Fake It True (Wild Fire #3)

1. Casey Houston

Chapter One

CASEY HOUSTON

“Couples therapy?” I asked.

“Yes,” my mom said. “I just think you need to do that before you completely close this door.”

Unfortunately, I wasn’t standing beside a wall where I could beat my head against it. I cleared my throat as I bit back the scream bottled inside.

“Okay,” I said to my mom. At this moment, I hated loving my family and feeling caught in this god-awful situation where I knew I was letting them down.

“I have the name of a counselor right there in Willow Brook,” my mom said. “I understand you’ve moved to Alaska and this is your life choice. But, please, at least see a counselor a few times so you can make sure you want to leave Nathaniel behind.”

“Just text me the information,” I told my mom, this time holding back a massive sigh.

Only seconds after I ended the call, my phone vibrated with a text from her with the name of a couples therapist. I could only be so annoyed because I’d completely fabricated a fiancé to keep her off my case. I figured I’d see this therapist to get my mom to shut up about the current bane of my existence. Nathaniel was the son of my parents’ longtime friends. My parents and his were completely oblivious to what an utter asshole he was, not to mention cruel and, in my opinion, responsible for the death of my sister.

As if he knew my mom had just been talking to me about him, a text came through from him. The only reason I hadn’t blocked him on all possible channels of communication was I needed to know what he was up to. I collected his texts and never responded.

This one said: I still don’t believe you’re engaged. Just remember, we both have a lot to lose.

My eyes dropped down to my bouncing foot as I waited anxiously for the therapist to come out and fetch me for the couples appointment. I was busy formulating some kind of story for why I didn’t have my alleged fiancé with me when Leo Massie came out of another office door into the waiting area.

This was one of those shared office buildings with a doctor’s office and an accountant here as well. As soon as my eyes clapped on Leo, I knew what to do. “Leo!” I shout-whispered.

His gaze swung toward me, his blue eyes widening. “Hey, Casey, what’s up?”

“Remember how you said you owed me something for dumping coffee all over me?” I asked.

His lips quirked at the corners. I ignored the heat that started to roll through me and the way my belly did a little flip, sending sparks scattering through me.

“I do,” he said.

“I need you to attend this appointment with me,” I was saying as the therapist’s office door opened.

“What appointment –” he began.

I leapt up from my chair and grabbed his hand.

“Casey?” the therapist, Delaney, prompted as her eyes arced about the room.

“Right here!” I called.

If Leo had somewhere else to be, he didn’t let on and seemed willing to play along with me. Delaney held the door open as she smiled between us. “Come on in.”

Leo’s hand was warm as it curled around mine. A few minutes later, we’d gone through introductions and were seated on a small sofa. She handed us two clipboards. “If you could both fill these out, I’m going to step into the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

Delaney left the office. Leo looked down at the form, his eyes scanning it before he glanced to me. “Is this couples therapy?” His brows hitched high.

My cheeks were burning up. “It is. It’s a long story. Can you pretend to be my fiancé?”

A long pause followed as his eyes searched my face. “Um,” he began.

“Please,” I pressed.

He held my gaze for another few beats before he shrugged. “Sure,” he replied, swallowing a chuckle.

He looked down at the form and asked, “So why are we here? When and how did we meet, and what do you most love about me?”

My cheeks were burning up, and I couldn’t even look at him. I dropped my eyes to the list of questions, ending with, “What are your expectations of couples therapy?”

Leo cleared his throat. “All joking aside, what is happening here, Casey?”

“Premarital couples therapy,” I replied, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt.

“I think you’re gonna owe me after this,” he said under his breath.

“Maybe so, but I really appreciate it.”

Delaney returned to the office and sat down in a chair across from us with a warm smile. She stayed quiet while we finished filling out the forms. “Do you need these back?” I asked.

“How about you swap clipboards and see what you think about each other’s answers?”

Of Leo’s answers, the one that stood out was about what makes a healthy couple. He’d written: honesty, being there for the small things and the big things, feeling safe.

I swallowed through the tightness building in my throat. That was the problem with what my parents hoped for. I would never feel safe with Nathaniel. My thoughts spun to my sister and what he had done. I carried her memory like a ton of bricks on my back.

In a split second, I realized I had no idea how to get through this. I’d thought I’d show up for this all breezy and calm and make up some excuse for my fictional fiancé. Even though my mom had found her, I knew Delaney had to protect my confidentiality. With Leo here, I felt like I’d pinned myself under a microscope.

“Are you okay, Casey?” Delaney asked gently.

When I lifted my eyes to her and saw warmth and no judgment contained in her gaze, it was all I could do not to burst into tears. I could brave my way through this as I’d braved my way through life ever since my sister died. I blinked my tears away and lifted my chin. “I am.”

I had no idea what to think when Leo reached over for my hand and laced his fingers with mine to give me a reassuring squeeze. There was no way he could know the emotional turmoil I was experiencing, but he seemed to sense something.

“So, what brings you two here?”