25. Lila
TWENTY-FIVE
LILA
“This is going to be fine.” I nod as though I’m in total agreement with myself, which I absolutely am not. “And if you decide it’s all too much, just say the secret code word, and we’ll leave.”
Grant and I stand in front of the wooden fence that leads into my parents’ backyard, his hand clutched in mine. Classic rock music drifts around us, and cars line the block. I know what I’ll find when we open the gate because I helped Hope set it all up yesterday, but I’m still buzzing like a nervous bee.
Grant has zero reason to do this for me. There’s no quid pro quo the way my rom-coms tell me fake dating is supposed to go. He could back out right this second, and I wouldn’t blame him.
There are a lot of people out there.
And even though Mom asked me approximately ten thousand questions about him yesterday, I know for a fact she hasn’t had her fill of Grant yet. Tonight, she’ll be able to go straight to the source.
“What’s the code word?” he asks.
My heart lurches that he even wants to know. “Um…how ab out ‘marmot?’ You say that, and I’ll know you’re done, and we can go.”
“What if I want to tell the story about the marmot?”
“Ugh, they’ll probably want to hear that. Maybe ‘bite-valve?’ Will that work?”
“Your code words are fascinating.”
“I want it to be easy for you to remember. Escape pods should be simple to operate.”
“I don’t need an escape pod, Lila. I’m here for you.”
I can’t help but smile up at him. He’s just so good . He’s kind and generous and so stinking handsome, I don’t think my stomach has stopped doing backflips since the first time I saw him.
And here he is, sweetly offering to walk into the lion’s den wearing a meat suit and calling, Here, kitty kitty .
“Okay, well…let’s get weird.”
I push the gate open, and we walk the paver path into the back yard. It’s my mom’s pride and joy, an oasis of native plants and evergreen trees. One corner holds a fire pit, already blazing, and another boasts three cozy outdoor sofas around a little table, currently bearing an ice chest full of drinks. It won’t be dark out for a while yet, but Hope and I strung lights overhead, which Mom says will remain a permanent fixture.
Also? The yard is stuffed with people. Family and friends spread out over the space, mingling by the hors-d’oeuvres table on the patio and spilling out over the lawn. The couple of the moment are plastered to each other in the lounge area, surrounded by congratulating guests. It’s festive, cheery, casual fun—exactly what Hope wanted. And yet, I still don’t want to join in.
So much of my life feels like a lie, I can’t tell if it’s fitting or just really, really horrible that I created a fake boyfriend partially for this event. And is it better or worse that I don’t want a single bit of him to be fake?
Grant squeezes my hand. “You okay, princess?”
I don’t have a chance to respond. Mom’s seen us. She shouts, “Lila!” like she’s Marianne Dashwood spotting Willoughby across a crowded ballroom. Everyone turns to gawk. Any hopes of playing this cool just disintegrated in the fires of her glaring enthusiasm.
She rushes over, snagging my dad away from where he’s talking with Griffin’s brother. Her gauzy pale green dress and half up-do makes her look like a goddess on her way to bless us with fertility.
Which she would absolutely do if it occurred to her.
Dad, of course, is effortlessly handsome in the way older men get to be—looking dapper because of his wrinkles and salt and pepper hair, not in spite of them. Personality-wise, he’s the perfect complement for Mom: calm and cool, where she’s excitable and eager. Kind of like Griffin is for Hope.
I refuse to entertain all the lunatic thoughts that bounce around in my head about whether or not Grant could be that for me.
“We’re so pleased you could make it tonight.” Mom extends a hand to him. “This is my husband Paul. Paul, honey, this is Grant Irwin.”
His name rolls off her tongue like she’s been practicing it. She’s probably written our names side by side, too, just to see how they look.
“Nice to meet you, Grant.” The two shake hands. “Although, I have to admit I’m a little fuzzy on how you two met. Do I have it right that you don’t live around here?”
I didn’t expect my sweet father to go straight for my jugular like that .
“That’s true. I live in Magnolia Ridge, Texas, a small town north of Austin.”
“Lila’s always talked about visiting Texas,” Mom cuts in.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever said that.” Not that I wouldn’t, but she’s making it sound like it’s my life-long dream.
Her eyes widen in a comically warning look.
“So you’re just here for…” Dad prompts.
“Vacation,” Grant finishes. “I’m staying in the Moonlight Lodge for a few weeks.”
