Page 14 of Her Inconvenient Wedding Date (Unexpected Dates #2)

Hunter

“New relationships are like software updates… You agree to all the terms and conditions without actually reading them.” ~Unknown

I’m so relieved Lily’s enjoying our evening so far. The sweet smile on her lips says it all. I take it as a clear sign that I chose the right destination for our date. Now I’m ready to blow her mind with the next surprise I have planned.

“Close your eyes, Lil.”

She obeys without hesitation and even tilts her chin up, expectantly. In a breathy voice, she murmurs, “I’m ready.”

I quickly reach under the swing for the basket I stashed there earlier.

Inside is dinner (sandwiches from Lily’s favorite shop), drinks (boba teas, of course), and a couple of paperbacks I bought from her online wish list. I place Lily’s items on the side table next to her, then put mine on the table beside me.

Once I’m done setting up, I take the blanket that was at the bottom of the basket and drape it over her lap.

“Open your eyes!” I announce with a fake British accent since everything sounds fancier with an accent. “Dinner is served!”

She glances around and says a simple, “Oh.”

Just oh? I swallow down my disappointment like it’s stale, day-old boba.

The look on Lily’s face is the opposite from what it was a minute ago.

A frown has replaced her smile, but I can tell she’s trying to lighten her expression.

I can’t do anything to fix mine though. This was not the reaction I was hoping for.

“Not quite what you expected? No problem, we can go out to eat. There are plenty of restaurants around here to choose from.”

“No, this is great! Thank you for preparing all of this, Hunter. I really appreciate your effort and thoughtfulness.”

I shrug, trying not to make it a big deal.

This date is about Lily, not me. “I thought since we were already playing hooky from work, it’d be a good chance for you to spend the day, or what we have left of it, reading, not triple checking every email for typos before you send it, and letting your mom’s calls go to voicemail. ”

Her eyes grow wide as she realizes my plan. “You’re helping me be irresponsible for a day?”

“I’d like to think of it as being human. You’re allowed to not be perfect since you can’t be perfect anyway.”

A loud groan escapes her lips. “Ouch. Thanks for breaking it to me so ungently.”

“Sorry.” I smile, not feeling sorry in the least, but I do soften my tone.

“The truth hurts, but it can also set you free. So, be free, Lil. Take the night off from trying to be a perfect employee and daughter. Read a book or two, eat your sandwich, and drink your boba. Feel free to turn off your phone or at least put it on silent. The earth will keep on spinning if you don’t pick it up for a few hours. ”

“You’re right.” Her smile is uncertain, but her posture is more relaxed. “I know the world won’t end if I slack off a little.”

“It’s called rest, Lil. Even Superman needs a break now and then.”

“Does he?”

The pointed look she adds to her question makes me feel like she’s calling me out.

Why she would put me on the same level as the man of steel doesn’t make any sense, so I don’t think much of it.

“Of course. Forget Superman, even God Almighty rested on the seventh day of creation. You’re allowed to rest and enjoy the blessings He’s given you. ”

A wry smile curves her lips. “I guess I can’t argue with that. Thank you. This means a lot. You’re the best friend and marriage of inconvenience husband I could have asked for.”

“You mean marriage of convenience husband?”

“No, you heard me right. This is extremely ma fan for you,” she remarks, using the Mandarin term for troublesome, “so the word inconvenience suits the situation much better.”

“It’s not ma fan for me at all, Lil. You didn’t force me to marry you.

I agreed because I wanted to.” There’s no plainer way for me to say this, so I hope she accepts it.

But there is something I want to clear up…

“I thought inconvenience was in reference to one person catching feelings for the other person but not having them reciprocated?”

“Right. But that’s not the case for us, so there’s no worry there.” She takes her boba tea and pokes the straw into the plastic top without spilling a drop like the pro that she is. “This is so good. Thanks again, Hunter. I’m going to pick a book to read now, if you don’t mind?”

“Of course, go for it.”

An uncomfortable lull in the conversation ensues, more so on my part because Lily seems perfectly content.

