5. Leah
LEAH
“A family dinner?” I ask in sheer horror at the thought of sitting across a dinner table from Kian and his wife. “No, sorry, but I can’t. There’s no way I can fake my way through something as intimate as a small family gathering. A gala was one thing, but this—”
“You can do it,” Rowan says. “I’ll be right beside you to help.”
“I’m not sure if that should make her feel better or worse,” Emmett jokes. “What could be more uncomfortable than having to sit across from your ex only to pretend to be in love with a guy that looks exactly like him?”
Emmett’s not wrong, but the instantaneous look of hurt on Rowan’s face keeps me from agreeing with him.
“Thank you, Emmett,” Rowan says flatly.
Emmett shrugs. “I’m just saying it’s a lot for one dinner.”
“It’s a lot for one lifetime,” I add, and that surprisingly gets a laugh out of all three of them, including Rowan.
But Rowan isn’t Kian, despite their almost identical appearance. And I do think having him beside me helps. I can’t really explain it because it shouldn’t.
“Where is this family dinner? I’m still not committing to it; I’m just curious. Actually, do I even have a choice?”
“Not really,” Declan says, looking almost apologetic. “Not if we’re going to keep everyone believing that this little charade is real.”
“And by everyone, you pretty much just mean Madeline and your father. The rest of us all already know what the truth is,” I remind him.
“Yes, that’s what I mean. Most importantly, just Madeline. That’s all this is really for. It’s just to make sure that she and the baby are unharmed by our brother’s mistake.”
“Great, now I’m nothing more than a mistake,” I mutter under my breath.
Rowan moves his hand as if he’s about to reach out to me but stops himself.
“That’s not what I meant,” Declan clarifies quickly. “If anything, Kian was the mistake—one that I should have tried harder to correct a long time ago.”
Before I can ask him what he means by that, Declan continues, “The dinner will be held at my penthouse. You and Rowan should probably come together.”
The fact that we all now live inside the same building, at least for the moment, does make things convenient. Possibly too convenient.
The top floor of Koi Tower is completely occupied by the three brothers. Three separate penthouses sit there, one belonging to each of them. My new, temporary condo is only a few floors below.
“I’ll come down and pick you up,” Rowan offers. “At seven. We can walk into the dinner together.”
“Should we be holding hands too? Make it look truly official?” I chuckle, trying to swallow the sour taste in my mouth from having to protect Kian’s lies.
Not only that, but the thought of having to play nice with him at dinner doesn’t sit well with me.
But once again, the expression on Rowan’s face, silent as it is, can’t really hide the sting that my words cause.
I try to backpedal. “It’s not that I am opposed to holding your hand.”
It’s the opposite, really. I still think about how right it felt to hold his hand when he rescued me at the gala.
“Don’t worry about it.” He smiles. “Walking in together will be enough.”
“Maybe you guys should coordinate what you wear,” Emmett adds. “Nothing says true love like matching clothes.”
I snort with laughter.
“So, you like the idea?” Emmett asks. “I’m full of them.”
I shake my head. “Definitely not wearing matching outfits.”
Emmett is starting to grow on me, too. And, if I am being honest with myself, so is Declan.
Out of all the Oliver boys, how did I end up dating the only one who is a lying asshole?
The last thing that I should want is to get close to any of these guys. But they’re making it really hard.
I spend the rest of the day working on a client’s book cover, mostly to keep my mind busy and not stress about this upcoming family dinner. But when evening closes in on me, I put my work aside and get ready to go.
What does one wear to an ultra-wealthy first fake-couple family dinner?
I flip through my clothes. I suppose a safe choice would be something nice enough to dine with billionaires, conservative since their father will be there, and maybe something that makes it look like I’m trying to fit in with the family?
Fuck that.
If I have to go to this dinner, sit across from my ex, and pretend to be head over heels for his twin brother while fielding questions from his pregnant wife—I’m going to at least dress however I damn well please.
I choose jeans that hug my hips and a silk shirt that hangs just below my collarbone.
At least I’ll get to feel comfortable and pretty while dining with my fake boyfriend and even faker family.
If they knew what they were asking me to do, they might understand the extra dynamics that make this so hard for me.
I have never sat down to a family dinner before. Not a real one. I’ve eaten at plenty of tables in my foster homes, or more often in my room. But I was never a part of the family. I was a ward they wouldn’t miss when I was gone.
