My Counterfeit Fiancé: A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Remi Grey

  At that moment, I felt my heart pounding inside my chest like it never had before. I meant everything I said to her more than I knew I did at the time.

  It was strange. I suddenly felt different this time as I looked into her eyes and for a split second, I forgot everything.

  I forgot that a long time ago, I gave up on the idea of us being anything more than just friends.

  I forgot that crossing that line might not be such a good idea and actually allowed myself to consider the idea of an us with Raegan Thomas.

  "You have to tell your mom the truth, J," Raegan said, obliterating my bubble.

  “Would it be so bad if we let everyone believe that we’re a real couple?”

  “Really, Jackson?” she said, removing her hand from mine.

  It hurt me to think that she hated the idea of us being together, but I tried to hide my disappointment by covering it up with humor.

  “Think about it, Rae, you might even get to see my mom pass out again if you go along with this.”

  “Ha-ha, funny man. I’m serious; this doesn’t just affect you and me, it also affects everyone around us.” She stood again, this time with her purse in hand, headed to the door.

  “Where are you going? We haven’t figured this out yet. You can’t leave me like this.”

  I stood up, meeting her at the door before she could turn the doorknob and escape.

  I needed to finish this with a resolution in my favor, but Pres. was one tough cookie, and she knew all of the tricks I used to get what I wanted.

  "Answer this for me, J: how are we going to do this, and for how long? That is if I agree to do this?" She stopped just short of leaving.

  Success, yes!

  Think quickly, Jackson, you’re going to lose her if you answer this wrong. College degree don’t fail me now.

  “Let’s say we’ll do this for two months; that should be enough time for the relationship to seem real, right?” I said, having absolutely no idea what I was talking about. “Then we can break up on good terms afterward. That will get my mom off my back while I concentrate on moving forward.”

  “Okay. So, what do I get out of this? It seems like you’re getting all the perks, and I’m getting the short end of the stick.” She looked at me, looking very unconvinced.

  “You can have anything you want, just name it.”

  “Anything?” she asked.

  “You name it; if it’s in my power, I will do whatever you wish.”

  “It involves Lark,” she said.

  “You know I’ll do anything for Lark. What is it?”

  “There’s a school—a dance school—that she wants to attend, but they’re really strict and favor prestigious families and…um…married or engaged couples when considering admissions.”

  “Okay, what do I need to do?” I asked. I would do anything to help Lark follow her dreams. But I wondered why I’m just now hearing about this.

  “Because I’m divorced and with no prospects currently to marry again, I would need you to pretend that you’re my fiancé when I go through the admissions process.”

  "No problem; it seems easy enough. Where do I sign?" I joked but could quickly tell that this was a serious matter.

  “I’m going to go home now because it’s getting late, and I have an early start tomorrow. I want you to really think about this, J.” She was serious as a heart attack.

  “I understand, and of course I’ll think about everything very carefully.”

  “Then I’ll leave you to it,” Raegan said, finally making her way past me and out my front door.

  What have I gotten myself into? I took a seat on the couch, and I realized, I hadn’t really been thinking about anyone else but myself when I started all this.

  I didn't even consider the repercussions of my actions, how this lie would affect my family, how it would affect Raegan and most of all, Lark.

  The last thing I'd intended to do was to hurt or confuse her by seeing her mom and me together as a couple. When, in reality, we are not.

  Man, I've totally fucked up here.

  And what was up with my heart beating so fast? I’ve never had that reaction to her before.

  The way she looked at me when I told her how important she was to me sent chills down my spine.

  I desired her. I wanted to kiss her deeply and wipe away that single tear she was fighting so hard to hide.

  Raegan was not the type to show vulnerability often to me. So, for her to let me have even a glimpse of her emotional side spoke volumes, and I was definitely listening.

  I’d been in relationships before; none of them were serious enough to mention to my family, so I never had.

  I'd never felt anything but lust for them. But Raegan was and has always been the only woman I've ever been proud to take home regardless of how my mom felt about her.

  No matter how much my mom belittled or tortured her with her disapproving looks, she still stood by my side.

  She encouraged me, supported my dreams, and knew how to tell me when I was being a complete ass.

  I loved everything about her.

  I…Loved…Raegan Thomas.

  Holy crap! I loved Raegan, and I had two months to prove it.

