Just Pretend (Love Comes To Town)

“We’re dating,” Nolan says, with a smile at my mom just as he sticks out his hand. “I’m Nolan Storm. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Good save.

“Really?” Peyton says, looking him up and down.

She says it in the tone she’d use if I suddenly told her that, yes, I can leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Clearly, she thinks Nolan is way, way, way too good for me.

Mom, however, beams. “Sierra hinted that she might be seeing someone, but it’s great to finally put a name and face to it. And… Nolan Storm… hmm, now, why does that name seem so familiar?”

“Hold on.” Now Peyton’s heavily mascara-ed blue eyes look ready to pop out of her head. I’m almost enjoying this. “You’re not… part of the Storm family?”

Nolan just chuckles. “One of the less interesting brothers, but yes, that’s us. I actually met Sierra at my comedy club restaurant.”

Peyton’s jaw has dropped and can’t seem to find its way back.

“Anyway,” I say, taking a step towards the counter. “We’re just here to grab a coffee before checking out some places for my mom. Boring stuff.”

“Doesn’t sound boring to me,” Nolan says with a charming smile.

Is he getting at what I think he is?

“Of course, you’re welcome to join,” Mom says easily. “Although you probably already have plans?”

Nolan shakes his head. “Joining would be great. If Sierra’s OK with it?”

I resist the urge to glare at him, instead saying, “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

As if I hadn’t been basically forced into this by the pair of them.

“I’ll pick up the coffees, then,” Nolan says, adding with a wave of his Dunkin’ Donuts punch card, before anyone can protest, “I’m two away from getting a free one anyway. My friend loves this place.”

“I’ll join you to make sure you order the right kinds,” I say with a forced cheeriness. “Mom and Peyton, you just stay here, I know what you like.”

At the counter, waiting in line, I hiss, “What are you doing?”

Nolan sips his coffee with an annoyingly innocent expression. “I thought I could get to know your family. Is that so wrong?”

“Yes,” I say tersely.

He frowns. “You met mine. I figured it was only fair.”

“You only had me meet yours so you could announce our fake engagement to them,” I point out.

His scowl deepens, spreading to his eyes. “That was only part of it. Anyway—you want me to make an excuse and go now? I can do that.”

“No,” I say with a sigh. “It’s too late now. If you leave after we talk like this, it’ll be too convenient. I won’t hear the end of it from Mom or Peyton all day.”

“Glad you’re so thrilled for me to be meeting your family,” Nolan says, deadpan.

My response is just to glare at him some more, since by now, it’s our turn at the counter.

I tell the cashier our orders, Nolan pays, and we head back to Mom and Peyton.

“Thank you,” Mom tells him, smiling as though she just won the lottery. “Sierra really found a good one in you, Nolan.”

Nolan chuckles. “I hope to live up to that, Ms.…”

“Oh, call me Donna,” she says, chuckling herself.

“We should go,” I say. “Or we’re going to miss some of the viewings.”

“This one’s a regular old buzzkill,” Peyton says to Nolan, gesturing to me with a little laugh. “I’m surprised a comedian would be drawn to that.”

Nolan just winks. “Opposites attract.”

Peyton cackles, way louder than necessary.

“In all seriousness, though,” Nolan says. “Sierra is fun to be around. I’m the one who feels lucky to be around her.”

He frowns a little after saying it, as if he hadn’t intended for it to slip out.

“Right, well, while you’re all talking about me, I’ll be in the car,” I say, striding off.

Really, I just want some air. And space to think.

Maybe I’m freaking out, but too freaking bad.

What the hell is Nolan doing? Is this all just part of his fake engagement plan? If so, why hasn’t he mentioned it yet?

Maybe I should try acting more normal and happy around him, but I can’t help but be suspicious.

The last time I let my guard down around Nolan, he impromptu announced that we were engaged in front of his whole family. How do I know he won’t do that this time with mine?

In the car, the ‘fun’ continues. Mom, Peyton and Nolan chat as easily as if they were old friends. Nolan tells them about a few of our dates and seeing the Peppers.

“I can’t believe I’ve been so out of the loop,” Mom says, shooting me a scolding look. “Sierra, when were you planning on telling me all this?”

How about when I knew whether Nolan and me were the real deal and could say for certain that he wasn’t just using me as part of some elaborate fake engagement plot?