Twins For My Bestie’s Brother (Billionaire Daddies)

5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Lily

T he sea of my former classmates ebbs before us. The high school gym looks nothing like it does on a regular day. The walls are draped with black fabric and lanterns and lights hang overhead, giving it an ethereal feel. If not for the vinyl flooring, I would feel fully transported. I swallow.

“You okay?”

I glance up at Jackson, which is a mistake because the man looks brain-breakingly gorgeous. His golden hair is coiffed elegantly, beard cropped and trimmed. And his gray-blue suit is clearly tailormade to his measurements. “Fine,” I manage.

Jackson’s brow pinches. He can see right through me. Of course, he can. He puts his hand against the base of my neck, his thumb sliding across my skin. “We don’t have to stay long.”

“I know, I know, I just . . . ” I look back at the crowd. I’m different from everyone here. I’ve always been a little off-kilter for Cider Bay. It’s my home, too, which is why I’ve never felt out of place here, but coming back, I just never realized how outside the norm I really was. I run my hand up my sleeve of tattoos, one of the few times I wish I could peel it off as easily as a sweater.

“Lily, look at me.”

I do.

Jackson’s blue eyes pin themselves to mine. Insistent and composed. No wonder he’s a successful businessman. I’m sure he can convince people to do exactly what he wants them to with just one devastating look. “You have a right to be here as much as anyone else. With or without me by your side.”

I give him a sheepish smile.

He takes the hand I have pressed to my tattoo in his. Our fingers interlace. “Come on, let’s go find our table. We have to put on a show.”

I let him take my hand and guide me into the crowd. The way he takes control of the situation is . . . really sexy. The way he leads me, with purpose and ease, and, from time to time, looks back at me to make sure I’m still with him with an easy smile and encouragement in his eyes.

People watch us, unsurprisingly. He gets more hellos than I do, but the ones I do get are kind and meaningful. A lot of these people haven’t seen me since I’ve been back. And what a way for them to see me, on the arm of Jackson Roy.

Maybe this wasn’t such a stupid idea after all.

We make it to our table. And my stomach drops.

Tia shoots up from her seat. “Jackson!” Her shrill voice cuts through the music and chatter. She grabs Jackson by the shoulders and pulls him into a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

Jackson holds his hands up, unsure if he should hug her back. “Glad we could make it, too, Tia.”

Tia releases him and eyes me, her smile falling. “Lily.”

“Tia.”

The smile pops right back into place for Jackson. “You remember my husband, Charlie?” Tia asks, gesturing haphazardly to Charlie Franklin who tries to wave and say his hellos but isn’t fast enough for Tia. “I wanted you two at my table, you know, to catch up. Old times. You know.”

I smile. “How kind of you.”

“I’m glad you think so,” she says.

I have no doubt she wanted us at her table so that she could keep an eye on us. Get an idea of what our relationship is like. Spread more rumors about me. Tell all her friends how I’m undeserving of a guy like Jackson.

I’m not an idiot. I’ve seen how women are looking at him. And some men too. I know he’s a hot commodity.

I almost chickened out before we got here, unsure how I was going to make people believe we’re a match. It wasn’t until I remembered what my mom said. I deserve handsome and successful. Even if it’s only for the night.

So tonight, Jackson Roy is mine, and I am wholly deserving.

“You kept your nose ring in,” Tia remarks, unable to hide her grimace.

I open my mouth to reply, but Jackson intercedes before I can, swinging his arm around my shoulder. “She wanted to take it out, but I told her to keep it in. Looks great, don’t you think?”

I lean into Jackson, placing my hand against his belly. Yes, this is what I deserve.

Nice .

Tia’s cheek twitches. “Yes, that’s what I was going to say. Looks great . And green is . . . your color.”

I glance down at my dress. A dark green A-line dress with velvet floral appliques. A thrift store find that happened to fit me so perfectly I felt it had been made for me. “Thank you, Tia.”

Jackson’s fingers trail up my shoulder delicately. “Definitely your color.”

My heartbeat quickens. I like his compliments. They sound genuine even if they’re not.

“Well, you should go get a drink before dinner service,” Tia says. “Since you arrived a little late.”

“My fault, I’m afraid,” Jackson says, pressing his hand to his chest. “I insisted on steaming my shirt. We would have been on time otherwise.”

I hold in a laugh at Tia’s obvious annoyance. She’s trying so hard to throw a dig my way, and Jackson is heading her off at the pass every time. “Come on, honey, let’s go get a drink,” I say to him with a gentle pat on his stomach. “Don’t want to miss any of dinner; I know you’re hungry.”

“She knows me so well,” Jackson beams. “We’ll be back.”

We swing away from the table toward the bar set up off to the side of the gym. “Oh, my God, you’re doing so well!” I tell him.

“You too!” he whispers, pulling me closer under his arm. “She’s so annoyed.”

I laugh. As we walk, we don’t let go of one another. I know we’re pretending, but we don’t have to pretend this well, do we? “You should see all the women looking at you; they’re so jealous of me.”

“You should see all the guys jealous of me .”

“Oh, shut up.”

“I’m serious!”

“You’re just being nice,” I say, waving my hand through the air.

Jackson stops us just short of the bar and spins me toward him, hands on my shoulders. “Wait a second, Lily. Do you really not know?”

I frown. “Not know what.”

He takes a step back. He laughs as he threads one hand through his golden hair. I’m jealous of that hand. “You’re beautiful, Lily.”

My stomach tightens, and my eyes widen.

“I’m not the only one who sees that. I promise you.”

Jackson thinks I’m beautiful? That’s not just cute, not just attractive. That’s . . . a big word.

