by Elias Taylor
“Smart,” Tristen said.
“Plus, I have no interest in staging a fake wedding,” Kayla said. “This is a one-time thing.”
“Honeymoon in the Bahamas,” Tristen said.
“Hawaii,” Kayla said.
“Of course,” Tristen said. “And I was thinking if this night goes well, they won’t ask too many questions, and you’re super busy with your job anyway so they won’t expect you at future events.”
Kayla drummed her fingers on her knee.
“So you’re really going to just pretend?” she asked. “What if you’re at this job for years and years?”
Tristen shrugged. He had avoided thinking about the long-term consequences all day.
“I can’t erase the lie,” Tristen said. “I just really wanted to do well.”
Kayla nodded.
“I guess I understand that,” she said.
“So you’ve got a fake fiancée to impress your boss as well?” Tristen joked. “That would definitely make me feel much better.”
To his delight, Kayla let out a small smile at that.
The dinner event was held at a nice restaurant in San Diego. Tristen’s company had rented out the entire venue.
Tristen pulled into the parking lot and then turned to face Kayla.
“One last thing,” Tristen said. “My co-worker Perry is the only one who knows the truth because I told him earlier today, but he promised he has my back with this.”
“You sure he won’t sell you out?” Kayla asked.
“Not Perry,” Tristen said.
Tristen fished into his pocket and pulled out a box. Kayla’s eyes went wide.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t go out and buy a ring,” Tristen said. “But you need something on your finger, and my grandmother gave this to me before she died.”
Kayla’s face screamed discomfort.
“Tristen, that’s a little odd,” she said.
“It’s not a big deal,” Tristen said.
“It might be a big deal when you get engaged for real and you have to give whoever she is a ring that I wore,” Kayla said.
“It’s just for tonight,” Tristen said.
He opened the box and held out the old emerald ring towards Kayla. It was a simple but beautiful ring, and his grandmother had always told him he should find a special girl for such a special ring.
Kayla took the ring and shoved it on her finger. She barely looked at, but Tristen did. It occurred to him that the emerald suited Kayla.
Before he could ruminate anymore on that thought, Kayla had hopped out of the car. Tristen followed her.
At the entrance, Tristen stopped.
“You really do look beautiful,” he said. “And not just for this part, but in general.”
Every muscle in Kayla’s face softened. She didn’t blush or squirm, but she gave him a gentle nod.
“Thank you,” Kayla said.
He grabbed her hand as they walked towards the door. Kayla blinked in alarm, but then settled down. She was good at this, Tristen thought. Maybe it was fate that she had needed his help last night. No one he knew could have been better suited for this bizarre event.
They entered the venue and turned towards the crowd. Across the room, David saw them and lifted his hand in greeting.
“Showtime,” Tristen said.
Kayla put on a dazzling smile, and Tristen found himself grinning as well. He wasn’t even faking it.
In a heartbeat, David was in front of them.
“I’m so glad you could make it!” David said. “I’m David.”
“Hi, David,” Kayla said. “I’m Kayla.”
She reached out and gave Tristen’s boss a firm handshake.
“A pleasure to meet you,” David said.
“I’m excited to meet all of you,” Kayla said. “Tristen’s told me great things.”
She turned to Tristen and leaned into him. Tristen’s body knew what to do before his head did. In a flash, he had wrapped his arm around Kayla’s waist.
She didn’t full away or even flinch. That was one thing about Kayla, Tristen realized. When she said she was going to do something, she made sure she did it well.
David led them into the room, and Tristen leaned close to murmur in her ear.
“Does this mean I get a free pass to grab your butt tonight?” Tristen whispered.
Kayla’s bright smile didn’t budge as she hissed an answer through her teeth:
“You touch my butt, and I’ll break your hand.”
Tristen tipped back his head and laughed out loud. He wasn’t faking anything, not even a bit.
Chapter Nine: Lucky
Kayla didn’t want to think about how good it felt to have Tristen’s hand on the small of her waist. She could think about that later, after she had gotten through this night.
Anyway, it was only natural that she should appreciate his hand placement. Kayla was a strong believer in keeping public displays of affection at an appropriate level, and Tristen was on the same page. He wasn’t squeezing her waist too tightly in an uncomfortable display of ownership and male dominance, but nor was he standing separate from her. His hand was solid and comforting, but not overbearing or distracting.
Tristen was making it easy for Kayla to play her part. They had struck up a conversation with one of the managers and his wife, and Kayla knew she was doing well.
She laughed at Tristen’s jokes about his job, but she wasn’t overly-giggly. She leaned into his shoulder and gave him sweet smiles, but she wasn’t just the doting girlfriend.
“So how’d you meet?” the manager asked. “Tristen is all business at work, I never heard the story.”
“We’re part of the same biker club,” Tristen said.
“Really?” the manager asked. He raised his brows at Kayla. “You don’t strike me as a typical biker chick.”
“Well, you didn’t know me when I was nineteen and going through an Emo Rebellion Phase,” Kayla said. “Lucky for you.”
Everyone burst out laughing before Kayla explained how biking was a hobby, and she and Tristen had become friends and then dated.
