“We’ve been friends since,” he continued. “Of course, I liked her even then, but we were both at places in our lives that made sense for us to be friends first. When I lost my job recently, Becca was there, supporting me through it, and I decided I couldn’t pretend anymore. It’s either now or never. Turns out she felt the same about me, and here we are.”
I pressed the power button to shut off the TV.
“They’re just pretending,” I told myself. “He doesn’t really love anyone. Just pretending.”
But it didn’t look like pretense, and everything he said made sense. What if he was really in love with Becca? Or what if every minute he was spending with her now made him fall in love with her?
Dismissing the crazy thought, I sprawled onto my back on the sofa, thinking about makeup and my next vlog. That always made me feel better, and I needed the distraction.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Lucas
I nursed my drink and idly allowed my gaze to wander over the stage to the drag queen who was dancing and lip-syncing to Katy Perry’s “E.T.” Her costume and makeup were eye-catching. Combined with her awesome dancing skills and expressive face, she had the crowd in the palm of her hands.
The girls were all good, and I was nervous for Jason. Earlier on our way to the club, I’d distracted him by having him tell me about his vlog. He was apparently garnering interest as a new beauty blogger, and it took his mind right off tonight’s performance.
Until we’d parked.
“What if I freeze up like the last time?” he’d asked, eyes wide.
I’d cupped his chin and kissed him lightly to avoid smudging his lipstick. “You’re not going to freeze up. You’re fabulous, baby boy. Just pretend that we’re home alone—no Miss Puss in the mix—and you’re putting on a show for me.”
I’d tried to be confident for him, but I was on edge waiting for him to perform. If he didn’t get it right tonight, he would want to quit again. Then I would have to work on convincing him that he was good enough. That I didn’t mind doing, but I didn’t like to see his tortured, sad face that he had failed.
He’d been failing all his life. Throughout high school he would fail multiple times, so I understood quite well what this meant for him. I understood how badly he wanted to do this. It might not have been chemistry or biology, but it was something he wanted.
I stiffened when the performer left the stage, but when someone else was introduced, I took a gulp from my drink, deep in thought.
I was having second thoughts about marrying Becca. All the little things Jason had been doing added up to him not wanting me to marry his mother even when it was a marriage in name only. Becca had confirmed the television host hadn’t sent her any questions which meant Jason had been mischievous again.
At first, I had been annoyed when I realized what he had done and the fact that he had lied to me, but could I blame him for trying to mess with the wedding? Perhaps he was the most sensible one of the three of us. This marriage idea had been awful, but how could I reverse it now?
Everything was already prepared for the wedding. Only three days left until the big day. The filming of the various preparation elements was almost complete, and the Wedding Experience had sunk their money into this project believing we were a legitimate couple who were in love.
Instead of fixing the problems we were already in, Becca and I had compounded it. I didn’t want to be married to her. Not even in a fake marriage. It was unfair to Jason for being the secret lover I kept in my bed while to the world Becca and I would pretend to be in love. Regardless of the truth about our marriage, he was the one we would be hurting.
“And we’ll keep the ball rolling with our next queen, Miss Jasmine Foxx!”
At Jason’s stage name, I perked up, heart thumping so hard in my chest for him. And I did one thing I never thought I would ever do in a public space. Something my father would have reprimanded me for, but who gave a fuck? I wanted him to know he had my full support up there.
“You’ve got this, babe!” I shouted, my hands cupped around my mouth for the sound to carry toward her.
She didn’t glance my way, but I saw the smile as she struck a pose on stage. The interlude started, and her hands swished the long gold dress about her body, the high split in the front teasing at the bare flesh before covering back up.
She’d never showed me this performance before. I was just as enthralled as the other patrons. Miss Jasmine Foxx’s lips synced perfectly with the lyrics Beyoncé belted out to “Crazy In Love.” She strutted the stage in those sinful heels that did crazy things to her slender legs. I grinded my teeth until my jaw ached. I wanted to move to the front in case she fell. It beat me how anyone could move so perfectly in heels that high. However, I didn’t move as I wanted to. I trusted in her confidence and allowed my girl the time to shine.
Hips shimmied, hands teased places that mine would later as she drove the crowd wild.
“Holy shit!” I cried, getting to my feet when she made an unexpected move and jerked the skirt of the dress. The material came loose, and she threw it into the crowd. I was so focused on what lay beneath, like I hadn’t tasted and explored every inch of her, that I didn’t even feel jealous of the sucker who had grabbed the wrap. He could have the wrap for all I cared as long as I got the girl at the end of the show.
Left dancing in the short dress that ended just below her round delectable ass, with every move she made, the tassels at the end of the dress flashed. If I thought she was fierce before, she was more so in the skimpy dress. Money was thrown on the stage, waved in the air, and she even shimmied over for a guy to tuck a note into her bosom.
Jason’s inner diva unleashed on the stage. Beautiful. Confident. Strong.
Why choose this song? Coincidence or deliberate?
