Fake Fiancé for Christmas

by Emily Bow

  Chance raised the candy cane. “Holly? Will you?”

  I jumped forward, so he wouldn’t finish the sentence, and covered his lips with my hand. I held out my left hand, so he could slide the ring on. That would have to do.

  Chance rose and embraced me. I shattered while everyone around me clapped. Couldn’t they see this was killing me?

  Chance put his mouth to my ear. “Are you okay?”

  Whispers must look so romantic to the guests.

  I shook my head and put my lips to his ear. “I didn’t agree to this.” My voice cracked. I made myself meet his eyes so he could grasp how I was feeling in this moment where I couldn’t use words.

  His eyes grew wider with their first hint of awareness that this may not have been his best idea.

  I didn’t want to play anymore.

  I stood there, and Chance’s arm tightened around me as if I’d run, which I might, and then his parents were there, hugging us, then his brothers, and grandmother.

  Then Madison. For the crowd, Madison yelled, “You guys.” She stared at my ring. “What a rock. Is that Tyler’s grandmother’s ring?” Her brown eyes promised all the circles of hell would wrap around me and squeeze the life out of my body.

  Zoe popped into our group. Her dark eyes fully aware of what a bad idea getting engaged at Madison’s celebration had been.

  Chance tracked Madison with his gaze.

  Tyler said, “Mads, I told him it was cool.”

  “Don’t call me Mads,” Madison snapped. “The roses here aren’t even pink.”

  Zoe hooked her arm around Madison and whispered something about the crowd, doing her best to tug her away and out of the situation.

  Chance turned to the guests. “Forgive me. I’m going to steal Holly away.”

  Sure, why not, his work was done.

  As Chance led me away, Nathan pressed a cup of hot apple cider in my hand. I took a sip of the cinnamon warmed apple drink. The heated liquid braced me. Nathan paced us. “The IP address for your Harvard application came from your sorority chapter. You need to get your house in order.”

  My hand trembled on the cup, and Nathan took it from me.

  More guests pressed in, congratulating us. There were hugs from strangers and friends as Chance eased me toward the door. Well wishes. Men clapping Chance on the shoulder. The whole thing was a blur. Forever and thirty steps later, we got through the restaurant’s front door and the cold air swept over me, recalibrating my overheated everything.

  “Holly?”

  “Not here.”

  Chapter 21.

  The valet pulled Chance’s car around, and I strode toward the passenger door as if I were wearing athletic running shoes instead of screamingly high heels.

  The doors closed around us. Cocooning us away from the good cheer and Christmas music.

  Chance drove me to the modern high rise where he lived. He went up a ramp and parked in a private garage. From there, we went into his penthouse. City lights glowed in through the floor-to-ceiling wall of windows.

  Chance turned on the main light, and a full professionally decorated Christmas tree lit with pretty red and green lights. I strode in that direction and looked down, working on what I’d say and how I’d say the words. There were several boxes under the tree. The symbol of good cheer softened me some. Which was good because I was about to break.

  I turned to him and held out my left hand, the one wearing the heavy rock. “I didn’t agree to this.”

  “Why are you so freaked out?” Chance sounded almost scientific, and like a totally clueless guy.

  Tears bit my eyes, and I pushed them down. “The next time a man drops to his knee and proposes, I’ll have to compare his proposal to yours. To you looking all gorgeous. Christmas music playing. Family and friends cheering us on. Exquisite antique ring winking at me. You. Looking at me there with a twinkle in your eye. That moment wasn’t honest though. And now I have to compare the two.”

  “You knew this wasn’t real. That’s what we are. You’re my fake girlfriend, and now you’re my fake fiancée.” Chance grinned as if incredibly pleased with his own decisions.

  I shoved many emotions down. “I agreed to play a part with you to some social events. I didn’t agree to this.”

  “You didn’t have to put the ring on your finger.”

  Was he kidding? “Is that really what you want to say right now?”

