Page 7 of Blue Line

“I mean, it wasn’t not awkward, but it wasn’t too bad. Our breakup was mutual, so …”

“I didn’t hear the entire conversation, but since Hads is being tight-lipped, I’ll share.” Holt gives me a cocky grin, and if he wasn’t holding my niece, I’d punch him in the arm. I glare at him instead, hoping my expression conveys what I’m feeling. “She told him she was engaged. I think her exact words were that she was visiting with her fiancé.”

Weston coughs, and the knife he was using to cut up a cucumber clatters to the counter.

“Hadley.” Becca gasps.

I shake my head. “It was an accident.”

Holt snorts. “An accident? He invited you and your fiancé to a party.”

“I’m well aware. I was there.”

“Sounds as if you got yourself into a right pickle, Hads,” Dad says.

Thanks, Captain Obvious.

“You’re going to set him straight, right, honey? Tell him you were joking?” Mom asks, turning around and leaning against the counter.

I shrug. “Or I could just go to the party with my fiancé.”

“And where are you going to find one of those?” Weston asks.

“Welllllll …” I drawl, wringing my hands. This was not how I wanted to ask him to go along with my ruse.

“Hadley Jane, please clue us—me—in,” Weston says.

I get to my feet and amble over to him, very much aware that everyone is watching. “I was hoping maybe you would pose as my fiancé.”

“No,” Holt growls from his spot at the table. “That’s ridic—”

Becca shushes him, and if I didn’t love her already, I would now.

“Please, Weston.” I clasp my hands together. “Don’t let me make a fool of myself in front of my ex.”

His gray eyes are sparkling with something as he watches me. Mischief maybe? I hope this doesn’t turn into a disaster.

“You’ll owe me a favor.” He repeats what he said to me earlier in the driveaway.

“I’m well aware, Weston Joseph.”

“We’ll have to act as if we’re in love.” Pretty sure that won’t be too difficult for me. Him on the other hand, that remains to be seen. “Can you do that? Are you a good actress, Hadley Jane?”

“I can act just fine, Weston Anderson.”

He props his hands on the counter, hanging his head and staring down at the cutting board. I wish I could read his mind so I know how much shit he’s going to give me. How much he doesn’t want to do this, because I’m sure the last thing he wants to do is pretend to be his best friend’s little sister’s fake fiancé.

“Hads, there’s got to be another way,” Holt says. “Tell your ex that your fiancé had to go back to Florida …”

I wave a hand over my shoulder.

“Well, Weston, will you do it?”

This was not the way I wanted to do this. I wanted to get him alone so it wouldn’t be so awkward. He inhales before finally meeting my eyes, and I see a flash of vulnerability on his face before it disappears as quickly as it showed up.

“Sure, Hadley.” He gives me a small smile. “We’ll have to come up with a story, though.”

“It’ll be fine.”