Page 61 of An Inevitable Marriage

“Allright,spill.”Natalieplaced her folded arms on the table and leaned closer. “You’ve barely said four words since we arrived over twenty minutes ago. What’s going on?”

Guilt tugged on my insides. With everything that’d happened, I’d known sticking to our lunch date probably wasn’t the best idea. I’d just figured canceling on her would be worse.

Setting my fork on my untouched plate, I smiled weakly.

“I’m sorry I’m not the best company today.”

Natalie unfolded her arms and reached for me across the table. She wrapped her fingers around my forearm and squeezed. “Please talk to me, Evie.”

I always told Nat everything, but I didn’t want to tell her this. She was expecting her first baby, and the last thing I wanted to do was tell her about the crappy time my mom and I were having.

“Is it Liam?” she pressed. “Did he do something to upset you? Because if he did, I’ll—”

“Liam didn’t do anything bad.” The moment the words were out, I wanted to swallow them back down.

“Ah.” Natalie perked up. “So itisLiam.”

I sighed but didn’t answer.

Of course, my friend wasn’t having it. She instantly traded the seat opposite me for the one right next to me. Apparently, that still wasn’t close enough because she scooted her chair so close, the corners touched.

“Tell me everything.”

Eyes big, she leaned in like she was preparing to hear the world’s biggest secret.

I almost choked on a laugh.

Shaking my head, I wet my lips. “There’s not much to tell.” Besides me feeling him up, then having sexy dreams about him every night after. Oh, and don’t forget I writhed against him until I felt his hard length dig into my belly. Yup, absolutely nothing to tell.

“I don’t believe you.” Natalie narrowed her eyes. “You’re blushing. You never blush.” She must have come to some realization because her eyes went wide again, and she let out a gasp. “Did you and him…youknooow?”

“Geez, Nat.”

Her eyes were bright, her smile wide. “What? Weren’t you the one who told me there was nothing wrong with having your needs taken care of?”

“Yeah, but this is not that.” It was a weak response which was why I quickly added, “Besides, I just got out of a relationship.”

The glare Natalie gave me was so fierce, I was certain the lovely couple a few feet behind me felt the heat of it, too.

“Exactly. You need a cleanse. Flush that cheating idiot out of your system, and what better way to do it than with your hunky fake husband,” she said sweetly, waggling her brows.

A loud snort-laugh pushed past my lips, and I covered my mouth with my hand.

“Who are you, and what have you done with my sweet, innocent friend?”

It was Natalie’s turn to laugh, but hers wasn’t out of shock. It was one of those laughs that oozed the happiness she felt.

“It’s all Zach’s fault,” Nat said as soon as her laugh died. “But seriously, did you and Liam get together?”

Yet again, my skin heated. “No. No, we didn’t do anything.”

Not while I was awake anyway.

I’d shared everything with Natalie over the years, but I didn’t want to tell her about the dreams. And not because she’d judge me for them. Nat wasn’t like that. It was just that I still didn’t understand why Liam was so firmly planted under my skin, I feared I’d never get him out.

But this was Nat and she deservedsomething.That was why I entertained her with the watered-down version of what had happened in the kitchen. Absolutely leaving out the part where all my wiggling and writhing had apparently turned us both on.

The moment I was done, Natalie slowly sat back and cocked her head. “You’re not telling me everything.”