By the time she was done with her routine, loud cheers filled the club and money littered the stage. I thought I would have been offended at her accepting their money, but I found I didn’t care one way or the other. She had earned that money. Her performance was on par with everyone else’s tonight, and for that she had done a good job.
I cheered with the others. I wolf whistled with the others and laughed when she playfully slapped her fanny, then ran off the stage.
“Dang, Miss Foxx brought her A game tonight!” the hostess announced, strutting back onto the stage. “Do you want more Miss Foxx?”
I shouted yes along with the others before I realized what I was doing and sat back in my chair to wait for either Miss Foxx herself or Jason to join me.
“If you want to see more of that fierce performance from one of our newest drag queens, then be sure you’re here next Thursday!”
She announced the next girl on stage, who performed with an umbrella as a prop. She didn’t disappoint at all, and the crowd was just as pumped about her performance. I could barely keep still, distracted from the stage as I waited for Jason. Two other performers completed their routine, and I was becoming antsy when I spotted him picking his way toward me.
He was out of costume except for his wig and back into the skinny jeans he had worn to the club with me. A cropped top showed off his tummy and the ring that glittered. He still had on his heels as well.
“You were amazing!” I told him, rising to my feet to greet him. He walked right into my arms, and I pulled him to me, absolutely thrilled he was mine. Would he always be mine if I kept up this marriage charade with Becca?
Over his shoulder, I saw the envy of men who didn’t hide their curiosity in staring at us. Jason could have anyone he wanted in this club. As beautiful as he was, he had options, yet he had strutted into my arms. He had high school. He had London where he had been out of sight. Yet he’d found his way to me.
Pulling back, I cupped his face and kissed him. He melted into me, hands clutching the front of my shirt as he returned every moan, every stroke of tongue.
“What was that for?” he asked when our lips parted.
“For doing an outst
anding job tonight,” I replied.
I returned to my booth, allowing him to go in ahead of me before I sat beside him. He rested his hand on my thigh, eyes still wild with excitement.
“Was I really good?”
I was about to tease him when I saw the eagerness in his eyes to be praised. “You were wonderful. Didn’t you hear everyone cheering for you?”
“I heard you. Thanks for coming with me tonight.”
I patted his thigh. “You’re welcome. Becca would have been here too, but she had other plans she couldn’t get out of.”
“She’s still mad at me for the television interview, huh?” he asked. “I’ve apologized for it. I’m sorry. I won’t do anything like that again.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’ve decided to trust you,” he replied. “You wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”
Then why am I marrying your mother?
I almost told him then that I loved him, but who blurted out I love yous at a drag show? Even I wasn’t that unromantic. I was certain I could do much better.
***
“How’s it?” Jason asked, peering up at me the next morning as we worked on making breakfast together in the kitchen.
I made the sign of the cross and laughed when he glared at me. “Just drink it! You watched me make it, so I hardly dropped virgin blood in it to own your body, heart, and soul.”
“Well, that would be stupid considering you already do,” I answered before bringing the cup of hot chocolate to my mouth. “If I die, my will’s in the safe in my closet.”
He rolled his eyes and refrained from answering. He watched me like a hawk who didn’t dare to lose sight of its prey. I took a sip of the hot chocolate I’d taught him to make since he now craved it. All the dregs he was supposed to have strained got sucked down my throat.
“You hate it!” he wailed.
I placed the teacup onto the island. “I don’t hate it.”
“Then drink some more.”
“Uh, well—”
“Let me see.”
He took up the cup and took a large sip, his eyes going wide. Without a word, he rushed over to the sink and spat out the liquid.
“Argh, it’s horrible! Why did you drink it?”
I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, guzzled down half of it, then passed it to him. He did the same and made a face at me.
“You forgot to strain it like I showed you.”
“I’m useless at this. You’ll have to make it for me from now on.”
“Nope.” I shook my head at him. “You’re going to do it again. Now that’s a good boy.”
The doorbell rang. “Saved by the bell,” he muttered. “I’ll get it.”
“Nope. You work on that chocolate. I’ll get it.”
I left him grumbling to himself while I went to answer the door. A quick glance at my watch showed it was barely after nine in the morning. I had to meet up with Becca at eleven to pick up our wedding bands. Two days from now, I would be a married man with a lover.
“Mr. Sobers,” I said in horror when I opened the door to the sight of my former manager.
“Lucas,” he stated. “I’ve been wanting to speak to you.”
“You have?” Oh shit, this must be about the restaurant. “Look, I’m really sorry about the restaurant. I have no idea what got into me.”
“I know what,” he replied.
“And it was no excuse,” I answered. “So what if I’d been led to believe the position would have been mine? I should have never lost my anger the way I did. I do apologize for that, and I am working on getting everything back to the way it was.”
He frowned at me. “The damages were already paid for.”
“What?”
“Yes. I saw the check myself, and I’m pretty sure the name on it was Lucas Bronte. I assumed that’s you.”