  Chapter 4

  Tall Tales

  I crawled out of bed so not wanting to sit in on yet another ridiculous meeting at Veerb.

  It was too early for trash.

  I really did hate my job; it was a soul-sucking excuse for a magazine I wouldn't even let my mom read. It was that bad.

  Thank God, it was an online publication and not in print.

  The thought of having my name in literal print for all the world to see and it to be forever archived in history made me sick to my stomach.

  It wasn’t always this bad though, not when I first started out at Veerb.

  They actually used to put out amazing articles on real and complex topics, but the online reception wasn’t great, and the company had to make changes to keep themselves afloat.

  Fast forward eight years later to the nonsense I was told to write daily.

  Honestly, I complained about the job, but they had been good to Lark and me all these years.

  They value their employees and take extra special care of the veterans who have stuck it out over the years.

  They’d even sponsored Lark and me when she did a childhood cancer walk for Jackson’s hospital. So even though it was not exactly the type of journalism I saw myself doing, it put food on the table.

  Speaking of Jackson, I hadn’t heard from him this morning.

  Usually, by now he'd have texted me at least twice to make sure Lark got off to school safe and that I made it to work in one piece.

  Maybe he’d seen the error in his ways and decided to come clean to his parents?

  Maybe he was overwhelmed with what I’d told him last night about him having to pretend to be my fiancé to help Lark get into the school of the arts?

  It would all be pretend, but he would have to be close to me around his family and colleagues sharing PDA moments to make things look real like holding my hand, touching, and I guessed kissing. Oh lord, kissing.

  I had to admit, I’d dreamed of kissing those beautifully full lips of his on more than one occasion.

  Jackson really was a gorgeous man.

  Even on my wedding day, he was my man of honor, and I found myself wishing that it was him I was marrying instead of my own fiancé.

  That probably should have been my sign that it wasn’t going to be a healthy marriage.

  He looked incredible in his suit and tie.

  His sun-kissed skin against the crisp white of the button-down shirt and the blue of the tie I'd chosen for him brought out the flecks of green in his eyes.

  He was perfection then and still was now.

  Whenever I accompanied him to his hospital events, no one could hold a candle to him.

  He was well-spoken, intelligent, and had a gentleness about him that made you want to believe in what he had to
say.

  It was an intoxicating combination, and the women flocked to him.

  Young ones, old ones, single ones, married ones, and even the pregnant ones.

  It was an incredible sight to see, and I still got a little jealous even though I’d become accustomed to the attention he drew everywhere he went.

  I didn’t even know if he realized how it made me feel; he could be very self-absorbed at times.

  One of his biggest flaws.

  I headed back to my desk, checking my phone to see if I’d missed any important calls or received any surprise texts from Jackson.

  Nothing.

  It was so unlike him to not say anything, especially after the serious conversation we had last night.

  The last time he'd done something similar to this was when he found out I was getting married.

  He didn’t contact me for a while after that. I’d just assumed it was because he hated my ex, Neal.

  I later found out that it was because he knew that Neal was a liar and a cheater, but he didn’t want to tell me out of fear of hurting me.

  He’d also thought the man would change.

  That sure as hell hadn’t been the case.

  Neal had cheated on me throughout our entire relationship. At least he’d had the decency not to fight me for custody of Lark. That’s the only thing I could say that he did right.

  I felt my cell vibrate on my desk, so I picked it up to take a look.

  Jackson: Can we meet for lunch?

  Me: Of course. What time should we meet and where?

  Jackson: Is one o'clock, ok? Can I pick you up?

  Strange! He never picked me up for lunch. Lately, he hadn’t had the time since he’d been working hard trying to transfer some of his patients.

  Me: Sure, and sure.

  Jackson: Great, see you soon Pres. *Wink*

  Pres.

  He knew how I felt about that nickname. But I let it slide every time because it was him saying it.

  The morning flew by quickly, and before I knew it, it was time for my rendezvous with J. Before I could leave, my phone buzzed.

  Jackson: I’m outside, but don’t come out. I’ll come up.

  What? Come up? This was so odd of him. What could he possibly need to come up to get me for?

  Me: Okay, now you’re scaring me!!! What’s going on?

  Silence.

  Okay, now I was freaking out. What was he up to?

  Jackson: I’m at reception. Come out; I’ll be the one in the suit.

  He was making a joke; that’s a good sign. He must be in a good mood, so he couldn’t have talked to his family yet.

