Chapter 14 #3
“Not everyone,” Savanna says calmly, taking a small step towards us. Towards Jordan. Trying to reel her in. “There’s no way anyone in our circle would believe the two of you are dating. All we need to do is fool the aunts.”
“Liam doesn’t date!”
“People change, Jor,” Nate says, glancing my way. Gauging where I’m at with this, trying to read what I’m thinking.
Honestly, I think it could be great. The chance to touch Jordan in public all weekend? I’m trying not to appear too eager over the idea.
“Look, this has been stressing Nate out for weeks,” Savanna confesses on Nate’s behalf.
She wraps an arm around his waist while he unfolds his arms and wraps one around her shoulders.
A show of solidarity. “He’s been really worried about how intense they’re going to be given it’s a wedding.
This would relieve a lot of anxiety and let him enjoy the big day. ”
“Jor, you’ve always had a date when you’ve gone to these things, but I know you’ve seen how bad they can get. I just want us all to enjoy this weekend.”
“What if Liam wants to fuck someone at the wedding?” Jordan counters, crossing her arms over her chest, her hip sticking out.
Her question is the first to truly surprise me. We both know the only one I’m going to fuck this weekend is her, so maybe she’s just playing it up, but there’s an edge of defiance in her tone. Still, for appearances, she has a good point.
“Are you?” Nate questions, lifting an eyebrow in my direction.
I shrug. “Thought I’d keep my options open.”
“See!”
“But—” I add, giving Jordan a pointed look. “If it’s going to help you out, Nate, I’d be a shitty best man to deny you the one thing that will ease your stress.”
Nate gives me a firm nod then looks at his sister. “Jor? Please?”
I put my hands up to stop Nate before Jordan agrees. “Hold on. What are the ground rules here? I mean, you want me to pretend to be Jordan’s boyfriend, but what does that entail?”
“You’re not fucking my sister, Liam,” Nate says dryly with a roll of his eyes.
Oh, if he only knew.
For her part, Savanna has been keeping a straight face, but I see her mouth twitch at that remark. Jordan, on the other hand, tenses beside me. Her hands clench at her sides, but she says nothing in response.
“Okay, but what does it mean?” I inquire again. “Holding hands? Hugging? Kissing?”
Nate scowls at me. “You’re not making out with my sister either.”
Jordan huffs, stomping her foot on the ground. I almost want to dare her to do that to me and see how far she gets. “You cannot tell me who I can or can’t make out with!”
Before Nate can answer her, I slide an arm around her shoulder, gaining her attention.
With a cocky grin, I shoot her a wink to try to diffuse the situation.
She’s getting upset, and that’s the last thing I want right now.
“I’ve been told I’m a pretty good kisser.
Someone once claimed I’ve got a mighty mouth. ”
“Liam,” Nate says sharply as a warning. Then to Savanna he adds, “I told you I should have asked Brody.”
That garners my full attention. “No, no, no. I am definitely the right man for this job. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Do you know what that is?” Savanna questions with a stifled laugh.
“I will do nothing that I’m not invited to do,” I correct with a hint of mischievousness.
Nate is somber as he looks between the two of us before he holds my gaze. “I’m trusting you with my baby sister, man.”
It’s a fucking punch straight to my gut. Hell, fuck my gut. It goes straight to the heart. The guilt I’ve fought off all fucking day crashes into me like a tsunami. If it weren’t for the TV stand and Jordan, my legs may have given out over that one.
This is my best fucking friend. I’m going to be his best fucking man tomorrow. And all I’ve done to him this week is betray him. Over and over again. The weight of that sits on my chest, making it hard to breathe.
What in the fuck have I been doing? What the fuck is wrong with me?
“We’ll do it,” Jordan abruptly says, both her arms looping around my waist.
I feel like I’m in a daze, everything moving slowly as I look down at her, completely confused. She’s been fighting against this the entire time, and now she sounds more eager than I was.
“It’s a good idea,” she nods quickly, then glances up at me. Her eyes are insistent that I agree. “If it helps Nate feel relaxed for his wedding day, it’s a good idea. Let’s do it for him.”
“Right.” Plastering a smile on my face that I’m not sure I feel, I try to infuse my nod with the same eagerness I felt before. “Anything for you, man.”
An easy smile slides across his face as he squeezes Savanna to his side. “I appreciate it. Both of you.”
If he knew the truth, he wouldn’t appreciate anything. Least of all both of us, but most of all me.
If Nate ever finds out the truth, the trust between us is going to be shattered. That doesn’t just affect Jordan and me. It affects my entire existence in this world. The entire family that I’ve chosen for myself.
It affects every single person in my life.
What in the ever loving fuck have I done?