“It took me two years to get up the courage, but I finally proposed during a trip to Yosemite,” Tristen said.
“Ok, I have to see the ring,” the manager’s wife asked.
Kayla flashed a coy smile and held out her left hand. Tristen had been right. It would have been strange if she showed up with an engagement ring.
She still felt like she was violating some sort of sacred rule by wearing it. Tristen’s grandmother might start haunting her from beyond the grave for putting on an heirloom ring for the sake of a fake engagement.
Even so, the ring was lovely. Kayla liked classic diamonds, but she thought it was cool to use a different gem for an engagement ring. She was almost sad that she was going to have to take it off at the end of the night.
She reminded herself to focus as the manager questioned Tristen on their honeymoon. Since it turned out he and his wife had gone on a vacation to Hawaii the year before, a detailed discussion of beach activities ensued.
Tristen had been jittery in the car, but he had calmed down now that they were at the event. Kayla was impressed. He was calm, cool, and collected with his co-workers. He knew how to be friendly but also keep things professional.
She had always assumed Tristen was a jokester who didn’t care much about anything or have big career aspirations, but she was seeing a different side of him. She liked it.
As Tristen continued to chat with the manager about surfing options in Hawaii, David approached Kayla.
She took a deep breath. This was the guy who mattered.
“So tell me, Kayla, what do you do?” he asked.
“I’m an accountant at Brentwood in Lyndon,” Kayla said. “It’s a mid-sized firm, and I’ve been there three years.”
“Three years?” he asked. “That’s good, I see a lot of employees your age who hop from job to job every year.”
“Well, I believe that commitment to
one good company is the best way to find career fulfillment,” Kayla said. “I wouldn’t be happy just making horizontal jumps every year.”
“Exactly,” David said. “And have you been able to progress well?”
“I’ve done alright,” Kayla said. “I’m a junior manager, but I hope to be a senior manager by the end of next quarter.”
“Impressive,” David said. “And definitely better than alright.”
He gave Kayla a fond smile which Kayla returned. It was nice to impress Tristen’s boss with her resumé. Besides, if things went South at Brentwood, it might be useful to have contacts at this company.
David leaned closer so only Kayla could hear him.
“I’ve been wondering who or what had been such a good influence on Tristen,” David said. “This past year, he’s really stepped up, and now I know it’s been due to you.”
Kayla smiled but shook her head with adamance.
“Tristen is really self-motivated,” she said. “I think he just needed a bit of time to pick up his momentum.”
Kayla looked up to see that Tristen was looking at her over David’s shoulder. He had heard what she said, and he was touched. Kayla gave him a little shrug and continued to chat with David until it was time to move to the tables for dinner.
There was assigned seating, and right away, Kayla could tell that she and Tristen were not at a table with scrubs. In fact, it seemed they had been elevated to the big leagues. David was seated two seats from Kayla, and she could tell by the age and bearing of everyone else at the table that they were all senior management. As insane as Tristen’s lie had been, it was paying off, at least for now. Having an impressive life partner was getting him brownie points with his superiors.
As soon as they sat down, Kayla could tell that Tristen’s nerves were picking up again. His face remained calm, but she could feel his knee jiggling next to her own.
On instinct, Kayla reached under the table and placed an assuring hand on his leg. In a flash, he wrapped his hand around hers. She squeezed him.
Kayla didn’t get nervous. Since she was a kid, she had always done what she wanted before she gave herself time to get scared. Once she came up with her big life plan and set of goals, she focused that bold desire to act without fear in achieving her goals. It was like her superpower, and it had served her well in countless interviews and high-pressure meetings.
She gave Tristen a smile to tell him that he could count on her. He could follow her lead, and she would see him through this dinner.
“So Kayla, I have to say, I’m surprised you’re an accountant,” David said.
“Yes, aren’t all accountants known for being boring?” a woman across the table asked.
Kayla flashed the woman a sly grin.
“Oh, trust me, if you knew the excitement in my office over a well-made excel spreadsheet, you wouldn’t think we were boring,” she said.
The table burst into laughter, and Kayla felt Tristen relax beside her.
“I can attest to that,” Tristen said. “Kayla’s spreadsheets are works of art.”
“Even so, I’ve never met a fun accountant before,” another man added. “My accountant actually terrifies me, he’s so serious.”
“Well, everyone hates on accountants until they get to tax season,” Kayla quipped.
She earned herself another round of laughter.
The rest of the meal flew by. Tristen and Kayla told a funny story about one of the older guys in the biking club falling in love with a serious widow who detested bikes, and how they somehow made it work. They both had been on a ride with the guy, so they were able to tell the story well together.
Tristen even managed to talk about his most recent client, but he kept it brief and avoided showing off.
By the end of the meal, Kayla had his co-workers eating out of her hand. They all thought she was amazing, and Tristen and she made the perfect couple. It was funny, in a dark way. If only they knew, the perfect couple didn’t exist.
“So, Kayla, can I possibly persuade you to come work here?” David asked, only half-joking. “Seriously, we’ll get you a desk far away from Tristen so you can maintain boundaries.”
