h

hree is mine,"

a sharp

e mine. Not even Jake, the rookie who

ds sent a strange vibration through

ow you sleep with

"Where the hell are you going with this? Because th

u will watch your tone aroun

mth through me. I folded my arms across my chest an

I want to

mell his expensive cologne, and sudden

ke a family man by Thanksgiving. My mother is sixty-eight and wants grandchildren.

already know them. Then he ran a

er do you. But I don't want my mother hearing about you sleeping with someone else while we'

dn't cover my sister's tuition, and my salary barely covered rent, bills, and gr

y lip.

*

rembled as I sat in the

me to buy whatever I needed to look like his girlfriend. He gave me a check for

tried to remember every det

arity gala. You spilled wine on me, I forgave you, we've been dating f

again, as if we hadn't pra

use. The driver looked for a parking spot among several

ere," C

t. A moment later, he came around to my side an

a good first impr

me out. I could feel his eyes on me from the mom

her we're fake?" I asked, til

ed. "No,

n," he

d from inside the house. I blew out a deep breath, tryi

oor. I recognized her. She wasn't Cole's

Then she turned to me. "Your mother is dying to me

ere sh

stepped inside. Her face lit up with joy as

eld my shoulders and looked me over. "You're even more beautiful in person

into the house. I turned toward Cole, silently begging him to save me. His jaw tighten

excitedly. "You two are already marr

e said fro

she looked. Seeing her joy m

he small of my back. It fit there so naturall

e said, his voice warm with amusement for everyone

looked down at me with a softness I hadn't expect

her chimed in. "This is the first

her hand, leaving the

flickered in his eyes, quick and dark like pain, because w

vered q

e again and began introducing me to everyone, while the women hugged

mouth fe

e, holding a beer, with messy blonde hair and brigh

ater on the team, the guy who'd been leaving protein

in, because dating a player w

here, look who c

Jake, then b

his hand on my back

sent a chill down my spine despite the