During my rant, Noa dropped my hand and steadied me around the waist, which only made my brothers angrier.
“We’re just protecting you, Len,” Trent says.
I shake my head. I really didn’t want it to get this heated, but hey, free entertainment for the rest of the guests. Too bad Sean didn’t bring his snake date to take off some of the heat. “I don’t need protection. I just need someone on my side.”
“Like him?” Grant nods toward Noa.
I finally look up at Noa to see how he’s taking all of this. He’s not running for the hills, which is good.
“He's seen more in me in the last two weeks than any of you have for my whole life.” I say.
Grant falls back a step like I’ve struck him. “That’s not true,” he whispers.
A tear slips down my cheek, and I swipe it away. I look back at my brothers, reminding myself who this prank is really on. “There’s nothing you can do to change my mind. I’m marrying Noa.” The words are sticky in my throat and I barely get them out.
“I don’t get it.” Sean says. “You haven’t dated anyone for years and now you’re getting married to a guy you’ve only known for fourteen days?”
Kudos to Sean for picking out the one flaw in my plan.
I shoot Juliet a look, but she looks as lost as I feel.
“Love doesn’t follow a timeline.”Wow, that was cheesy, even for me.
Sean seems to consider it. “Well, if you’re really in love, you won’t mind that you’re standing under the mistletoe.”
My chin lifts in slow motion. There it is. I thought mistletoe only showed up in inconvenient places in Hallmark movies.
I look at Noa, silently begging him to fix this. But how?
I’m keenly aware of just how many people are watching us, waiting for us to do something that should be so natural for an engaged couple. But it’s not natural for me, and my heart picks up speed.
I look at Grant and the jealousy in his eyes is what I’d convinced myself I wanted. So why doesn’t it feel good?
“Come here, muffin.” Noa tugs me closer. “It’s been too long since I kissed you last.” He smiles down at me, trying to calm me like he did before we got on that stage. But it’s not working this time.
His head drops and I fight everything in me to not pull away.
It’s not like it’ll be a real kiss. It’s just for the prank. We’re playing a part.
I close my eyes and count to ten. I only make it to five before a hand falls on my arm and I’m ripped away from Noa.
I stagger back and look up. “Grant? What are you doing?”
“You’re not marrying him,” he says, his voice low and husky.
It’s eerily quiet.
“I knew it,” Noa says, and I look back at him. “I knew you were in love with him.”
I’m so thrown by the turn of events that I barely register that this is part of the plan to make my brothers feel bad.
I step away from Grant and reach for Noa but he backs away. “Noa, wait.”
“No.” He holds up a giant hand. “I get it. I thought I could swoop you away before he realized what he was missing, but you didn’t deserve that.”
Wow, he’s good.
“But what about us?” A tear slips down my cheek, and boy, it feels real. I must be getting the hang of this acting thing.
