Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Darcy
“ A re you stoned or something? Or maybe you dropped acid last night at dinner and are still on that trip,” I said, looking over at Sebastian.
He finished typing a text and smiled over at me. I seriously thought this guy was on something because he was all smiles and acting like a funny smartass, too. I appreciated having this guy around, but I had no idea why this guy was around or how he got here.
“Yes, I just dropped some more before we boarded the plane; why do you ask?”
“Well, I don’t know,” I played dumb, looking around the cabin of the jet, “we’re on a commercial flight, and last I recall, the Asters—especially their chosen son—don’t fly commercial. You fly private.”
“So?”
I studied his more serious yet still youthful and handsome expression. “So?” I held onto the word. “Why are we flying commercial? Don’t get me wrong; I have no problem with flying like a normal person, so that’s not it. I just want to know what is happening with you because flying in coach isn’t something a person like you would ever do.”
“I had an epiphany last night,” he said, looking around the plane’s cabin like he’d never seen people travel this way. I suddenly understood he probably only booked these seats because it would humiliate his parents. “I realized that we only have a few short years on this planet, and I want to spend those years with you, sweetheart.”
He smiled, and I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah, okay.”
“We’re escaping to Mexico because I never plan to be found again. I love you, and you’ve bewitched me, body and soul.”
Before I could question how ridiculous he was acting, his lips were on mine. I would’ve instantly jerked away, but I was paralyzed with shock as his hand gently caressed my neck and his thumb ran along my jawline.
My mouth responded by falling open, but he didn’t take the opportunity to do what my hormones wanted after my brain shut off, which was to accept this man’s kiss fully. He merely nipped at my bottom lip, pulled back, and met my dazed eyes with his vibrant gaze.
“I just want to get away with you. I’ve never felt love for anyone the way I feel it for you. You’ve been a constant during the darkest times of my life, and this is just a tiny way of thanking you for loving me the same way in return.”
I frowned, staring at him. He was sitting next to the window, and I was in the middle seat with my back facing the audience I knew he’d just created. I pulled myself together, only able to smirk in response to this man who’d taken my breath and my brains away with that kiss.
Of course, he was playing a role, and when I turned around and saw a handful of teenagers and young adults with their phone cameras on us—most likely recording him— I understood why he’d upped the ante. He wanted this to go viral, and all those busybodies were the answer to Sebastian’s prayers.
“I still don’t know how this happened,” I tried to play it off, not knowing how to respond because my mind was still back on how perfect his lips felt when they were pressed against mine. Damn, I was so fucked if I couldn’t pull my shit together. “But you didn’t answer my question.”
“Stop acting so modest,” he grinned. “You mentioned the day we met that I needed to tame down all the extravagance, or you’d never date me.”
“Huh?” I let it slip out. “Well, that’s true,” I gave him an unapologetic look, “but that’s not what I meant when?—”
“Stop,” he said, brushing the tip of my nose with his finger, annoying me with his fake lovey-dovey shit. “Cameras are watching, and I don’t want them to catch us quarreling.”
“Quarreling?” I turned back to the people watching and videoing this bizarre exchange between Sebastian and me. “Would you guys mind not recording us?” I begged with my eyes. “This is why he likes to fly private, and if I want to keep my fiancé on the type of flights I’m used to, it’s probably best we don’t invade his privacy.”
“Fiancé?” Sebastian and our audience responded simultaneously.
Oh, fuck!
“This is your fault,” I mouthed to him. “If we’d flown private, then,” I turned back to the people who weren’t listening to me because all they heard was fiancé, “we wouldn’t have just revealed our big secret.”
I knew I had the cringiest smile, but I just wanted to bury my face in my hands and hide. Why couldn’t we have taken the damn private plane, so we only had to fake this relationship when we were prepared? Why didn’t I anticipate that he would book a regular flight just to seal the deal that he was off the fucking market? I swear, this man and his bullshit.
“How are we going to walk back this newest lie?” he said, putting his arm around me, bringing my ear to his mouth, sending shivers down my body with his warm breath.
I wanted to jerk away from him, but I couldn’t.
“Good question, and now we’re?—”
“On our way to paradise,” he answered, cutting me off because the fan club was still fully immersed in our charade.
“I’m excited about that,” I said, feeling utterly uncomfortable and eager to get the show on the fucking road so these weirdos would point their phones somewhere else.
We switched our phones to airplane mode while preparing to taxi down the runway and take off, and all I could do was close my eyes and try and figure out how we would get out of this newest lie. Why the fuck did that come out of my mouth? Where did it even come from? I was mortified that it slipped, knowing that Sebastian would probably question me about it, too.
Once we were at cruising altitude, I opened my phone, put it on Wi-Fi, and tried to forget everything that’d transpired before take-off. I never had any issues flying commercially, but I’d give anything to be in his family jet so that I could talk privately with Sebastian and work this thing out before his fan club destroyed my life with breaking news that Sebastian was engaged to the daughter of a local Napa Valley vineyard owner.