  Chance crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t know what you want me to say. I knew Madison would overreact and show my brother her true face. My grandmother’s ring is so much larger than hers, and Tyler had said she wanted it. Our scheme is working.”

  Our scheme. I sank onto his couch looking at my hand. At the giant diamond. The piece was beautiful. I rubbed my thumb over the top. I would’ve said this many karats would look garish, not extraordinary. But diamond size didn’t matter. I’d take a small ring and a real light in a real love’s offer any day over Chance’s green-eyed insincerity. I didn’t look at him. I looked at the star on his tree, at the silver ornaments. “It’s Christmastime.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “Sincerity. Generosity. Love. Pretty much the opposite of everything this proposal was about tonight.”

  Chance turned to the window. “My family gets focused on winning. We study the competition, strategize, manipulate. We win. Even when we have to go for the throat.”

  “Even if it’s my throat?”

  Chance was silent.

  “And you used a candy cane?” I made the between you and me gesture with a jerking hand. “That’s our thing.”

  Chance’s mouth tightened. “I’m sorry your feelings got hurt. I think things might have gotten a little tangled up for you. A little too real.”

  No shit. I sucked in a breath and wanted to slap him with one of the stockings hanging over the mantle. “Oh yes. How dare I want my first proposal to be real, and sincere, and mean forever? What a nutty thought.” I rose and stilled my face to calmness. “You know what. Thank you. You’re right.” I pulled off the ring and dropped the symbol of our fake engagement on his couch without looking to see where the big diamond fell. “That fake proposal won’t make me lose a second of sleep. When I get a real one, I won’t let this insincere moment touch my mind. And I won’t care if he wraps my ring finger with discarded red and green Christmas ribbons as long as his expression and his intent are sincere.”

  Chance stood there quietly.

  “Take me back.”

  “Back to the party?”

  Hah. “To the house.”

  “We need to talk about how to handle this.”

  I strode to the door. “Do we? You figured tonight out and proceeded without me. Feel free to do the same with the rest of your game.”

  We said nothing else, and Chance drove me to the sorority house in continued silence.

  OMG. My eyes were burning again. Please. Please wait until I get inside and away from him before crying.

  How could he?

  I hated him.

  He and his brothers and their fist bump. They all knew.

  And I was just a tool.

  Him on my arm. His smile. His kiss. He was never mine. He didn’t fool me. I fooled myself. I swallowed. My chest hurt. No one to blame but me. I was caught in my own lie. I could scream into the night’s cold wind, but why would anyone above listen?

  Did this to myself.

  My lips trembled, and I wanted to run. The car crawled up our street. I closed my eyes and felt the wetness leak out and dampen my eyelashes, but I didn’t let the tears fall.

  Chance pulled onto the circular drive and stopped at the front.

  I opened the car door. “Oh, if you’re curious as to whether we’re fake dating anymore? We’re not. Enjoy the matchmaking. I’m sure another girl will be very happy with what you have to offer…no. No girl would be flattered by this.”

  I got out without looking at him, slamme
d the door, and ran inside.

  I reached my room.

  Bitsie sat inside. “Zoe got back a minute ago. Says you’re engaged. Holy shit.” She threw her hands in the air. “I had no idea you two were so serious.”

  My lips trembled.

  “Let’s see the ring.”

  A tear dropped down hot and wet.

  Bitsie frowned, jumped up and ran over. “Holly.”

  “I’m so stupid.” My voice cracked and my lips wobbled.

  Bitsie hugged me, and I told her everything.

  ***

  The pink light flashed. I rolled over and looked at the clock, my eyes gritty, feeling like I hadn’t slept.

  Secret Santa.

  Great. I had to find some holiday cheer on a day when I wanted to roll over and throw the covers over my head.

  I took a shower and put on an ugly Christmas sweater. Mine was green with a unicorn battling a reindeer. The green shade matched the green stripe in my green and white striped tights, and I wore a red mini skirt on top. I did my makeup, clipped my hair with a red bow, and slipped on Oxfords before heading downstairs.