“I’m flattered,” Kayla said. “But I’ve got loyalty to own company.”
“Well, if you’re really that loyal, then Tristen’s a lucky guy,” David said.
“I definitely am,” Tristen said.
He grabbed Kayla’s hand under the table and gave it another squeeze. Kayla felt her heart flutter when he did.
She smiled, but pulled her hand away and dug into her dessert. She could not catch feelings during a ridiculous game of make-believe engagement. It was way too pathetic.
She reminded herself that Tristen was dangerous. He was way too good at faking being in love with her. That kind of charm was kryptonite. Guys who could pretend to be in love were the ones who would suck up all a woman’s time and energy and then leave her flat.
Kayla was pretty sure Tristen wasn’t cruel, but she knew that most relationships end up with someone getting hurt. That’s why she had been so careful over the past few years. She didn’t want distractions, and she didn’t want to end up heartbroken.
The meal ended, and everyone broke off to mingle some more as dance music started to play. Once they were alone at the table, Tristen leaned over to whisper in Kayla’s ear.
“You were amazing,” Tristen said.
His breath tickled her neck and sent a tingling wave down her entire back. She wished he wasn’t so handsome, it made things so complicated.
“Wanna dance?” Tristen asked.
Kayla shrugged.
“Come on, we don’t have to mingle with the bigwigs anymore,” Tristen said. “Plus, after last night, I know you’ve got moves.”
“I will only dance with you if you promise to never bring up last night again,” Kayla said.
“Done,” Tristen said. “Let’s go.”
Kayla stood up, and she felt her shoulders relaxing as Tristen led her out on the floor.
What was the harm in one little dance?
Chapter Ten: Let Go
Tristen loved how much Kayla had laughed and smiled so far that night. He was only hoping that it wasn’t all an act.
He led her to the dance floor and gave her a twirl before placing his hand on her waist. As if they had done it a hundred times before, Kayla let her hand drop to his shoulder.
They started to sway to the rhythm.
“Thank you,” Tristen said. “Seriously, you are amazing.”
Kayla lifted her shoulders in a small shrug.
“I haven’t done that much,” she said. “Not like anyone is interrogating us or anything.”
“Don’t downplay it,” Tristen said. “You killed it tonight.”
“So far anyway,” Kayla said. “We haven’t made it through quite yet.”
“Thank you,” Tristen said. “Thank you so much.”
“You do remember that I didn’t exactly have a choice?” Kayla asked.
Her tone was biting but not too harsh, and she gave Tristen a smile to soften the words.
“Well, don’t worry, I’m definitely deleting that video,” Tristen said. “Consider your debt officially paid.”
Kayla nodded and looked thoughtful for a moment.
“I’m actually having an ok time,” she admitted. “I can tell this job is really important to you, and that’s something I do understand.”
Tristen shrugged and mulled things over. He wanted to open up to Kayla. He was comfortable with her, especially after the last few hours.
“I didn’t always care,” he said. “And it’s not like I always dreamed of having a specific career or anything, it’s just that I realized about a year ago that I want to be able to live a certain type of life and provide for a family.”
Kayla looked up at him, and Tristen wondered how he had never noticed how dark and bottomless her eyes were.
“It sounds sappy, I know,” he said.
�
��No,” Kayla said. “It doesn’t.”
The music had slowed down so much that Kayla and Tristen were barely moving as they gazed into each other’s faces. Tristen figured they looked like the most in-love couple to all his co-workers.
“Anyway,” Tristen said. “I don’t want to be 35 and unable to get the things I want or live the way I want.”
“I get that,” Kayla said. “And it’s not about being selfish, it’s about wanting to be the best version of yourself.”
“For sure,” Tristen said. “Trust me, I know I have not been my best version for most of my life. In high school, I was mediocre ‘cause I just didn’t care, but now I care.”
Kayla nodded, and Tristen spotted a new feeling in her face: admiration. She respected and appreciated what he was trying to do with his life.
“It’s just been hard climbing out of the hole I put myself in by goofing around for years,” Tristen said. “Hence the ridiculous lie.”
“Oh, I know how terrifying it is to fall behind,” Kayla said. “I’m convinced that if I ever let up at work, all I’ve achieved will slip through my fingers.”
“There’s gotta be a balance, though, right?” Tristen asked.
Kayla shrugged.
“Let me know when you find it,” she said.
Tristen laughed and then dared to pull her even closer so their torsos were pressed together. Kayla didn’t object. He leaned down and whispered in her ear:
“Thanks again for helping me out of the hole.”
As the evening wore on, Tristen was relieved to notice that no one was paying any more attention to him and Kayla. His superiors had been thrilled to meet her, but David and most of the upper management team left early.
Tristen breathed a huge sigh of relief. They had done it. As far as he was concerned, they deserved a bit of a celebration.
“Ok, let’s get ourselves some drinks,” he said to Kayla.
He took her hand and led her to the open bar.
“No way,” Kayla said. “Not after last night, I’m never drinking again.”
“Kayla, you were chugging a jungle juice made of Everclear and cheap vodka that you thought was Kool-Aid,” Tristen said. “Having a cocktail with me is not the same thing.”