She’s in her element with a paperback in one hand and her sandwich in the other.

Her boba tea sits off to the side along with the plate of cookies.

We are mere inches apart, but she might as well be a world away.

And to think that I’d assumed her use of the word inconvenience meant something.

Like the tiny, infinitesimal chance that she could feel something for me?

That’s about as likely as me waking up with perfect vision tomorrow.

Speaking of sleep, my body suddenly feels the adrenaline rush of the day wear off.

My eyelids flutter as I fight the urge to let them fall, but they ultimately win.

I can feel my limbs turning into wet noodles as I drift off into la-la land.

At least in my dreams, I can imagine what a real relationship with Lily could be like.

I have no idea how long I’m out, but when I wake up, the sky is fully dark. An owl hoots in the distance as the rest of the neighborhood remains quiet. I wonder if Lily fell asleep as well, but a soft slurp slurp to my left confirms that she’s still working on her tea.

I stretch my arms, causing the swing to sway. “How’s the story?”

“Hey!” she exclaims. “Did I wake you with my slurping? Sorry, those last few bobas are always so hard to suck up.”

“No, you’re good. I woke up on my own.” I start in on my own tea and sandwich, suddenly feeling as ravenous as my name. “It looks like you’re enjoying the book.”

“It’s so good! I can’t believe I almost gave up on reading romance. It’s the best genre there is.”

“Why would you have done that?”

“Because romance books are completely unrealistic. But the upside is that they’re at least more predictable than real life.”

“That is especially true coming from a woman who went to dinner with Mr. PowerPoint, then married her coworker, all in the span of a week.”

“Don’t remind me.” She smirks. “Apparently, I’m the poster girl for the saying, truth is stranger than fiction. ”

“Be proud of it. You probably have the most interesting life of anyone you know right now. Far more interesting than the guys at work. Speaking of work, do you mind going into the office early tomorrow? I have an eight-thirty meeting.”

“Are you suggesting that we go together?”

“Unless you want to sleep in. I just figured we could save time if we carpool.”

“That does make sense. But let’s not go into the building at the same time, okay? You can go in first, then I’ll wait a few minutes before I go in.”

I chuckle at her mysterious tone. “If you’re trying to keep our marriage exciting, I suppose that’s one way to do it.”

She laughs and gives me an eyeroll. “It’s to keep our new relationship status under wraps. You know how fast gossip travels in the office. It’ll be less complicated this way, especially when we part ways in a few months.”

“You’re probably right,” I reluctantly agree, even though the dream I’d just woken up from had been about me sending out a company-wide email to announce our union.

I’d also been wearing a red cape and blue tights, which I’d never be able to pull off in real life, so I guess it works out that this scene was for my eyes only.

My eyes…

I suddenly realize how dry they feel. No matter how much I blink, I can’t get enough moisture in them.

Even a few rounds of ocular aerobics—looking up, down, and all around—don’t give me any relief.

I swallow hard as my worst fear manifests before my poor, parched eyes—my contact lenses are stuck to my eyeballs.

“Uh, Lil, I think we have a problem.”

“What is it?” She sets her book down to look at me. “Did they forget to add boba to your drink? I hate when that happens, and you don’t realize it until you get home.”

“No, it’s not the boba. It’s my eyes. They’re so dry, I’m pretty sure my contacts are dried up.”

“Oh, that’s no problem. I know exactly what to do.” She rises to her feet and calls over her shoulder as she enters the house, “Hang on, I’ll be right back.”

I breathe a little easier knowing that Lily has a solution.

Of course, she does; she’s my helpmate, after all, at least for the time being.

I have full confidence in her brilliant brain.

She has the best logic and reasoning skills out of anyone I know.

There’s no doubt she’ll get me out of this pickle once she returns…

Oh. My. Goodness.

The moment she steps back into the yard, a chill falls down my back. She has a bottle of contact solution in one hand and a clear container of Q-tips in the other.

Q-tips?!

Is Lily planning to get near my eyes with those pointy things?