  “Merry Christmas.” Valentina handed me a cup of hot apple cider and a gingerbread cookie, the breakfast of elves.

  “Thanks.” I joined my sorority sisters in a circle and the freshmen passed out our stockings.

  I made sure I could sit by Valentina so I could watch her expression. I knew she’d love her gift.

  Valentina pulled her present from her stocking and checked the tag. “Santa Holly.” She tore into the wrapping paper. “No.” Valentina squealed.

  The sound provoked my first genuine smile of the day.

  Valentina threw herself forward and hugged me so hard I fell back laughing. She waved two tickets in the air. “Season tickets. Baseball. The whole Season!”

  “Nice one, Santa Holly,” Emilia said.

  Other girls around us were tearing the paper off their gifts, laughing, and loads of “thanks” carried over the Christmas tunes playing.

  Valentina bounced on her knees. “Open yours.”

  “Hey, you got your braces off.”

  Valentina smiled big and slicked her tongue over her teeth. “Finally.”

  I squished the soft package. “From Santa Madison.” My insides sank.

  Valentina groaned, and then tilted her head and bounced again. “Open it.”

  I peeled the paper back slowly.

  Chapter 22.

  Madison ambled over. “Wait for me.”

  I opened my Secret Santa gift. Crimson cloth peeped out from the paper. What? I tore the wrapping open and held up the t-shirt.

  My stomach turned over.

  White-lettered HARVARD stood out across the chest of the shirt. I crumpled the fabric and looked at Madison. “What is this?” My voice sounded flat and measured.

  Madison looked at me under lowered eyelids wearing a self-satisfied smirk. “I had Valentina move your application.”

  Valentina smiled big. “Once Madison told me how much you wanted to go to Harvard but were too scared to apply, we turned in the application for you. I knew you’d get in. I believe in you.”

  I had my answer. My face grew numb and my mouth worked without releasing sound.

  Madison knelt and flicked the end of the Harvard t-shirt with her crimson-painted index finger. Crimson. “Knew you were too gutless to apply yourself. Imagine how this will enhance our academic appeal for new candidates.”

  Baylor was ranked and respected. But Harvard was a number one school. And Madison wanted that on our roster. And she got it. That was Madison. She got everything she wanted. She got Tyler. And she screwed me.

  I rose. “You had no right.”

  “Guys?” Valentina said. We ignored her.

  Madison arched her dark eyebrows. “You want to talk to me about interfering?” Her voice screeched. She held up her finger to halt me. “That champagne stunt. Chance Kentwell. My bridal appointment.” She ticked up her fingers with each offense. “And you decide to get engaged at my engagement party?” Madison was literally screaming at me now. “We’re supposed to support each other.”

  Madison was right, and I did feel badly about what I had done to her, but there was zero chance I was going to freezing cold Boston, Massachusetts while my family lived in Texas. When snow lived in Boston. When my heart was in Texas. I’d been hurt, and now I was furious. Fury felt better. I no longer regretted teaming with Chance to mess with Madison. I only wished we’d poured it on thicker, wished his plan had worked. I threw the shirt in her face and stomped upstairs to lock myself in my room.

  Rage filtered through me. I covered my face and sank down to my floor.

  All the negative emotions manifested into a physical, ick feeling. I felt horrible. My head lifted. And Madison was going to feel horrible when I was done with her. I texted Zoe for Nathan’s number and she sent it through immediately.

  Girls knocked on my door, but I ignored them.

  I typed up a text with chilled precision. “Hey, Nathan. Holly, here.”

  Nathan responded. “How’d you get my number?”

  Charming as ever. “Zoe.”

  “I’ve blocked her. She shouldn’t have given it out. If you put her on, I’ll block you too.”

  The ego. “Want the truth about Madison?”

  “Spill it.”

  “Be at The Spot tonight.”

  “Can’t. Tyler’s bachelor party is tonight.”

  No shit. He’d be occupied, and Madison would be at her bachelorette party. “That’s up to you then.”

