Page 64 of Fake It For Him

Her green eyes skipped across the offering on the table, her head shaking as she sat down. “Have you people ever heard of cereal?”

I shrugged. “We’ve heard of it. We just don’t eat it very often. Why? Want me to call them to bring some cereal instead?”

“No.” She patted her stomach and hung her towel across the back of the chair next to her. “This is amazing. I was just wondering how you’re all built the way you are if you eat like this all the time.”

“Gym memberships and knowing how to use them,” I joked.

Ella rolled her eyes, half lifting herself out of her seat to grab some food. She piled her plate with steaming deliciousness and then settled in.

“Thanks for this,” she said as she glanced up at me. “The coffee, I mean. I assume that’s your doing?”

I nodded. “It’s not much, but my mom beat me to the main event.”

“You’re lucky she cares enough to do it,” Ella commented lightly as she picked up her cutlery.

I made a plate of my own, and as I sat back down to eat, I glanced at her. “We are lucky she cared enough. This isn’t all for me, you know. I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have been here if you hadn’t been.”

She took a bite of her food and chewed it before washing it down with a sip of coffee. “It’s still not bothering you that we’re lying to them?”

“Nope. We’re good together. All that’s important is that they believe that, and they do.” I sliced into a sausage, about to pop it into my mouth when there was another knock at the door. “I’ll get it.”

I was surprised when I found my mother waiting outside this time. Dressed as impeccably as always, she smiled, brushed by me into the house, pulled off a pair of fancy winter gloves, and rubbed her hands together. “It’s damn cold out there. I’m so glad you two are up. I was wondering if it was too early.”

She inhaled deeply, another smile gracing her face as she glanced at me. “I hope you’re enjoying breakfast. Is Ella up yet?”

“I am, Mrs. Reid,” she said, walking out of the dining room and tucking her wet hair behind her ears. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you’d be coming, or I’d have made sure that I was ready.”

Mom waved her off, still all smiles, and she shook her head. “It’s no problem, honey. You’re part of the family now. I’m glad you’re getting comfortable with us.”

I blinked hard. Fuck, that was the last thing Ella needed to hear after last night.

She’d paled a bit, but since she’d been blushing only a few seconds ago, I doubted Mom would realize it was anything other than simply the blush receding. Ella’s green eyes were frozen wide as they met mine, but she recovered quickly when Mom strode past her into the dining room.

“I don’t want to interrupt your breakfast,” she said. “You eat and I’ll talk. I just wanted to come spend some time with you two before you take off again.”

Ella shot me a horrified look, but I rested my hand on the small of her back and guided her to the table. I pressed a soft kiss on top of her head and she took her seat once more. This was fine. We were both going to be fine. We just had to play our part for a few minutes while Mom was here, and then we’d be on our merry way.

As I poured my mother some coffee, her gaze was on the scene in front of her, my bare feet and Ella’s bare face. The two of us had obviously been in the middle of breakfast together when she’d arrived.

I knew what she was seeing and I knew what it looked like, and part of me was relieved as hell that she’d come by when she had. Right now, we were the picture of domestic bliss, our plates laden, our coffee cups clearly having been drunk from, and us being so comfortable together that we hadn’t even finished getting ready before sitting down to breakfast.

It felt like one for the win column, but Ella’s jaw was too tight to chalk it up as that just yet. Shit, I’m going to have to be careful here.

“I wanted to thank you both for coming to the party last night,” Mom said. “It meant the world to Freya to have you there. She wanted to come around this morning herself to thank you, but I asked her to let me.”

“It was an absolute pleasure to be there,” Ella replied graciously. “The party was wonderful and it was an honor to be included.”

Mom smiled. “Of course.”

I took my seat in front of the large window just as it started to snow outside. Mom’s gaze drifted to the window for a moment. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had an incident-free family gathering.”

Her voice was so soft that I almost didn’t hear what she’d said, but as she shifted her gaze back to mine, I saw the happiness and relief in her eyes, and I knew I hadn’t misheard. I reached for Ella’s hand across the table and squeezed it—and it wasn’t only for show.

“We had a great time. Finn definitely wasn’t happy to see me, but he seems happy otherwise, so I’m glad that he’s moving on.”

Mom’s lips pursed slightly as she dipped her head in a nod. “Norah has been good for him. A much better fit than Aspen ever was, but don’t tell him I said that.”

A tiny flare of shock shot through me at the casual mention of that name, and Ella responded before I’d completely recovered from it. “I didn’t get the chance to meet her, but she seemed lovely.”