Page 78 of Make-Believe Match

“This is fuckingnuts,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t believe Lexi went for it.”

“What was the alternative? Watch her childhood home be demolished? She’s got too many memories there to let it go without a fight.” I told him about her parents. The ashes scattered at the top of the mountain.

“Jesus.” He scrubbed a hand over his beard. “That’s tough. But still—getting married just to inherit?”

“She’d probably have done something even more extreme,” I said. “You don’t know her like I do. The girl ishighlyemotional. Fiercely sentimental. And she’s got a wild streak. She runs hot.”

A smile crept onto Xander’s face. “I bet she does.”

“Not like that,” I said. Then I paused. “Actually, yeah, like that.”

Xander laughed. “I figured there was more in it for you than just getting back at some business rival.”

“There’s more in it for me than just sex,” I said defensively. “I’ve got some money saved that I’m going to invest in Snowberry. I really think it will do well. I’ll see the return eventually.”

“I thought you were saving that money for some kind of kids’ summer camp.”

“I was, but...” I shrugged. “That will have to wait. I want to help her out. And listen, don’t tell her about that. I don’t want her to know I was saving that money for a specific purpose. She’ll feel bad.”

Xander leaned back in his chair, tipping it onto two legs. Studying me with curious eyes. “You like this girl.”

I shrugged, trying to downplay my feelings. “I like her.”

“A lot. I saw you with her last night. It wasn’t all for show.”

“Fine, I like her a lot.” I frowned. “Did you have to tell her I was afraid of the chairlift, asshole?”

“Yes. I felt it was my solemn duty as your big brother to roast you a little bit on the occasion of your marriage.”

“Gee, thanks.”

He was silent a moment. “Dad seems happy.”

“Yeah.” I cringed a little bit. “I do feel bad about that.”

“How long you plan on staying married?”

“We think six months should do it.”

He cocked his head. “Six months playing house, huh? And then you just say goodbye? Move back to Boston?”

I shrugged. “Or somewhere else. I haven’t decided yet.”

“And she’s going to be fine with that?”

“Absolutely. We have it all worked out.”

He cocked his head and gave me a smile that said he knew better. “Of course you do.”

* * *

When I got home, I went up to my bedroom to find Lexi pacing back and forth at the foot of the bed.

“Thank God you’re here!” she whispered frantically, rushing to shut the door behind me. “I’m losing my mind!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’swrong, exactly, it’s just that there’s a party tonight for our wedding and in that bag over there is a dress I’m supposed to wear and Veronica and Kelly were so kind to me today and so excited for us and I’m wearing this gold band on my finger and your dad gave me these earrings that were your mom’s and I finally saw our wedding photo today and I just can’t—it’s all fake, Devlin! We’re liars! It’s all fake!” She burst into tears, and I instinctively pulled her into my arms.