Page 9 of One Weekend in Los Angeles

“Why would you bring someone you don’t know to a wedding?” And why take a date at all, for that matter, if there was no one he was currently seeing?

He leaned forward, his knees almost touching mine. “I need to sell the fact I’m in a romantic relationship. Given the buzz around our kiss, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to believe that I could be starting one with you.”

My brows shot up. “Why do you ‘need’ people to believe you’re in a romantic relationship?”

He exhaled harshly. “My ex is marrying my stepbrother and seems to believe I still harbor feelings for her. By showing up with a date, especially one the public are excited to see me with, it sends a message.”

His ex was marrying into his family. And I thought dealing with my ex was bad. “Do you have to go to the wedding at all?”

“No, but my mom asked me to, and although I think Bryce is an idiot for marrying Nina, he’s a good guy. If I don’t show up, she’d tell everyone it’s because I couldn’t bear to watch the woman I love marry someone else.”

Although there was a healthy dose of sarcasm in his last sentence, I had to ask. “And do you still love her?”

“I never did.” He sighed, softening his blunt response. “We dated all of three months, and most of it was long distance. I was honest and upfront when I realized her feelings were developing into something deeper than mine.” He paused. “And I’ll be honest with you. I’m leaving Monday for Australia.”

“In other words, we fake it for one weekend only.”

“There’d be nothing fake about our spending time together, Andi, but yes, that time would be limited.”

Damn, the way he dropped the newly adopted nickname hit me below the belt. There were many reasons to say no, but a brief escape from reality would be refreshing.

“How would we leave things? For the press?” The last thing I needed was more breakup drama in my life.

“We’d tell the press we had an incredible weekend hanging out together and that we’re friends who will stay in touch—which I hope would be true.”

It sounded amazing on the surface, but Saturday would potentially be an emotional shitshow for me. “Seeing my soon-to-be ex-husband with his new mistress and not at all concerned about my feelings is bound to put me straight out of the running for date of the year.”

“All the more reason to have someone there with you. Although I have to ask you the same question you asked me. Why go to the season wrap party at all? Can’t you fight the contract?”

“I think it’ll be easier to go to the party and then be done with the show forever.” Ollie had tried to find a way for me to get out of that part of the signed agreement, but ultimately it would involve lawyers, and I already had one too many these days. I didn’t need another attorney running up an hourly bill rate.

“You won’t return for another season?”

“Not a chance.” I’d done the show out of love for Jeff. For the first time since the bombshell of his cheating had dropped, a weight started to lift. I would no longer have to allow my life to be chronicled for everyone to watch.

“Although Ollie tells me I should wait to tell production I’m leaving for good until after I do an exclusive interview—that is, if I decide to do the interview at all.”

Chapter Six

DEACON

Ihad no clue how much money Andrea made or what kind of camera time she got on City of Angels, but it was guaranteed the producers would hope to play up this marital drama next season and would do all that they could to get her locked into another contract. So once they found out she had no intention of returning, they would manipulate the storyline any way they saw fit and with zero care for her welfare.

“Ollie gives good advice.”

She chuckled. “Is that your way of saying I should agree to fake date you?”

“I think it would be fun to spend time together.”

She hesitated for the briefest of seconds. “I have questions.”

The fact she wasn’t jumping at the opportunity to be my date was refreshing. “Ask away.”

“What time is this wedding tonight?”

“Seven o’clock.”

She sighed. “Is it black tie?”