Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
My heart ached in my chest as I looked over at Landry. This guy who had rejected his proposal, less than a year ago, was now engaged to another man. Landry had radiated confidence since the moment I met him, but now he looked like he was being crushed.
I had to do something.
Something fast.
Because seeing Landry look so unhappy was starting to crush me, now, too.
A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins, and as I reached over the table and grabbed Landry’s hand in my own, I realized I was about to do something crazy.
“Baby, are you going to introduce me to your friends?” I asked Landry.
His eyes flitted to mine, a moment of confusion on his face. I winked at him, hoping he would catch onto my idea.
“This… this is Parker,” Landry said.
“Hi, Parker,” I said, reaching out to shake his hand, beaming the best smile I could muster. “I’m Landry’s boyfriend, Jamie.”
Parker looked just as surprised as Landry did. “Nice to meet you,” he said coldly.
“Honey, you didn’t tell me you’d have so many friends here this week,” I said, scrambling to think of things boyfriends would say to one another.
“I was… too busy thinking about all of the fun we were going to have, of course,” Landry told me, clearly catching onto my idea.
Maybe it was just the gin in my blood, but I was pretty sure I’d just had a genius idea.
Pretending to be Landry’s boyfriend was a risk, but I was already having fun with it.
“Well, I hope you two enjoy the lounge bar,” I told Parker, who was giving us each a clinical death stare. “Landry and I were just about to head up to our hotel room and enjoy ourselves.”
Parker just nodded before giving a little wave. The two of them jetted out of the bar.
I realized I was still holding Landry’s hand across the small table. I gave it a little squeeze then pulled away, watching his reaction.
“Too much?” I asked.
“All of that was too much, but… it was also kind of perfect,” Landry said, letting out a long breath. “Christ. I didn’t expect to feel that bad, seeing him again.”
“Are you okay?”
He waved a dismissive hand through the air. “Thank you for what you did.”
I could tell he was even more rattled than he was letting on. I’d only known Landry for a couple of days, but I knew he’d rather jump off of a snow-capped cliff than talk about his failed engagement any more than he already had.
“I’d pretend to be your boyfriend anytime, Landry,” I offered him, my voice gentle.
He glanced up at me, an unexpected smolder in his eyes. “Who said you’re bad at flirting?” he said.
A flicker of adrenaline sparked in my chest. “Maybe I’m only good at it when I’m pretending for you.”
“Well, I’m definitely not pretending when I say you’re awesome, Jamie,” he said, finishing his drink. “I desperately need fresh air now, though. A walk in the snow sounds kind of perfect right now.”
I watched him try to collect himself, to put back the pieces of the confident exterior he usually had. It was the first time I’d truly seen Landry get vulnerable. The look in his eyes had been heartbreaking.
“These drinks are making me overheat, too,” I agreed. “Let’s do it.”
Landry let me split the bill for our drinks, fair and square, and I was proud to contribute even though I knew the money was insignificant for him. We put on our coats and headed out onto the stone path that weaved its way around the hotel, surrounded by little glowy lamp posts and pine trees galore. The snow had dissipated to tiny flurries, and as we walked out, Landry leaned back, sucking in a deep breath of cool air.
“I knew it would suck to see him, but I didn’t expect him to be engaged. Especially not to a guy who looks like he just finished college, for God’s sake.”
“You want to know something?” I asked.
“Anything. Please.”
“If it makes you feel better, it seems like you dodged a bullet with Parker. You could do way better than him.”
Landry looked down, grabbing my gloved hand in his and leading me down the path. “Parker never used to be like that. He got snobbier and snobbier as we dated. I always thought he would cool off, but it turns out he only got worse, apparently.”
“Like I said. Bullet dodged.”
He squeezed my hand. “You’re already a way better boyfriend than him, and you’re not even my real boyfriend.”
I laughed, the cloud of my breath visible in the night air. “Well, I’ll be here at your service anytime you need me this week.”
“I like the sound of that.”
We walked down the path, our boots quiet on the light snow. We held hands as we walked, and at first I thought we were doing it in case we ran into Parker, or if he caught a glimpse of us through one of the hotel windows. But we kept our hands clasped, even on the parts of the path that meandered away from any windows.