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Our server takes our order, then darts away, leaving us to our conversation. I’m happy for the privacy. I enjoyed my impromptu time off this week. I needed the time away, and I’m more relaxed. But I missed talking to Kiera—way more than I should.
“Since we’re here and the wedding is in a few weeks, now would be a good opportunity to get our story straight,” I suggest. “We’ll need to know more about each other if we’re going to make our relationship look legitimate.”
“I figured we’d have to talk about this at some point. Who do you think will be there besides Maya? Who should I brace for?”
“Mostly Amber.”
“She’s your ex. I expect nothing less.” She shrugs.
“Her family, too. There’s a chance they’ll probe us out of curiosity, especially her brother. He’s a douche.”
“I’ll do my best to avoid him, then.”
She would be wise to do so. “I’m expecting a few other mutual friends will attend. They’ll probably have questions.”
“Because you’ve been such a confirmed bachelor?”
“Yeah. Not that I think any of them will grill us…but people talk. We need to be consistent.”
“So we have to have a story about how we met.”
“Exactly. Let’s say we met at a bar.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I wish I could call them back. If we tell everyone that’s where we met, it sounds more like a fling. Of course, that’s what she is, but I’d rather not have people thinking that. I’m not sure why, maybe because that’s not how she feels to me right now.
She wrinkles her nose. “That’s too common and completely unromantic. Besides, people can tell at a glance that I’m not much of a barfly. What about an art gallery?”
I would ask if she’s kidding, but her expression says she’s not. “It has to be believable. No one who knows me will buy that. How about something less out of a Jane Austen novel? Gas station, maybe?”
Kiera sends me a dubious stare. “That’s more romantic?”
“It’s realistic. Hear me out. You pulled up in front of me, and I noticed how hot you are, so I asked for your number. You were skeptical at first, but I easily won you over, so you joined me for coffee and laughs. We’ve been together since.”
“No. I sound like the kind of woman you nailed on the first night.”
I shrug. “Anyone who knows me figures that’s what happened.”
“Ugh. Stop thinking with your penis.”
That makes me grin. “Stop making this a sappy Hallmark movie.”
Suddenly, Kiera’s smile disappears, along with our lighthearted banter. “Whatever you want, then.”
Her response makes me feel like I won the battle but lost a war I didn’t even know I was fighting. “Listen, I didn’t mean to upset you—”
“It’s fine.”
End of conversation. Tension between us thickens.
Shit.“Kiera—”
“How long have we been together?” She takes a sip of her water, her eyes not quite meeting mine. “Probably not more than a few weeks.”
I frown. I’m tempted to ask what I said that upset her, but her vibe tells me to back off. “Why not more like six months? That’s long enough to seem serious, but not so long it implies that I’m dragging my feet in proposing.”
“I’ve only worked for you for a few weeks.”
“So?”
