hope in hell of concentrating for the rest of the afternoon after all this. Instead, I guess I will research how to impress a seven-year-old andall the waysto make an ex-boyfriend jealous.
Because that seems like a completely normal thing to do when involved in a fake dating relationship—right?
CHAPTER SIX
Zoey
My head is spinning, thinking that Blake will soon be at my home, bringing takeout, and we will be discussing how we’ll get through pretending to be a couple.
How the hell am I going to pull this off?Blake is doing me a huge favor, but how am I supposed to get through this when all I want to do is rip the guy’s pants clean off?
This isbad.
This isso beyond bad.
Why did I agree to this?The whole thing makes me nervous, but I know I can’t back out now. It will look bad and give Kyle even more ammunition against me. But worse than that, I don’t want to insult Blake and make shit weird at work between us.
So I have to play this out.
Stepping out of my car, I shake off my negative thoughts and head for my parents’ home. My hand swipes across my brow—the humidity is suffocating—and even though the sun has set, the heat is intense tonight. These New Orleans summers are a killer.
While walking up the path, I fan my blouse in and out to try and cool myself down a little. At least at work, we have air conditioning. When I’m driving home in my crappy car, I remember why I wish I lived somewhere cooler. Chicago maybe? But then I remember Hailee’s entire life is here, and moving for the sake of a bit of heat would be detrimental to her.
Stepping up to the front door, I go to open the door, but not a second later, it flies wide open to Hailee smiling at me, wearing a Mexican hat, and a giant fake mustache. She beams brilliantly at me while I smirk at her.
She waves her hand through the air. “Hola, bienvenida a la casa de nana!” Hailee calls out in Spanish as Mom steps beside her, waggling her brows at me. “We’re practicing her Spanish homework.”
I pick up the hat from Hailee’s head and place it on mine instead with a bright smile. “Muy bien.” “You know I did Spanish in school too?”
Hailee’s eyes widen as she giggles. “It’s fun. Can we have a taco night soon, Mom? You know… to get in the spirit of learning and all that?”
I snort out a laugh as my mom grins. “Sure, Starshine, we’ll have tacos tomorrow.”
Hailee bounces on her toes in her excitement and races off back inside the house as Mom turns and wraps her arm around my shoulders, pulling me inside her home. “Now, I know that expression on your face. Something is bothering you. Talk to your mama.”
I shake my head, pull the crazy hat off my head, and drop it on the buffet as I close the door while listening to Hailee continuing to speak Spanish with my father in the next room. “I’ve had a hell of a day, Mom.”
She leads me through the hall into the kitchen, and we sit on the bench. “Tell me all about it,” she asks, reaching for the refrigerator and grabbing a bottle of sparkling water, instantly pouring me a half glass.
God, I love this woman.
I pick up the glass and take a small sip. Then I close my eyes, sigh, and shake my head before being able to say the words. “Kyle came into work today.”
Mom looks at me, raises her brow, grabs another glass, and starts pouring one for her too. I smirk as she fills the glass to the brim, takes a long gulp, then drops her chin. “Okay, I’m ready… tell me what he did.”
“He came in to tell me he asked Tamara to marry him.”
“That bimbo he’s been sleeping with? She’s what… twelve years old!” she snaps, making me laugh.
I grin because I have to admit Tamara isa lotyounger than him. “I don’t know what he’s thinking even coming into my work…” I sigh. “I guess it’s to boast. But anyway, he invited me to go to his wedding, which is in two weeks.” Mom snorts and drinks more sparkling water while I continue, “He wants Hailee to be a flower girl.”
Mom rolls her eyes. “Does Hailee know?”
I glance over my shoulder into the living room, where Hailee is jumping all over my father. She is so happy. I love seeing her like this—so carefree. “No, not yet. I’m not sure how she’s going to take it.”
Mom glances past me toward Hailee and sighs. “You know that little angel is so strong. She loves her father, but at the same time, I feel like she has this innate fear of him too. So you shouldn’t force her if she doesn’t want to be in the wedding.”
