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“I’m so sorry. I haven’t considered how this might affect you. Are you sure about this? We can stop right now,” I tell him.
What if this is a gigantic mistake?
Easton straightens his shoulders and smooths his hand down his suit. “I’mmoresure about this than anything I’ve done in a long fucking time.”
“Okay. I’m along for the ride.”
“We should probably get going.” His voice is soft, caring even.
I carefully descend the stairs, holding on to the railing until we’re on the bottom floor. My heels click across the marble. I’ve put on my costume and makeup, and the show will start soon.
He leads me to the door, which locks automatically when he closes it.
“Is there anything I should know before we arrive?” I ask.
Anxiousness bubbles in the pit of my stomach as we leave the penthouse.
“Just be yourself. You’re endearing. They’ll love you how you are.”
We enter the elevator, and he continues, “Weston will be there. He attends every social event, twinning with me. Considering the theme, you should expect us to be dressed the same.”
My head falls back in laughter. “So, let’s come up with a sign or saying that only we’ll know. That way, if I have any doubts, you can confirm it for me.”
“I like the way you think,” he says.
When I was a kid, my childhood friends and I used to have secret handshakes.
“What if I interlock my fingers with yours and squeeze your hand three times? Kinda like me saying,Is that you?You’ll return it with two squeezes—It’s me. If it’s Weston trying to trick me, he’ll have to be a good guesser. But if he’s smart, he willnevertry to deceive me again, especially regarding you.”
“He won’t. Now.” He holds out his hand for me. “We have an engagement party to attend.”
“We’re crashing it,” I say, and he chuckles.
“I do feel guilty, knowing all eyes will be on you tonight,” he admits.
“They’ll be watchingus.We’re in this together,” I say, and I feel him relax into me.
We walk through the first security clearance for his private garage and board another elevator.
“Howin loveam I supposed to be?”
“Justactlike you’re considering spending forever with me,” he says with a smirk.
“Oof, that’ll behard.” My voice drips with playful sarcasm.
“On a serious note, they’re very good at spotting a fake. One hundred percent of the women I’ve introduced to my friends, it’s been an instant no.”
“One hundred percent?”
He nods. “They don’t even have the decency to wait until the next day. I will be pulled away and told to break up with you if you’re not liked. If it happens, don’t be offended, okay?”
“Uh …” I gulp. This might be harder than I expected. “So, you’re actually feeding me to the sharks?”
“Yes, and you’ll either sink or swim.” He meets my eyes. “But if we can fool them, we’ll fool the world.”
14
EASTON