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Reyna sighed and propped herself up on her elbows. She looked at her gown.
“I can’t wear this, Bryce. I didn't bring any extra clothes and I'd better not hit the breakfast table in my evening gown,” she said, as she turned to me and laughed.
“Looks like you're going to be eating breakfast in some teenage boy clothes. I should have some clothes here to fit you. Maybe my 14-year-old wardrobe will work. Although I gotta say, you're going to fill them out like they've never been filled out before!” I got up to rummage in my closet. Reyna laughed.
“Whatever you've got, I'll take. It's better than my ballgown.”
Suddenly, she stopped laughing. I looked at her and saw the panic in her eyes.
“I just realized we're going to have breakfast. With your parents.” Reyna squeaked.
“Yes, with my parents. Is that a problem?” I found a T-shirt and sweatpants that would at least fit a little.
“Yes, Bryce, it’s a problem. This is supposed to be a fake engagement. Now they’re going to know that we’re fucking because I slept over in your room,” she protested, as she took the clothes from me.
“Reyna, my parents already know that we’re fucking. I mean, we live together and you’re attractive. Any man would be a fool to not try his luck with you.”
“They don’t know for sure that we’re fucking. Now they will when they see me in your clothes coming down the stairs in the morning.”
“Relax, Reyna,” I said smiling. “My parents are really cool and I’m sure they won’t think twice about it. They know you can't wear your dress this morning. That would make them think we're weird. They'll understand the situation, so don't worry about it. After all, we are adults and we can do whatever the hell we want.”
Reyna smiled as she pulled on the shorts and T-shirt, shaking out her hair.
"Okay then," she said, sounding resigned. "I just know this would be totally different at my parents' house. You are forewarned." She looked at me with a grimace.
We headed downstairs to the dining room where my mom and dad were already sitting.
“Good late morning everyone,” I said brightly, dropping a kiss on the top of my mom’s head and grabbing a section of my dad’s paper. He still got it delivered in paper form every morning.
“Good morning, Joanne and Charles,” Reyna said, a little more shyly.
“I hope your night was fun,” said my dad.
“Oh, I’m sure it was,” my mom chimed in, not looking at us and raising her eyebrows. Gotta love moms.
“Guys, come on.” I tried to stop them from making Reyna any more uncomfortable.
All throughout breakfast, my parents subtly joked about us being together, even though we were never actually open with them. We both went along with the banter, but at the same time took extra caution to not cross any boundaries or give away too much.
After breakfast, Reyna and I said our goodbyes and left my parents' house for our condo. The ride back home was full of laughter as we reminded each other of the events of the previous night and that morning. What I loved about Reyna is that she could laugh at herself and our inconvenient adventures.
As we approached the condo, we noticed a group of photographers at the entrance. They were obviously waiting for us. I wondered why they had chosen today of all days.
“What’s going on?” Reyna asked with a tone of concern.
“A story must’ve broken about us and the paparazzi wants a glimpse.” I turned the car to go the other way.
Reyna took out her phone and checked the tabloids. “Love and lies: The tale of the billionaire’s fake engagement,” Reyna read out the headline, bitterness dripping from her voice. “What’s this?”
”I don’t know, but we can’t go home now until we figure out what the story is about.” I tried to think of somewhere safe to go.
“We’ll just find a quiet hotel where no one would think to look for us.”
Reyna was getting the first glimpse of the downside of being rich and famous. We pulled into a suburban Holiday Inn and I immediately got to work trying to find the source of the story. When I found out it was an executive in my own fucking company, I saw red. Apparently, they were trying to do some damage so the board would vote me out.
My phone didn’t stop buzzing with unknown numbers until well into the evening
Reyna, who I had come to know as pretty tough, was on edge. She wasn’t used to this life and the high-profile events that sometimes came along with it. She wanted to focus on her career. Fame, or infamy, was not part of the equation.