Dad nods, but the fact that he doesn’t seem to have more to say deflates my spirits a bit. He’s obviously sizing Grant up, and I want to jump in to defend him. I’m just not sure from what.
Hope and Griffin join us, and another set of introductions go around. As I suspected, Griffin and Grant—which, by the way, is going to make every interaction they have one big tongue-twister—are dressed pretty similarly. Hope’s coral A-line dress is understated but classy.
It’s their giant twin smiles that let everyone know they’re the guests of honor.
“Congratulations,” Grant tells them. “I wish you every happiness.”
“Thank you.” Griffin pulls Hope snug against him. “I’ve got it.”
She glows like a sunbeam. I’ve never seen her as happy as she’s been these last six months. Between her thriving business, her increasingly popular artwork, and finding the love of her life, she’s had a pretty awesome year.
I lean closer against Grant. I’m doing fine. Or I will be. Soon enough.
“So you two met on that hike Lila did?” Griffin looks like he’s battling laughter. “I’m trying to imagine how that went.”
“I had a lot of fun, thank you very much.” I turn my nose up at my soon-to-be brother-in-law. He’s honestly the best, but he doesn’t need to turn his teasing against me this early in the night.
He arches one eyebrow. Really, they’re all leveling me similar looks.
“Okay, it wasn’t the time of my life,” I say. “But I finished it. I didn’t ask to be airlifted out or rescued by the National Guard.”
Hope beams her smile my way. “I’m proud of you. You weren’t sure you could do it, but you did it anyway.”
I’ll take the praise. I don’t want to get sidetracked tonight talking about the hike, but it wasn’t easy.
“Tell us, Grant,” Mom says. “What drew you to Lila?”
Hope hisses, “Mom,” but otherwise, our little circle goes completely silent. I’m surprised nobody asks to turn down the music so they don’t miss a word of Grant’s answer.
I still. We didn’t discuss any of this in our hasty Let’s pretend fake dating will be easy conversations. We should have prepared a cover story, or an alibi, or a deadly allergy Grant could fake right this minute.
He releases my hand and slips his arm around my waist, grounding me. “I don’t think it was any one thing. I was enchanted from the first moment I saw her. She’s gorgeous, obviously, but she has this bright, shining enthusiasm that’s impossible to ignore. Like she’s made of light.”
Mom sighs. Frankly, I do, too.
“And she has a huge heart.” Grant keeps praising me like he’s gunning for a raise down at the fake boyfriend factory. “The real question is, how could I have met her and not been drawn to her?”
I maybe stare at him too obviously, but what else can I do? That might be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. If I watch him long enough, something in his expression is bound to confirm whether that’s fake or real. An eyebrow twitch or a smirk. Anything. But he just gazes back at me, looking for all the world like he truly means it.
He leans down and kisses my temple to cap it off. I don’t know if he’s trying to really sell it, or if he just wants to make my knees go weak. It’s working either way. Kudos to him.
Mom’s eyes are suspiciously watery. “That’s the sweetest thing. We’re so glad you two found each other.”
“And Lila?” Dad says. “What interested you in him?”
His voice holds an edge I don’t remember hearing before. Josh’s cheating and the little he knows of the rest of his behavior has ticked up his protectiveness a notch. Until right now, he hasn’t had anywhere to direct it.
“Well…” It’s only just this minute that I realize what a horribly intrusive question that is. Putting someone on the spot and asking why they fell for their partner? That’s got to go against some kind of party etiquette, doesn’t it? “He was always really…kind to me.”
That answer lands like a balloon slowly losing air and making a rude sound as it falls to the floor. Their eyes on me are like feelers searching for a better response.
I risk a sideways glance at Grant. His tiny, fake smile makes me want to kick myself. He was honest—or as honest as a real boyfriend would be. He fully immersed himself in the character. I can do the same. And I won’t even have to make anything up.
“We all know I was never going to be amazing in the wilderness,” I start in. “And I wasn’t, right from the beginning. I was tired and slow and completely unprepared. But Grant didn’t care how long it took me to get over a rise or complain when I stopped to retie my shoes twenty times a day just to catch my breath. He was patient with me and always made sure I was taken care of.”
I hug him a bit closer even though I can’t look up at him right now. “He never spoke badly of me or anyone else, and he never lost his positive attitude. I knew right away he was nice, but I learned he was good , too. And…yeah. I’ve never met anyone quite like him before.”
