Faking It with my Billionaire Grump

7. Tilly

7

Tilly

Yes, I am mad. No, I don’t care.

Yes, you do.

Alright, yes, I do.

But if this date gets rid of Bryan and has him hightailing it back to the city, then it’s worth the discomfort, right? And believe me, there is huge discomfort.

Yesterday, when Jake finally agreed to go on this fake date, I was thrilled and relieved in equal measures. He didn’t exactly make it easy, and that huge dog sitting at his feet only added to my distress, but I left a little happier than when I had arrived.

Now, as we take the short drive into town, my stomach is in knots. I texted Bryan, telling him my plans and that he might as well just leave and go back to the city. Just like I knew he would, he texted back, telling me he didn’t care. He was still going to win me back. I didn’t reply after that. I don’t want to engage with him any more than I need to.

But I know my ex-boyfriend. I know he’s going to show up just to see if I’m telling the truth. So now I feel like a performing monkey, going through a ridiculous act just to be left alone in peace. But it’s more than that.

We’re heading to Maggie’s, the main bar and restaurant in Baskington. It was owned by Maggie Turner since more than sixty years ago, but she sadly passed when I was still in high school. Her sons, Keith and Billy, took it over. Apart from the obvious maintenance, they didn’t change a thing, which delighted the locals.

It’s the main meeting place in Baskington, which means I’m going to see some old faces. So far, I’ve been hiding in Mom and Dad’s barn. I’ve been avoiding having to see people because I just know they’ll want to know all my business.

But hey, this is better, right? Now, not only will they know I’ve run back home with my tail between my legs, but they’ll also think I’ve come crawling back to Jake.

Fantastic!

I can just imagine what they’ll say about me, and I know it will be nothing good. I’m really putting myself in the firing line here, and there’s going to be far more than just one shooter. I left the city to get away from drama. Somehow, I’ve managed to create something far worse.

But it will get rid of Bryan.

Yes, it will, and I have to keep that objective in the forefront of my mind, no matter how many snarky looks I get.

“Do your mom and dad know?” Jake asks as we pull into the parking lot.

I turn to look at him. “Know what?” I mean, it’s a bit of a vague question.

He turns the engine off and looks back at me. “That this is a fake date, and the reason you’re doing it?”

I nod. “Of course.”

“And they’re okay with it?”

“Sure,” I reply.

What I fail to tell him is how they reacted when I told them. He certainly doesn’t need to know that Mom got all gooey and excited.

“Oh, Tilly,” she gasped. “Are you getting back together?”

Honestly, there are times when I wonder if the woman has hearing problems. I had sat them down and explained the entire thing and the reason behind my doing it, and that’s the answer she gave me.

“No, Mom. Weren’t you listening?” I replied, struggling to curb my frustration.

“I was,” she said, “but you never know. Maybe this date will lead to other things. I don’t think Jake’s ever gotten over you, you know, and—”

“Mom,” I said, firmly cutting off her fantasy for my future. “It’s not happening. Jake and I have both moved on. Besides, I’ve just ended a relationship. I have no intention of walking straight into another one. And certainly not with Jake Coulter.”

Dad had sat there quietly, considering what I had told them, and then he said, “Do you think this is a good idea, Tilly? You know what this town is like. News of you and Jake will spread like wildfire.”

He was saying so much more in those few words, and I knew it. He was warning me of the backlash that was likely to come, but I’d already considered it. When I left so abruptly last time, I knew I was the subject of all their gossip. Mel told me, though I do think she played it down to protect my feelings.

People were angry for Jake’s sake, and I can’t blame them. I’d run out on him with no explanation, leaving him to pick up the pieces and try to figure out what had gone wrong. Baskington is a very close-knit community, and I know they pulled together to comfort him. I have no doubt I’m seen as the devil’s daughter around here, which is why I’m currently feeling a little sick.

“Shall we go?” Jake says, pulling at the handle of his door.

By the time I’ve gathered myself, he’s opened my door for me. It’s a very gentlemanly gesture, but I know it doesn’t mean anything. Jake and his brothers were just raised right.