  Maybe I still had a chance; perhaps we still had an opportunity to make this work in both our favors.

  ~~~

  I couldn’t stop thinking about Raegan all night.

  I wanted to call or text or send a carrier pigeon for Christ’s sake, anything to let her know what was going through my mind.

  It was driving nuts: the fact that I was in love with my best friend and I had no idea how to tell her.

  I couldn’t just blurt it out randomly!

  Could I?

  I had to figure this out; I had to do something to let her know that I was interested in her as more than just a friend.

  But how?

  This was such a delicate situation, and there was a lot at stake if this whole I’m-asking-you-to-be-in-a-fake-relationship-with-me-but-I-realize-I’m-really-in-love-with-you-and-I-want-to-really-date thing goes south.

  So, after hours of mulling it over, it came to me as clear as day. Why not start off simple by inviting her to lunch.

  We used to have lunch together all the time before I got so busy with my patients. So, it wouldn’t seem that odd to want to renew that tradition.

  I could also suggest that we do this together every week. What woman wouldn’t love that?

  Ok, even I know how sexist that sounds.

  She was going to fall for me in no time. Two months was going to be more than enough time.

  ~~~

  If I knew Raegan, which I did, she was probably going to be wondering why lunch all of a sudden?

  Why was I texting this and not just calling?

  She loved a good intrigue, and if anyone wanted to pique her interest, they would have to introduce a good bit of mystery and surprise into her life. I totally intended to be just such a person.

  It took me all morning, and let’s be honest, most of the night since I was up anyway, to come up with a way to make Raegan fall in love with me in just two short months.

  If that douchebag, Neal, did it, I know I have a fighting chance. I’m her best friend, and I know everything about her, right?

  Everything that was, except her romantic heart.

  I only knew her habits, likes, and dislikes, her friendship—not her emotional or physical desires.

  How should I hold her, touch her, kiss her?

  Yes, I thought lunch would be an excellent way for us to start our “relationship” if you will.

  It was an easy way to break the ice and talk about the best course of action to make this fake relationship seem real and yet, at the same time allowed me to pick her brain about what she really wants in a man.

  It was brilliant if you ask me.

  Checking my cell for the time, I noticed that it was getting late. I hadn’t gone this late in the day without some form of contact with Rae in a long time. We’d been joined at the hip since she moved back home with Lark.

  I fell in love with Lark as soon as I saw her big bright eyes and her full head of curly brown hair. It reminded me so much of her mom’s.

  Raegan allowing me to be a part of their lives was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Together they showed me how to love purely and naturally. They showed me a love that was different from my family’s love but just as important.

  She responded to my text, and my nerves immediately started to kick in.

  We were having lunch later in the afternoon, so I had enough time to go out to grab some flowers and a little something to pack for an outside lunch on the hospital lawn.

  I have back-to-back patients all day and some meetings, so, unfortunately, I had to be near work.

  It was not the most romantic place, but it was a quiet little area where no one really goes in the back of the building that gave us some privacy and space to talk.

  Why was I so nervous? It was Rae and I, like always. Why should anything change?

  ~~~

  I couldn’t believe he brought me flowers and packed us a picnic lunch; this wasn’t the Jackson I knew at all.

  He was definitely up to something, and I could tell that he wanted to have a serious talk.

  “Thank you for the flowers and the picnic,” I said, stuffing my face with the most delicious Brie, warm baguettes, and fresh fruit assortment I had ever tasted.

  “You’re more than welcome,” he said very sentimentally. “We can do this anytime you want and as often as you would like.”

  He had no idea how much I would love that.

  “Are you trying to butter me up, Mr. Price?”

  “Only if it’s working.”

  It definitely was, in more ways than one.

  "Spill it, J. I know you, and I know you have something on your mind and so do I," I say changing my position so that he and I could have each other's full attention.

  “You’re right. No point in beating around the bush. I’ve given this idea of a fake relationship a lot of thought now that I’m actually thinking about things more rationally.”

  “I have too,” I said, waiting with bated breath for his response. “But I’m more interested in what you have to say about the idea.”

  “I think we should go for it. I mean that is if your thoughts are the same as mine,” he said.

  My heart dropped, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Jackson and me together? I've wanted this for longer than I would like to admit, but when the actual opportunity to be with him—even if it wa
s make-believe—was right in front of me, I literally couldn't take it.