I blinked at him, trying to make sense of what he’d said. I hadn’t paid for the damages. Why would I when my father had agreed to paying off the restaurant as soon as I complied with the terms of our contract and married a woman? He wouldn’t have gone ahead and paid off the restaurant. That was unlike him, but I sure as hell hadn’t paid it, so he was the only other option in the matter.
“Maybe you should come in?” I invited.
“Just for a few minutes,” he answered. “I should be on my way to the airport. I was on vacation when I learned what happened, and I just had to fix everything before I go.”
“I’m not quite sure I understand,” I replied as he entered the hall, and I pushed open the door.
“I can’t say I was pleased with what happened,” he stated, frowning at me. “I’ve never known you to lose your temper before, and for that reason, I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt that this won’t happen again, especially since you took on the responsibility in having everything replaced.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure it can’t. I can’t get another job in the restaurant industry. I’ve tried.”
“That’s why I’m here. I’m offering you your job back.”
I stared at Sobers, wondering if this was another sort of trick. “Why would you do that?”
“There’s a lot of things I’ve discovered since you left, Lucas,” he replied. “Lawrence has been unscrupulous and dishonest in the running of the restaurant. We did not send a transfer of head chef to the restaurant. It was all his doing. In fact, the new chef he brought on board has never worked with any of our chains.”
“I knew there had to be a good reason I couldn’t stand him.”
“That position should have been yours,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “When I told you that before, I meant every word. You’re a man of vision, and you’re passionate about the restaurant. I have every faith in you that you can infuse life and diversity into our restaurant, and that’s why I want you to replace Lawrence as the new executive chef.”
My mouth went dry. Head chef I had been fine with, but being the executive chef was an honor, especially given what I’d done. Just the very thought of having that position left me feeling light-headed.
“I’m not sure I deserve it after everything.”
“For God’s sake, man. You were wronged in all of this. Stop playing a martyr and tell me you’ll come back to work. I mean, as soon as you’re back from your honeymoon. I heard you were getting married.”
Oh shit, the wedding. If I had my job back and didn’t have to pay for damages, I was no longer in debt. Even if Dad went through with his threat and took his part of the house, I could always find somewhere cheaper to live. Jason wouldn’t mind. He would be content as long as we were together. Because he loved me.
“Then I accept,” I told him.
He outstretched his hand, and I claimed it with mine. “Good. I expect great things from you, Lucas. Now I really must be going.”
I ushered him out of the house, still dazed by the turn of events. “Thanks for everything, Mr. Sobers. Thanks for the second chance.”
“Well, there won’t be a third, so don’t destroy my kitchen again and we’ll be fine.”
I smiled sheepishly at him. “That’s a promise I can keep.”
He had barely walked away when someone ran up behind me, wrapping wiry arms around my waist.
“Oh my God, Daddy Luke, you’ve got your job back!”
I turned to face Jason, pulling him into my arms, practically crushing him from the force of my embrace. “Yes—in fact I got a promotion.”
“Oh man, that’s awesome. Does that mean I can get a job working at your restaurant?”
I tapped his nose. “First of all, it’s not my restaurant, and secondly, nope. You can’t even make hot chocolate.”
“Not fair! You showed me once!”
I grabbed him and twirled him around while he squawked for me not to drop him.
“I can’t believe it. I got my job back.”
Jason wrapped his arms around my neck. His lips trembled, and he took a deep breath, eyes shiny with e
xpectation.
“Does that mean you no longer have to marry Becca? Please say yes. I don’t want you to marry her.”
“I don’t want to marry her either,” I answered honestly, staring into his eyes. “All night I’ve been trying to figure out a way out of this marriage, and this might be the answer. I didn’t dare tell you what was in my heart until I had a happy ending for us, Jason.”
“Tell me what?” he whispered.
“That you’re the most important person in my life,” I replied, staring at his face. “I love your clumsiness and your sass. I love the way you throw yourself into your passion with gusto. I love your alter ego and that darn cat I seem to have adopted unknowingly. I love you, Jace. You would not stop until I fell in love with you, and now, you have your wish.”
“Daddy Luke.” He sighed my name. “I love you too. I love you so much.”
“I know.”
He shook his head. “No, listen. I was mistaken before. When I left here and went to London, I thought I was so madly in love with you. I saved myself for you and everything, but then I got to know you. I really got to know you, and that’s when I grew to love you the way I do.”
“No more infatuation?” I teased.
“Nope. Sorry to disappoint you, but all you get is my love.”
“And that’s enough, baby boy. That’s enough.”
I made to kiss him, but he turned his head and pushed at my arms. “No kissing. We’ll have more time for that. I’m so excited. I can’t believe my Daddy Luke loves me back.”
I laughed and allowed him to slide to the floor. “You better believe it, Puddin’. I’m afraid it’s never going away. Now how about we try to cancel that wedding of mine?”
He threw his arms around my waist and hugged me. “Oh please, yes. Otherwise I’ll have to be the one to speak up on your wedding day.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Jason
“You really love me?” I had to ask Lucas again as he parked at our apartment building. I’d probably asked him the same question half a dozen times since we left his house, but I was shameless, and I wanted to hear it again and again.
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