Chapter Three Grace
Chapter Three
Grace
I wake up slowly, the sunlight filtering through the curtains, warm and soft against my face. For a moment, I lie there, tangled in the sheets, feeling oddly comfortable. Then the memories of last night start to creep in, and my eyes snap open.
I’m alone in bed, thank God, but that doesn’t do much to ease the wave of embarrassment that washes over me. The hazy details of suggesting this ridiculous fake engagement with Logan come rushing back, and I groan, burying my face in the pillow. What was I thinking? How much did I drink?
The answer is too much. Definitely, too much.
I sit up, the room spinning slightly as I do, and glance around. The empty minibar and our glasses from last night are still on the table, and I cringe. It seemed like such a good idea in the moment—anything to keep my parents off my back for a couple of weeks. Now, with the clarity of daylight and a dull headache to match, it just seems stupid.
What was I thinking, roping Logan into this? He must think I’m completely out of my mind. I can barely remember what we even talked about after that last drink. Did something happen between us? The thought makes my stomach flip with both fear and a tiny, annoying flicker of curiosity.
No, we couldn’t have. Could we?
I quickly throw on some clothes—a simple sundress, not unlike the one from last night, but less revealing—and splash some cold water on my face. I need to find Logan and tell him to forget the whole thing, to just pretend it never happened. There’s no way we can keep up this charade without it blowing up in our faces.
Brunch is already in full swing by the time I make it downstairs, and I spot Logan sitting with Emily, Joseph, Jess, and my parents at a table on the terrace. They’re all laughing about something, completely at ease, like nothing’s amiss.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself as I approach. Logan glances up and catches my eye, and for a split second, I can’t read his expression. He quickly smiles, and I take that as a good sign.
“Morning,” I say, sliding into the seat next to him, trying to act casual despite the nerves bubbling up inside me.
“Morning, sis!” Joseph greets me with a grin. “We were just talking about how Dad was the last man standing last night. Guess we all crashed pretty hard.”
I look at Logan, heart racing and murmur. “So… what happened last night?”
Logan shrugs, taking a sip of his coffee. “Nothing, really. We just slept. No wild party, no scandal.”
Relief floods through me, and I feel myself relax a little. Maybe this won’t be as bad as I thought. I open my mouth to suggest we call off the whole fake engagement before it gets out of hand, but Jess interrupts, leaning across the table with a wide grin.
“You two are so cute together,” she gushes, clearly still under the impression that we’re engaged. “I mean, I knew something was up, but seeing you both this morning? It’s obvious.”
I shoot Logan a look, willing him to help me out here, but instead, he gives Jess a sheepish smile. “Yeah, about that… I know we wanted to keep it a secret until the wedding, but I was just so excited to tell everyone.”
My mouth drops open slightly as I stare at him. Is he serious? What the hell is he doing? My cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and anger, but before I can say anything, my mom claps her hands together.
“Well, it’s wonderful news! We couldn’t be happier for you both.” Mom is positively beaming. “I keep saying, it’s about time you settle down with someone and start a family.”
Logan leans back in his chair, looking far too pleased with himself. I glare at him, knowing that he’s enjoying this way too much. He catches my eye and gives me a subtle wink, as if to say, “What’s the harm?”
I’m caught between wanting to strangle him and the realization that there’s no backing out now without making everything even more awkward. My parents are beaming, Jess looks thrilled, and Emily is giving me that knowing look that says, “I told you so.”
Logan knew exactly what he was doing. He’s boxed me in, and now I’m stuck playing along with this ridiculous charade. All because he thought it would be fun to see me squirm.
I’m not going down without a fight. If he wants to embarrass me, I can play that game too. With a forced smile, I lean in closer to Logan, resting my hand on his arm.
“I’m so glad you’re excited,” I say sweetly, barely hiding the edge in my voice. “I just wish you’d let me break the news on our terms.”
Logan smirks, unfazed. “Sorry, babe. Couldn’t help myself.”
My stomach twists at the way he says “babe,” and I know he’s doing it on purpose, just to get under my skin. Two can play at that game. If he thinks he’s going to win this little war of ours, he’s got another think coming.
I keep my hand on Logan’s arm, trying to ignore the way his smirk makes my blood boil. Everyone around the table is smiling, clearly enjoying this little performance, but I can’t let Logan get the upper hand.
“So,” my dad says, leaning forward with a twinkle in his eye. “How did Logan pop the question? Was it as dramatic as we’re all imagining?”
I glance at Logan, who raises an eyebrow, daring me to come up with something. “Oh, it was quite something,” I say, deciding to play along for now. “Logan here thought he’d be all romantic and take me on a hike to a cliffside with a beautiful view. Then he tripped on a rock and almost rolled right off the edge.”
The table erupts in laughter, and Logan’s smirk falters just a bit. He recovers quickly, though, leaning in with that infuriating grin still in place. “I guess that’s what happens when you’re distracted by the thought of spending the rest of your life with someone as amazing as Grace. I mean, who wouldn’t be a little clumsy?”
“Or maybe you were just clumsy, period,” I shoot back, my voice saccharine sweet.
Emily chuckles, shaking her head. “You two are something else. Always teasing, always bickering. It’s so obvious how much you love each other.”
Love. The word feels like a lead weight dropping in my stomach. I force a smile, but it’s getting harder to keep up the act.
