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I swallow. “That’s sweet. I’d love to meet them.” The sentiment slips out, but I mean it. It’d be nice to be around a happy family for once.
“Maybe you can.” He rubs the stubble on his jaw.
“What do you mean?”
“Every year during the holidays, my family holds what we call the Hudson Olympics. My parents come up with various games, and my siblings and I compete in them,” he says proudly. “Now that everyone’s grown up and married off, except for me and Madison, the tournament has become a couples game. If you come, we can team up.”
My head almost shakes in disbelief. “You want to introduce me to your family on Christmas?”
“I mean, if we’re not divorced by then, and if you don’t have plans,” he offers.
“No,” I say, clapping my hands together. “Apart from the annual Winter Ball that my mother throws, my parents attend business soirées during the holidays.” Last Christmas, I was alone in the city. “So my calendar iswideopen. I’d love to go.”
“It’s settled.” His hand meets his knee, his thick fingers flexing again. “There’s no rule about two friends competing.”
The word stings, but that is what we are.Friends.“What kind of games do you guys play?” I attempt to hide the disappointment in my voice.
“We don’t know what to expect until we arrive. Last year, we built gingerbread houses from scratch. There’s always skiing or snowshoeing. My parents love to keep us on our toes.” The holidays aren’t for a few months, but he’s already excited.
“As long as it’s not cooking, I think I could help you win,” I jest. The closest I’ve gotten to my kitchen is to chat with Chef Hugo about his family in Italy. “Do you know your way around the kitchen?”
“I’d like to think so.” He winks. “My dad taught me to cook.”
Seriously?A bit of drool gathers at my lip. “How are you still single?” I laugh, sending one of my hands out into the air in front of me.
Then I realize I crossed a line.
Oh no.
Matthew looks stiff, pulling away into his seat again. The pilot comes over the intercom. “Please fasten your seatbelts. We’ll be landing in ten minutes.”
Here we go.
Chapter6
Matthew
I never had a bucket list,but I might need to start one after the past twenty-four hours.
Fly on a private jet.Check.
Flirt with my fake girlfriend even though we’re meant to be strictly business.Check.
Take a marriage preparatory course at a five-star luxury resort.Almost check.
Lie to my family about all of the above.Sadly, check.
I hate not sharing my life with them. But if this playing pretend doesn’t work out, I’d rather not spend the holidays hearing about it. I brush the thought from my mind.
Even in October, the weather in Arizona is harsh. Around us, the great canyons are monumental. Cacti in terracotta vases surround the On Cloud Nine property in the distance.
A town car speeds toward us, stirring up plumes of reddish dust.
“That’s going to be Lolita Deveaux, the person who’s in charge of approving our course,” Molly says, looking ahead. Her springy curls wind around her face, the sun bouncing off the tip of her button nose. “She’s a licensed couples therapist and a leading expert in the intimacy and relationship space. Oprah named her one of the top one hundred visionaries of our generation. You wouldn’t believe the schmoozing it took to have her work for us.”
“That’s super impressive.” Hopefully, the quizzing session we just had will be enough to convince an actual expert we’re in love. Nerves prickle in my chest.Alright. Guess it’s time to get the show started.“You ready?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes. We can do this. I’m prepped and quizzed.”