But feeling sorry for myself only makes this situation more stressful, so I tell myself to cut it out and finish getting ready.
By the time there’s a knock at my door, I’ve convinced myself that this is nothing more than a part to play for a few hours and then I can come back here to my condo to be alone again.
Jesus, that sounds depressing too.
“Coming!” I call out as I reach for my coat, and then remember I don’t need it since we’re just going a few floors up.
As soon as I open the door, I forget about the pity party I was having.
“Hey. You look nice,” Rowan says, his blue eyes staring intently back at me through the messy strands of hair that have fallen into his face. “Ready?”
I motion for him to come in, but I can’t even answer him. I’m too distracted by the way he looks at me as if he’s hungry. Kian never looked at me like that. They might have the same eye color, but they definitely don’t share the same demeanor.
And that look he’s giving me… Fuck.
I nod and swallow, then stand there blinking at him as I take in the sight of him.
The way his chiseled chest presses against the thin shirt he’s wearing, hinting at the outline of his muscles that I want to reach out and touch.
The jeans that are hanging low on his hips, enough to make me wonder what he’s hiding in there, in the space between his thighs.
“I—I’m glad you’re wearing jeans too,” I stammer as I try to keep my cool. “I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a fancy family dinner. I should’ve asked.”
“It would depend on who you ask.” Rowan chuckles. “Declan will be wearing a suit, although he might skip the jacket this time. I just don’t like to dress the part most days.”
“What part?”
“The wealthy elitist asshole part. Kian does that enough for both of us.” He pauses.
Funny, I’d never seen Kian dress as if he had money, not in front of me anyway. The asshole part I definitely won’t disagree with, though.
Rowan holds out his arm for me to take, almost without thinking, as he did at the gala when he reached for my hand.
“Oh, sorry,” he apologizes as he pulls it back and puts his hand down at his side. “I forgot. There’s no need for that.”
I grab my keys off the kitchen counter, and then we walk out of my condo together. I lock my door, then turn to him. I don’t give myself a chance to change my mind before reaching for his hand and threading my fingers through his.
Rowan turns his face quickly to look at me. Surprise rests there in his eyes now, and a bit of confusion.
“I thought you didn’t want to hold hands,” he says as we step into the elevator. “And nobody is here to see it until we get upstairs.”
“I’m just practicing,” I say, a quick excuse to cover the way that I feel when his palm presses against mine. “If it’s not believable, then we’re going through all of this trouble for nothing.”
“Right.” Rowan’s breath sounds a bit louder once the elevator doors close, but that’s probably just because of the enclosed space.
I can’t imagine it’s anything else.
“Rowan, Leah!” Madeline says from behind Declan as he opens the door to his penthouse when we arrive. “I’m so glad you guys are here! We have so much to catch up on. I didn’t have a chance to speak with you much at the gala, and now I want all the details.”
I glance at Declan, who gives me a reassuring nod as Rowan and I walk inside.
“Drinks first?” Emmett asks from the side of the room where he’s in the process of raiding Declan’s bar. “Don’t worry, Madeline, I make an epic virgin cocktail.”
Madeline smiles, then reaches out to take my hand and bring me to sit on the couch with her so we can chat.
But to his credit, Rowan doesn’t let go that easily. He holds tightly to my other hand, both playing the part of doting boyfriend and fulfilling his promise to stay by my side through this family dinner.
“If it’s alright,” Rowan says to Madeline with a smile. “I don’t really want to share her yet.”
Madeline makes a sweet, gushing sound about how cute a couple we are. From the corner of my eye, I see Kian talking to his father on the other side of the room. He doesn’t even glance my way. It’s as if I’m invisible.
Good. Fuck him.
Emmett brings us all drinks while Rowan and I sit down to talk with Madeline. She’s actually surprisingly nice, and that makes it even harder to hate her.
“So, let’s hear the story of how you two first met,” she says. “I tried to ask Kian about it, but he said he didn’t know. He thought it was maybe at a bar or something. But I told him that didn’t sound like your style at all, Rowan.”
“We met at a bookstore,” Rowan says as he flawlessly plays the part of devoted boyfriend.
“Leah was browsing the fiction section, and I was looking for a book on architectural design. I walked past her, and the scent of her perfume caught my attention, so I had to stop and just breathe near her for a moment.”
“Oh my god, that is so romantic!” Madeline beams as she leans in to hear more. “What scent was the perfume?”