Jess leans in with a sly smile. “Come on, you guys. Admit it—you’ve been planning this for a while. We all saw the chemistry. You just couldn’t keep your hands off each other.”
Logan doesn’t miss a beat. “Guilty as charged. Can you blame me? Grace is irresistible.”
I clench my teeth, struggling to keep my tone light. “Well, I’m just glad I’ve managed to keep you in check so far.”
The laughter around the table makes me want to scream. They’re all seeing this as cute, harmless teasing, not realizing that Logan and I are locked in a silent battle of wills. Every time I try to undermine him, he flips it back on me, making it look like we’re just another lovey-dovey couple.
It’s maddening.
I push my chair back, needing to get out of this suffocating situation. “I think I’m going to get some air,” I say, trying to sound casual.
“Want me to come with you?” Logan asks, still playing the part.
“Actually, I could use some girl time,” Emily says, standing up before I can protest. “Let’s catch up.”
I nod, grateful for the escape, even if it means I’ll have to explain myself to Emily. “Sure, let’s go.”
We walk away from the table, the noise of the brunch fading as we step out onto the terrace, where the ocean breeze cools my flushed cheeks. Emily links her arm through mine, leading me toward a quiet spot overlooking the water.
“I’m so surprised,” she says, her voice soft. “I mean, I knew you had this whole love-hate thing going, and I figured you’d hooked up a few times, but this? An engagement? It’s serious, Grace.”
I swallow hard, the weight of what I’ve done settling in. Emily’s my best friend, and the last thing I want to do is disappoint her, especially not on her wedding vacation. This is getting way out of hand.
“Yeah, it’s… serious,” I say, hating the way the lie tastes on my tongue. “It just kind of happened, you know? One minute we were just messing around, and the next… well, here we are.”
Emily smiles, her eyes shining with happiness. “I’m so glad. Logan’s a great guy, and you two just make so much sense together. I’ve always thought that.”
I force a smile, nodding along as if I believe her. But inside, I’m panicking. This was supposed to be a silly game, a way to avoid awkward questions and keep my parents off my back. Now it’s snowballing, and I don’t know how to stop it without ruining everything.
Emily looks at me with such trust, such excitement, that I feel my resolve crumbling. How can I tell her the truth now?
I stay quiet as Emily gushes about how happy she is for me, for us. Every word she says feels like another knot tightening in my chest, but I can’t bring myself to break it. How can I disappoint her when she’s so happy for me? The lie is too big now, too tangled up in everyone’s expectations. I force myself to nod and smile, hoping she doesn’t see the turmoil behind my eyes.
Finally, Emily gives me a warm hug. “I’m so excited for you, Grace. You deserve this.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. I hug her back, feeling like the worst kind of fraud.
With one last smile, she heads back inside to rejoin the others, leaving me alone on the terrace. I stay there for a moment, letting the cool breeze wash over me, trying to steady the storm of emotions swirling inside me. It’s no use. The guilt, the panic, the frustration—they’re all too much.
I’m about to slip away, to find some corner of this resort where I can be alone and think, when I hear footsteps behind me. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is.
“Grace,” Logan says, his voice low and measured, but there’s an edge to it, something that makes my pulse quicken.
I spin around to face him, my anger bubbling up before I can stop it. “What the hell was that, Logan? You told them we’re engaged? You practically announced it to the world!”
His eyes narrow, and he crosses his arms, not backing down. “It was your idea, Grace. You wanted this little charade, remember?”
“My idea?” I snap, taking a step closer. “I wanted to keep things low-key, not make some grand announcement! You’ve taken this way too far!”
We’re standing close now, too close, and the air between us is thick with tension. He doesn’t back down, doesn’t apologize. Instead, he stares at me, his jaw tight, his eyes dark with something I can’t quite read. It only makes me angrier, makes the frustration build until it’s ready to explode.
“Logan, this isn’t funny,” I say, my voice shaking with the effort to keep it under control. “This is my life you’re messing with.”
Then, without warning, he grabs me by the waist and pulls me against him. His lips crash down on mine, rough and urgent, and for a second, I’m too stunned to react. Then the shock wears off, and all the anger, all the tension that’s been building between us, explodes into something else entirely.
I kiss him back, hard, my hands tangling in his hair as I press closer, feeling the heat of his body against mine. It’s fierce, overwhelming, and it’s everything I’ve been trying to deny since we started this ridiculous game. The taste of him, the feel of his hands on my back, sends a shiver down my spine that’s part fury and part something much deeper.
As suddenly as it started, I pull away, panting, my heart racing in my chest. “Why?” I manage to gasp, searching his eyes for an answer. “Why did you do that?”
He’s breathing hard too, his eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, I see something raw and unguarded in his expression. He shrugs, trying to play it off, though his voice is rougher than usual. “For the act. It had to look real.”
I’m not convinced. Not for a second. There’s something more here, something we’re both avoiding. I can see it in the way his gaze lingers on my lips, the way his hands are still gripping my waist, reluctant to let go.
“For the act,” I repeat, my tone flat, disbelieving.
Logan’s grip tightens slightly, his jaw clenching, but he doesn’t say anything more. The silence between us is thick, charged with all the words neither of us is willing to say. I don’t know what game we’re playing anymore, but it’s clear this is no longer just pretend.