As I’m walking out of the office Thursday evening, well past sunset, I get a text from Scarlett, 9-1-1 My place. Bring wine.
My stomach drops. Oh no. I hope everything is okay. I abandon my plans of going home, showering in Declan’s life-altering shower, and then continuing my binge of One Tree Hill, and send a reply to let her know I’m on my way.
When I arrive thirty minutes later, two bottles of wine in tow, my best friend meets me at the door.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as she takes one of the bottles from my full hands and then hugs me tight with one arm around my neck. She has a solid hold for such a small chick.
“Nothing. We just missed you.” She frees me from her vise-like grip but grabs my arm and pulls me with her into the kitchen. Piper and Dakota are sitting in chairs in front of the island. Music is playing from one of their phones and two charcuterie boards are laid out with meats, cheeses, nuts, and chocolate.
“You scared me.” I swat at my best friend’s hand. “Do not use 9-1-1 when it isn’t an emergency.”
“I’m sorry,” she says as she grabs an empty wine glass. “But we haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“You saw me yesterday.”
“Work doesn’t count.”
“Fine. I saw you last weekend at their anniversary shindig.” I wave to Dakota. “Great party by the way.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” Dakota beams.
“That doesn’t count either,” Scarlett says. “We needed girl time.”
I smile as I take a seat in a chair between Dakota and Piper. Now that I know everyone is okay, I’m happy to see them. “And the wine?”
Scarlett pours me a glass and then refills everyone else’s before she leans on the island. “We figured the best way to get you talking about Declan was to liquor you up.”
“I’m gonna need way more wine than this,” I mutter, only half-kidding.
“Are you together now?” Dakota asks.
“We got married, remember?” I shove a hunk of cheese in my mouth.
“You know what she means.” Piper nudges me with an elbow. “Spill the details. We need some new gossip around here. It’s all ‘Leo’s so great. Maverick’s so amazing. Tyler’s so hot.’”
She grins big as she says the last part, and we all laugh.
“You guys are all very predictable and boring now, but I am not going to be your entertainment with my messy love life.”
The truth is I’m jealous of how happy they all are. Their relationships are unshakable, and Declan and I are somewhere between faking a marriage and being seriously into each other. He does these nice things for me: going to events, building me an office, and so, so many more little things.
I can’t help but wonder if he really likes me as much as it seems or if he’s just holding up his side of our agreement. I don’t doubt that he likes me, but it’s hard to gauge which actions are because he wants to spend time with me and which are because he agreed to be my fake husband. It’s a lot. The best way I’ve found to navigate it, is to not think too hard about it. And kissing. Lots of kissing.
“Where are the guys if you’re all together?” I ask, pointing between the three of them.
“At Ash’s house,” Dakota answers. “Did Declan go over?”
“I’m not sure.”
They all look at me like they think it’s weird I don’t know Declan’s minute-to-minute schedule. Is that odd? Should I have texted him to tell him I was coming here? Sam never really cared unless it impacted plans we had made together.
I stare at Scarlett as I say, “I came straight here from work because someone said it was an emergency.”
“What do you two usually do at night?” Piper asks.
“I work while he does stuff around the house. He’s removed so much wallpaper, he should get some sort of award. The place is looking really great.” A brief image of him, shirtless and blasting rock music while he works around the house comes to mind, and it’s a pretty great image, too.
“What’s that smile?” Scarlett never misses anything. Especially if it has the potential to embarrass me.
“I was picturing Declan shirtless and sweaty.”
“And on top of you?” Dakota clinks her glass against mine.
Warmth spreads through me. “That is also a great visual.”
Piper’s responding squeal of excitement makes me lean away from her. “Ah, I love it so much. He is so smitten. You two are adorable.”
Damn these girls and their ability to get me talking.
“He’s contractually obligated, not smitten.”
“It is possible to be both.” Scarlett’s brown eyes are warm and sympathetic.
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. We’re in this for a year and we’ve decided to make the most out of it. He’s great and I like him. There. That’s all I’m giving you.”
“For now.” Piper’s lips twitch with amusement over her wine glass. “Soon enough, you’ll be just like the rest of us, in love and unable to shut up about it.”
“I’m happy for you guys. Truly,” I say, “but I’m just having fun while it lasts.”
“Why wouldn’t it last?” Dakota asks.
“Yeah. I mean, you’ve already survived more drama than most couples and look at you.” Piper isn’t wrong, but it’s not that simple.
“That’s because we spent the first month avoiding each other. We haven’t even had a fight yet.”
“So?” Scarlett’s brows rise with the question. “Couples fight. It isn’t a death sentence.”
“Not for you, maybe.” I’ve seen enough guys walk out on my mom after an argument to know that sometimes that’s all it takes. Scarlett and Leo, Piper and Tyler, Dakota and Maverick, they are so deep in love that they can survive a fight over who has to take the trash out, or whatever it is they argue about, but Declan and I aren’t in love. What’s going to happen when we disagree about something?
My phone buzzes in my purse. Declan’s name flashes on the screen, Dinner out tonight? I can pick you up from the office.
“It’s him. Isn’t it?” Scarlett asks. “You’re smiling.”
I hadn’t even realized I was, but of course, she’s right. I dig in my purse for the chocolate bar I also picked up for this so-called emergency. “Shut up.”
I toss the chocolate at her and then reply, Can’t. I’m at Scarlett’s house with the girls.
Before I can set my phone down, he sends another text. This one is a selfie. It’s Declan making a frowny face at the camera.
I run my finger along the screen. Even making a goofy face, he’s undeniably handsome. I fight the urge to say goodbye to my friends and go hang with him. We’re going to another event for the magazine tomorrow night, so he should enjoy a free night where he isn’t obligated to hang out with me. The guys are at Ash’s. You should go hang with them. I’ll text you on my way home. We have two bottles of wine and a lot of boy talk to do still.