I haven’t been called beautiful in a long time.

My turn to ruffle my hand through my curls. “I mean, I think I’m beautiful, and in Seattle, I fit in better, but I’m not beautiful in like a Cider Bay way.”

“What’s a Cider Bay way?”

I glance at the room full of dyed blonde hair and the same sheath dresses and high heels.

Jackson touches my chin and guides my face back to look at him. He’s closer than before. “Just because you’re different than the rest of them doesn’t mean you’re not beautiful. In fact, that makes you a rarer beauty than the rest of them. Why wouldn’t everyone want you?”

Want me? We’re adding want to the equation?

Jackson realizes at that moment his hand has been on my face far too long for a pretend relationship. He flinches back like I burned him. “Let’s get a drink.”

We get into the line, both of us unsure what to say. Thankfully, Jackson strikes up a conversation with one of his old teammates, Tim Quincy. They start talking business and numbers, and Tim says he has an investment pitch for Jackson, and it would only take a minute. Jackson gives me a look. Is he asking for permission?

“Go ahead, I’ll get the drinks and meet you back at the table,” I say.

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Jackson kisses my cheek before the two of them step away. It’s not a casual kiss. Not at all. His lips make full contact with my skin, making me tingle all over.

I watch them as they walk away, talking in that chest-puffing business way I always rolled my eyes at. But now . . .

God, it’s hot when men know what the fuck they’re talking about.

I get us both a glass of red wine and turn to head back to the table. I slam right into someone. Red wine sloshes onto my hands. I jump back, trying my best not to get anything on my dress or on the person’s clothes. “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry. I should have looked where I was—”

“It’s okay, Lily.”

I look into the face of the person I’ve walked into and swallow. “Will . . . what are you doing here?”

My ex smiles at me softly, his eyes sad and puppy dog looking. His mustache is still going strong, although now that I don’t look at him with any sort of love, I realize how patchy it is. “It’s our school reunion.”

“Yeah, I know, I just didn’t—” Someone walks up and takes the glasses out of my hands to force napkins into them. I don’t even see who it is, my head spinning now that I’m face-to-face with Will. “Thank you,” I mutter, wiping the red liquid off my hands and wrists.

“I didn’t mean to get in your way. I just wanted to come over and say hi before dinner started, but . . . ” His eyes fall over my body. “You look good, Lily.”

I’m not sure how long it’s been since he gave me a compliment. “Thank you.”

“I’m surprised you’re here, this really isn’t your scene usually, is it?” he says, tucking his hands into his pocket and tilting his head to the side so the dangly earring on his right ear wobbles.

“No, it’s not, but I’m turning over a new leaf,” I say.

Will sucks his lower lip into his mouth. He’s doing his best to look pathetic, and I see right through it. How many times did he come to me with apologies and sad eyes only to hurt me again? “I’ve missed you.”

I stare at him, trying to muster the courage to tell him the truth: that I cannot say that I feel the same.

“I’m not here for the reunion,” Will says, advancing a step toward me. “Not really, I—”

I back up into someone else. However, this body was ready for me. Familiar hands slide around my shoulders. Jackson .

“Everything okay over here?” he asks in a voice that makes every shaky nerve in my body still.

I can tell Will is off-put already, eyes crimped with confusion. Let’s push him further. I take Jackson’s hand and look up at him. “Yeah, just saying hi.”

Softly, Jackson pulls me back to be tucked against his side where I am safe. He holds his hand out. “Good to see you, Will.”

Will eyes Jackson’s hand, then me. There’s a storm brewing in his expression. Hurt and confusion are at the forefront. Anger waiting in the back to strike. He takes Jackson’s hand anyway. “You too.”

“Been years!” Jackson says with a smile that plays at ignorance.

“I’m sorry,” Will tries to laugh. “You weren’t in our class, right? It was Kayla. Or am I . . . ”

I finally get the strength to say something. “Kayla’s at a conference this weekend so she couldn’t make it. And Jackson . . . ” I glance up at my best friend’s older brother. His eyes meet mine, and I wish I could be taken away on that ocean of blue. Away from here. Somewhere else. Where it’s just us.

“We’ve been seeing each other,” Jackson picks up where I left off.

“We’re together , ” I amend, thrilled at the way the words land against Will’s forehead.

My ex attempts to smile. “I see. Can’t say I ever saw you two together, but . . . ”

“Really? Everyone else seems to think it’s been a long time coming,” Jackson grins.

Will’s attempt at friendliness flattens. “Really.”

“Yes, that’s what everyone’s been telling us.” Jackson gestures toward the crowd. “Ask around.”

Will doesn’t follow Jackson’s gesturing hand. His eyes are planted on me. Boring into me. Trying to hollow me out.

I won’t let him. Not again. Not ever again.

“Anyway, dinner service is starting, and we need to get our drinks, so maybe we can catch up later, huh?” Jackson says with an even smile.

“Sure,” Will says. His eyes still on me.

Jackson swoops me away back into the drink line, lowering his mouth to my ear. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I reply.

He rubs my lower back. “Be honest with me, Lily.”

I hold my jaw tight. The shock of seeing Will is starting to melt away, and fear is replacing it. “It’s over now. That’s all.”

Jackson doesn’t push or ask for anything more. But after a moment, he says, “His mustache looks stupid.”

I can’t hold in my giggle. “It does.” I look up at him. “Thank you.” It’s thanks for coming to help me when he did. Thanks for making me laugh at something so silly. Thanks for all of this.

“For what? It doesn’t take a genius to see how much he doesn’t deserve you.”

And for making me feel beautiful.