“Thanks,” I say, slipping off the seat.

Jake looks uncomfortable, like he wants to say something but doesn’t know how.

“What?” I ask.

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “I mean, do you want us to hold hands or something?”

I’ll be honest, I hadn’t thought about that. We are supposed to be dating. But for me, it’s just too much.

“We’re together. That should be enough,” I say.

I can see the relief physically wash over him, and while I understand his reasons, I can’t help but feel a little hurt. But hey, maybe I deserve it, right? He went through a lot more pain than this when I up and left without a word.

We cross the parking lot together and are nearing the front of the bar when a bicycle and its rider come flying around the corner.

Jake’s arms fly out and grab me, pulling me out of the way, but in these stupid heels, I trip over myself and my full weight lands on him. Clearly, he’s not expecting that because he then loses his balance, and the two of us go careening into the ornate bushes that surround the bar.

“Ow,” he cries, grimacing.

I got the better end of the deal given the fact that I landed on top of him. That’s one way to get the town talking.

“Are you okay?” I say, pushing myself off him and standing.

“Sure,” he growls, pushing himself up. He looks down at himself, brushing off leaves and twigs. “Nothing like a sharp branch in your spine to start the evening.”

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“It wasn’t your fault. But I’ll be having a serious word with Billy’s mom when I see her. That kid is lethal.”

We’re both a little breathless from the fright, but after taking a moment to gather ourselves, we head into the bar. Just as expected, nearly every head turns when we enter, and I feel heat rush to my cheeks.

“Keep moving,” Jake says, pressing a gentle hand to the base of my spine.

We walk past the other diners, all eyeing us as we move to sit at a vacant table. When we are finally seated, I can still feel their beady eyes boring into the back of my head.

“This was a mistake,” I whisper.

“It’ll be fine,” Jake soothes, his earlier sarcasm clearly gone.

A waitress I don’t know arrives at the table with menus. She’s likely one of the locals’ kids because I wouldn’t put her past seventeen years old. At least our server isn’t going to hate my guts.

Once we’ve ordered, I glance around us to see if I can see Bryan. All this is going to be a waste of time if he doesn’t show. I can’t see him, but at least the other diners seem to have gotten their curiosity out of the way and are far too busy eating to pay us any more attention.

Twenty minutes later, while I’m eating my spaghetti and meatballs and Jake is enjoying his burger and fries, I catch sight of Bryan walking in.

“There he is,” I murmur.

“Where?” Jake looks up, but in the wrong direction.

“There,” I say, flicking my fork to my left.

Only I must have flicked it a little too hard because the meatball that was attached to it flies through the air. To my utter dismay, it lands in a child’s lap at the next table over.

“Hey,” he yells.

And the next thing I know, there’s a handful of fries heading in my direction. I manage to duck, and they hit a kid sitting behind me. He spins around, and a sausage flies across the room. It hits someone else.

In a matter of minutes, there’s food flying everywhere. This would never happen in New York, nor would there be laughter and great joviality in the process. But this is Baskington, where the people are clearly nuts.

The food fight goes on for nearly twenty minutes. Jake doesn’t actually engage in any throwing, but he certainly finds the whole thing entertaining, sitting across from me almost spotless and laughing his head off while I’m covered in everything from ice cream to spaghetti sauce.

Later, much later, when both staff and the diners have cleaned up, we head back to Mom and Dad’s. In truth, I would say the fake date was a complete disaster. Rather than a serious dinner where I got to showcase Jake as my new boyfriend, it turned into a complete circus. I’m sure Bryan must have wondered if he had fallen through a tear in the timeline and landed in an alternate universe.

When Jake pulls up outside the house, he turns to me with a huge grin.

“That was fun.”

I look down at my completely ruined outfit and then glare at him. “Sure. Tons,” I spit.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” he says, telling me to get out without actually saying the words. “6:30 sharp.”

“What?” I balk.

“Hey”—he smiles—“a deal’s a deal.”