Page 63 of The Worst Fake Boyfriend

“I just… I don’t… I mean… I can’t…” If he didn’t calm down, steam was bound to start shooting out his ears any second.

“Breathe, big boy. It’s parked in the lot right now if you want to go see.”

“Yes!” he shouted. But then his expression sobered as he gripped my hand. “Wait a second. You didn’t spend all that money on me, did you?”

“The money isn’t important.”

“Willow, give me a straight answer. Tell me you saved back enough money for your studio fees.”

“There wasn’t enough money to keep my end of our bargain and cover the studio fees. I had to choose, and I’m happy with my choice.”

He stepped back and raked the fingers of both hands through his hair. “No, I can’t. You have to take it back and get your money. You can’t sacrifice your dreams for me.”

I cocked a hip and rested a hand on his chest. “First of all, that truck isn’t going anywhere. So, you can get that idea out of your head right now. And second, I never said anything about sacrificing my dreams. Who says Bobby Midas is the only way to break into the business? He was a shortcut. Nothing more. Besides, if we take the truck back, how are you going to follow me across the country when I’m on tour?”

“Are you serious right now?” He slid his arms around my waist and pulled me in close.

“More serious than I’ve ever been. This is what I want.”

“And this is whatIwant.” He wove his fingers into the hair at the base of my neck and brushed his lips against mine. His passion from before had taken my breath away, but the gentleness of his lips caressing mine in that moment was enough to sap the strength from my legs. I leaned into him, relying on him to keep me upright.

“I love you, Willow Lennox.”

In a desperate attempt to regain my composure, I pulled a small envelope from my back pocket. “Here. It’s from grandmother. She wanted me to give this to you when I told you about the truck.”

Cash opened it and started reading it out loud.

Cash,

Please read this note aloud. I hope that you can forgive an old woman’s stupidity and accept the gift from Willow and me. There are no strings attached, but please let me know when you open for business as I would like to be first in line on opening day.

Willow, by the time Cash is reading this note to you, the balance of your financial obligations at the studio will have been paid in full. Please allow me to do this for you as my way of proving that you have my full blessing to be true to who you are. You were willing to give up one of your greatest desires so the man you love could live his dream. I could not hope for a granddaughter with better character than that.

I am proud of you.

Love,

Grandmother

Now it was my turn to be stunned. Nothing but babbling squeals would come out of my mouth as I bounced up and down.

Cash folded his arms across his chest and laughed at my ridiculous display. “So, you weren’t all that into recording with Bobby Midas, eh?”

“I said Bobby was a shortcut, I didn’t say I didn’t want to record with him,” I said between gulping breaths. I teetered on the brink of hyperventilating, but who cared? “I love shortcuts. Have I ever told you how much I adore shortcuts?”

I held onto Cash’s thick arms for dear life as the world swirled around me. Grandmother—the woman I thought could hardly stand the sight of me only a few short weeks ago—had swooped in and saved the day. She was my hero, not because she’d fulfilled my every wish that day, but because she’d shown me how entirely capable people were of changing if they really wanted to.

She wasn’t the same woman I knew my whole life.

I wasn’t the same woman I was just three weeks ago.

Cash reached out and tucked one of my stray curls behind my ear. “I’m going to marry you one day, Willow. You like the sound of that?”

“I do.” My cheeks burned as I spoke.

“You just keep on practicing those two words.” He interlaced his fingers with mine. “Wanna go check out the truck with me?” he asked.

“I do.” I bit down on my bottom lip, my cheeks aching from smiling so wide.

“There you go, practicing already.” He winked and we strolled toward the parking lot with Moose by our side.

Something told me I’d be saying those words again very soon, only next time both of my boys would be in a tux, and I’d be holding a bouquet of flowers. I’d finally found someone who loved the real me for who I was, and there was no way I was ever going to let him go.

The End