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She'll have to play the role well, and that means she can't tell anyone that this is a lie. That means she’ll have to truly live and breathe the part of being my fiancée. I once told her that her acting skills were poor and that she'd never win an Oscar, but I am praying that I was wrong.
I know we have chemistry. I know we don't have to fake that. Everyone will see that chemistry, and people will believe that I, Jackson Pruitt, have been tamed. This ruse will put an end to my grandmother’s meddling and trying to hook me up with Louisa Augustus or any other eligible woman with a pedigree. Pretending to be engaged to Zara won’t work forever. But it will do for the summer until I come up with a better plan.
21
Zara
Dear Sandra,
Do you think that there is life after death? Like, do you believe in reincarnation? I don’t know if I do. I mean, I don’t. But sometimes I like to think it could be true, you know?
Do you think a friend can forgive you for lying?
Do you think you could ever forgive me?
I wonder if Lila will forgive me when she finds out the truth about my situation with Jackson?
Miss you,
Zara
I feel calm, and I don't know why. Maybe it's because I'm home alone and can finally relax for a couple of hours. Lila's taken the kids to a movie, and it's just me at the apartment. It feels fantastic until I notice my laptop on the dining room table and groan. I don't want to get off of the couch. I don't want to move. I don't want to look at more job postings. I feel like there's nothing out there for me. I feel like I should go back to the construction company with my tail between my legs and beg for them to give me another chance. Or maybe I'll tell them I'll sue because sexual harassment is a thing. But I know that won't go down very well.
The tub of ice cream on the coffee table is half-melted; my eyes were bigger than my stomach when I took out the entire tub and a spoon. I should have scooped out a couple of servings into a bowl and then gone back for seconds if I wanted it. That's what I always tell the kids to do. "But I'm an adult," I mumble to myself. "I can spoil and ruin ice cream, even if it's a waste." I try not to think about that because, frankly, I do not have any money to waste. At all.
I know Frankie will be back within a few days, telling me that he's going to kick me out. I know the landlord/tenant laws in New York are such that he can't get me out right away, but I don't even want to be served an eviction notice. I don't want it to get to that point, and I certainly will not do anything with him to stop him from doing it.
Loud knocking on my door stirs me from inner turmoil. "Fuck," I grumble. "Please don't let it be Frankie." I get up from the couch, my legs feeling like lead weights, and head toward the door. "Who is it?" I say, dreading what voice would respond to me.
"It's me. It's Jackson, also known as Zeus." The deep voice of Jackson Pruitt sounds through my door, and my eyes widen in shock. I open the door before I know what I'm doing.
"What are you doing here?" I say, gawking at him. He looks tall and handsome, his aquamarine eyes dazzling as he looks down at me.
"I came to see you, obviously," he drawls.
"But I never gave you my address. You asked me for my number, and I said no."
"I did drop you off, remember."
"Yeah, you dropped me off outside. I didn't tell you my apartment number." I glare at him. "Are you a stalker? Do I have to call the cops?"
He raises a single eyebrow and shakes his head. "I don't think so. I'm actually here to help you solve a problem."
"You're here to help me solve a problem? What problem is that?" I fold my arms. “Unless you mean you’re here to help me solve the problem that is you being here right now?”
"I'll tell you if you let me inside," he says, peering past my shoulder.
"What are you looking for?"
"Just to see if the kids are home." It's then that I notice he has two books in his hands.
"What are those?"
"Some kids' books I enjoyed when I was younger. I thought your niece and nephew might like them."
"Oh," I say, touched that he's brought them a gift. "You didn't have to do that."
"I know, but I wanted to."