I exhaled, removing all thoughts about Sebastian, who was typing away on his laptop to my left, and the elderly woman sitting to my right.
Ding!
Avery: Engaged? Why didn’t you tell us? I had no idea this was why Sebastian invited everyone to Mexico!!!!!
I stared at the text, knowing we’d only been at cruising altitude for about thirty minutes. There was no fucking way the little shits across the aisle got their videos uploaded and seen that fucking fast.
I didn’t even know how to respond to Avery. This whirlwind of shit had just escalated to unimaginable heights. Of course, of-fucking-course, it would appear as though Sebastian had invited everyone to Mexico to celebrate a surprise engagement.
I dared to glance at Sebastian. He was intently focused on his laptop screen, and I wondered if he was typing so rapidly because he was putting out fires that I’d started by speaking without thinking. My eyes drifted to his screen, and I sighed in relief when I saw he was working on some graphs and numbers that most likely had to do with business at the winery.
I sat silently, still not responding to Avery because I had no idea how to get out of this. Should I bite the bullet and tell everyone I wished I was engaged to this man?
No, that would make your relationship look like the joke you already know it is, I thought while biting my thumbnail, concentrating.
Ding!
Private Number: Well, where should we buy your ring? Can’t have you engaged to me without one.
I glanced over at Sebastian and saw the amused expression on his face. I knew that once he found out this engagement had gone viral, the lighter side of him that I’d been enjoying would be history. Instead of talking to him, since all eyes were on him anyway, I texted him back.
Darcy: How did you get my number?
Private Number: Your father
Darcy: Oh. Well, I’m not sure why you want to get a ring.
Private Number: Because everyone in the world has blown up my phone asking about our engagement. It’s on social media. Everyone in the social media-verse has seen you saying the words, my fiancé.
I felt my blood pressure spike and my face flush red in panic. I glanced over at Sebastian. He was still having fun with this while I was trying to figure out how we would break off our fake engagement once these silly little lies ended after the charity event that I should have never recommended. I quickly added Sebastian’s name to his contact info so I wouldn’t accidentally open the next random text from a nosy private number and think it was him. If this situation could worsen, that would be how it would happen.
Darcy: I’m so sorry about this, but we need to get out of it somehow.
Sebastian: Too late. The words came out of your mouth. It’s all over social media, cupcake.
Darcy: Remember our rules. No pet names are allowed.
Sebastian: That rule was for when we were fake dating. We’re engaged now, so I can call you whatever I want.
Darcy: This is funny to you?
Sebastian: Well, if I get angry, our vacation in Mexico will suck as badly as if we were at your house with my parents. So, I’m reining in my irritation that the world thinks we’re getting married and focusing on the fact that no one will expect me to be on that auction block.
Darcy: We need to get out of this lie. We have to figure something out.
Sebastian: Relax. I’m the only one who will have to deal with hell about it, and I’m not bothered by it. Once we end our fake relationship, all this bullshit goes away. People like me get dumped all the time for being assholes, and it usually happens during the engagement, anyway. It’ll just be more believable.
He had a point. Countless people in his circle broke off engagements. His brother, Mark, blew his whole wedding in Monaco to hell when he skipped the event midway and took off to some tropical island, leaving his future bride crying in her dressing room with hundreds in attendance. It was more common for the crowd that Sebastian rolled in to break an engagement than for them to see it through and marry.
I smiled in relief.
Sebastian: I need to put a ring on it, though. So, before we meet Spencer and Nat, we need to find a place for me to purchase one.
Darcy: We’re flying to Mexico. Where do you think you’re going to buy a ring quickly?
Sebastian: I guess there’s always the beach…I hear they’ve got some tremendous nickel-plated, adjustable bands at reasonable prices. They even walk around and offer them to you while you’re laying out, getting a tan.
Darcy: Well, you’re adamant about flying coach, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you want to save money.
Sebastian: Hilarious, but do not worry. I’m sure Riviera Nayarit won’t let me down when it comes to the perfect ring. No nickel-plated beauties for you.
Darcy: Well, thanks. I’m not picky, but I prefer rings that don’t make my skin turn green. A few thousand dollars for a ring should get you off the hook. :P
Sebastian: Of course. As if this whole charade isn’t costing enough already.
I glanced over at him just to be sure that his dark side hadn’t returned and was pleasantly surprised to see a sexy smirk on his face. When he turned to smile at me, the fucking guy made my heart flutter again.
I didn’t want to spend a week in Mexico with Sebastian being the asshole I knew him to be, but I was beginning to feel torn about that now, too. It was scaring me that my body was absently reacting to the nicer side of him so noticeably. If he were a dick, there would be no chance I would find him attractive—like I’d been doing since last night—but he wasn’t behaving that way, and that was starting to seem like it might be a problem.