They’re all still watching me, but every last one of them has the same sort of smile on their face—the way you look when a little kid has told a story that revealed a lot more personal information than you were expecting to hear.
“And he saved me from several vicious birds,” I throw in. “So he’s pretty much my own personal superhero.”
“Lila,” Mom scolds. “Did you have a ribbon in your hair again?”
“ No . There’s just an alarming number of birds in the wild.”
Griffin turns to Hope. “I’m missing something here.”
I hold a hand out to stop her. “Please don’t tell him right now. As a good hostess, it’s your duty to not embarrass your guests.” I take my case straight to her fiancé. “Grant loves the outdoorsy stuff even more than you, Griffin. You guys should discuss that.”
“Lila.” Mom apparently wants me to stay on topic.
“If you need suggestions for anything, let me know.” Griffin doesn’t seem to mind the subject change. Apparently, he has an impressive arsenal of scenic spots and favorite outdoor activities he’s shared with Hope. From all she’s said, most of them involve making out in the woods.
Which…actually wouldn’t be so bad, now that I think about it. Maybe he should give Grant some location ideas.
Grant tips him the classic guy chin nod. “I will, thank you.”
“Hope said your family owns a sporting goods store?” Mom says. As if she hasn’t been eating up every crumb I’ve been willing to give her.
“Outdoor stores,” I correct. “There are thirteen locations across Texas. And they sell more hiking and camping-related gear than team sports stuff.”
One side of Grant’s mouth tilts up. “Have you been researching new activities to try?”
“I looked at the website once or twice for strictly informational purposes only.” And then pored over the About Us page where there’s a picture of the whole Irwin family. Fresh air apparently grows gorgeous babies because all three brothers are straight fire.
“Does that type of work involve a lot of travel?”
Mom’s extra hopeful and not at all subtle question is a little dagger straight to my heart. It’s a question I’ve been dying to ask, but haven’t had the guts. So far, we haven’t talked about what happens after his weeks here are over. We’re just…enjoying the middle part, even though the end is unknown.
I don’t even realize I’ve gone achingly stiff until Grant’s hand moves over my lower back, soothing me out of it.
“It doesn’t usually,” he answers. “But I have other reasons to travel.”
Kinda wish it were an hour or two later so it would be too dark to see how flaming red my cheeks must be right now.
“Lila!”
I’m rescued from further embarrassment by one of my favorite people. Tess’s son, August, zooms at me through the crowds scattered in the yard. I hoist him up into my arms. He gives the best hugs. He fully commits with his head on my shoulder and his arms around my neck.
“Don’t you look nice tonight?” He’s wearing khakis and a plaid short sleeve dress shirt like a little businessman. His messy pale blond hair ruins the look, but I love it .
“Mama said if I dress up I can have cake. And I always want cake.”
“Didn’t your mama make the cake?” Tess’s desserts are sinfully decadent. If she weren’t so impossibly sweet herself, I might think she sold her soul to the devil to come up with the recipes.
“It’s for Hope and that guy.” He twists in my arms to point at Griffin.
The adults all laugh, the question of whether or not Grant will ever return to Sunshine forgotten. Or in my case, pushed aside to agonize over another time.
Griffin shakes his head, but his grin proves he’s not too disappointed. “We’re still not on a first name basis, huh? That hurts, little man.”
“Don’t take it too hard.” Tess pops up next to Hope, with Wren behind her. “Names aren’t his strong suit.”
“I know Ian.” August seems to feel the need to prove his mom wrong. “And Dutch.”
I eye Tess. “Do you now?”
She shakes her head the tiniest fraction. “It’s because he sees our neighbor every day.”
There’s more going on there, but this is a terrible time to question her about it. For her, anyway. For me, it would be a fantastic diversion.
“Well, try to remember this guy’s name. This is my friend, Grant. Grant, this is my buddy August.”
Grant reaches over to shake his little hand. August’s suddenly serious, completing the businessman look.
“Nice to meet you, August.”
“I saw you over at Shepherd’s.” Wren says it like an accusation. “I should have known you were the adonis.”
Mom titters as though she wasn’t the one who got that nickname going. I clear my throat, hoping that will activate a time machine to blip us backward thirty seconds.
“I’m Wren. This is my sister Tess. We’ve been dying to meet Lila’s boyfriend.”
August leans closer to Grant. “Are you going to marry Lila like that guy’s going to marry Hope?”
And that’s why every event should be child-free.