  ***

  I shoved through the door to The Spot and showed my sorority crest ring with the GUM insignia to the doorman. The infinity symbol was my key to get into Madison’s private, invitation-only bachelorette party.

  “You’re here.” Valentina rushed over carrying a pink cocktail. She wore a cobalt blue velvet mini dress and looked at me with big, don’t be mad at me, blue eyes. “Bitsie said to leave you alone, but I needed to apologize. It’s pretty clear you didn’t long for Harvard. I messed up.” Her voice held enormous apology. “How do I fix it?”

  I clinked her glass and took a bracing gulp. “I don’t blame you.” I had for a few seconds back in my room, but I knew how Madison worked. Valentina hadn’t stood a chance last summer. She’d know better going forward.

  Valentina’s shoulders eased. She lowered her voice. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  I took another icy sip.

  “Hello? Valentina?” Madison called out. She wore a white skater dress with a bridal veil and sat on a white cushioned chair. “I need another.” She shook her empty shot glass at Valentina.

  Valentina pretended not to hear or see her, and another freshman rushed to get Madison a refill. Madison looked at me and purposefully looked away.

  The silent treatment.

  I could live with that.

  “OMG, you came.” Arabella, dressed in a plum velvet A-line dress, got between me and the bride-to-be. “I’m so sorry, Holly.” Her words slurred. “I can’t believe Madison pulled that. She’s been getting out of hand. Power corrupts.”

  I nodded.

  Bitsie, dressed in a Christmas red bandage dress, joined us.

  An hour into the evening, I realized every girl, besides Madison, had made a point to come chat with me. The show of support buoyed my spirits. Three drinks in, I had a strong buzz going and all felt right with the world.

  As long as I didn’t look at Madison.

  I ignored her and danced with my friends.

  Invited guys filtered through the door, dancing with us. I tossed back another drink and licked my lips. Everyone was behaving, and having fun, and guilt over my earlier call to Nathan began stirring through me. I went to the side wall, which was one decibel quieter, and drunk-dialed Chance Kentwell. Who I stupidly missed. “Hey,” I said when he picked up.

  “Where are you?” His deep voice melte
d me.

  “Bachelorette party.” I slurred the words.

  “Wait for me there. I’ll come get you.”

  I shook my head like he could see me. “You don’t even know.”

  Madison screeched out a laugh as her bartender ex put her on his shoulders. Her bridal veil draped down his back.

  Oh.

  I shook my head again at the phone. “I may have told Nathan to meet us. You know, to see Madison. I was interfering. Stop him. I was wrong to play these games. Okay?”

  Bitsie bumped into me. “Come on,” Bitsie said, her eyes shiny. “If I have to be here, you have to be dancing. Jonathon wants to meet you.”

  “Who is Jonathon?” Chance asked.

  “I don’t know.” I giggled, hung up, and put my phone away.

  Such a weird night. I danced more with my friends. How had tonight shifted from pure anger to power party?

  Several dances later, I did a spin and stopped, catching the gaze of the hot guy coming in the door.

  Chance. Tyler, Nathan, and Easton behind him.

  Chapter 23.

  Valentina grabbed my arm, her gaze on The Spot’s front door. “OMG. That’s Easton Cantwell.” She stopped dancing.

  “Vee,” A guy bopped in front of her and shook out some moves.

  I moved toward the entryway.

  Nathan held a wad of cash up toward the bouncer. The bouncer took the money, waved his arm in a flourish, and let four Kentwell brothers into the bar.

  Chance was coming in. The bachelorette party’s signature drinks were blocking my hurt, and all I could focus on was that I wanted his arms around me in the dark bar with flashing lights. Our bodies swaying together.

  Tyler was going to see Madison in action. Oh well. Madison wasn’t being any wilder than any other bride-to-be. Sort of. Four steps in, Tyler slumped against a wall as if he’d been celebrating hard.

  Why were they here?

  I’d heard of the engaged couples meeting up at the end of the night after these kinds of parties. I hadn’t expected that of Tyler and Madison. I expected very little of them. I held in an inappropriate giggle.