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“Caleb, this is my…” I clear my throat as the words get caught. “My date…Sage.”
Fuck.
I botched that one. I should have called her my girlfriend, notdate. We’re not trying to just make waves; we want to cause a tsunami. But it’s okay. It was only the first try. I’ll get better.
On my arm, I feel Sage squeeze me as if to say,Nice job, asshole.
Then she smiles politely at my brother and takes his hand as I continue the introductions.
“Sage, this is my brother Caleb, and his wife, Briar.”
My chest feels tight with anxiety as Sage puts her tattooed hand in theirs one at a time. I notice Caleb’s hesitation as if he can already sense that something is off. As if he knows it’s all a lie.
But I can’t tell him it’s a lie. Sage and I went over the rules in her apartment, and I’ve been replaying them in my head ever since.
Rule #1: No one can know the truth. Everyone needs to believe we’re a real couple.
That means brothers, friends, strangers, everyone. I don’t normally keep secrets from my brothers, but lying to Caleb and Lucas should be easy. It’s my mother I’m worried about.
If we want this to be effective, we have to sell it. To everyone.
Caleb’s scrutinizing gaze finds my face. “So…where did you two meet?”
Rule #2: Get the story straight.
“He bought me breakfast at the diner. Last week.” Sage is wearing a bright smile, and I have to admit—it’s convincing. Her arm slides across my back as she settles herself against my chest, her head nestled in the crook of my arm. She fits perfectly, and she’s not a bad actress. Or not a bad liar, depending on how you look at it.
They don’t need to know Sage and I shared our first breakfast over a month ago. It was my idea to go with a fake anniversary to avoid the date of our meeting lining up too precisely with the day my father fired me.
“Last week?” Briar asks, taking a sip of her champagne.
“Well, you move fast,” Caleb adds.
My gaze slides down to Sage’s face. “What can I say? It was instant chemistry.”
Her cheeks dimple as she scrunches up her nose, smiling up at me. So far, so good. We’re sort of killing it, if I do say so myself.
Rule #3: PDA is key. Be as public as possible.
Which means I should kiss her. We’re definitely in one of those moments when I should lean down and press my lips to hers, but I hesitate a moment too long, and Sage’s smile fades. She turns away, putting her vodka martini to her lips and taking a drink.
Clearing my throat, I glance back at my brother, who is still staring at me as if I’ve sprouted a dick on my forehead. With his eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together tightly, he looks about two seconds away from calling bullshit. My temperature starts to rise.
Just then, his eyes track over my shoulder, and his demeanor changes. I can tell by the way his mouth slackens and his shoulders tense that our father is somewhere behind me. He turns his eyes away and takes a large drink from his glass.
And when I turn around, I watch Truett Goode cross the room toward me.
This is the point of no return. First, he sees me, and he looks furious.
Then he sees her, and he looks terrified.
Fourteen
Sage
The look on Truett’s face is probably enough for Adam. I’d say if nothing else happens from this little charade, the expression of pure panic and terror his father is exhibiting probably makes this whole thing worth it.
I feel it in the way Adam pulls me a little closer, squeezing me tighter against his side as Truett approaches.
