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"That’s the only thing tonight has going for it," Bella said, her face stony

I patted ? What about your fabulous fake boyfriend who’s here to meet the parents?"

Bella’s eyes crinkled with the first humor that I’d seen on her in a week "You don’t have to be the fake boyfriend You can just be the date They wouldn’t believe that ere really together, anyway They know me"

They wouldn’t believe her? That’s fucked, I felt like saying "I like a challenge," I said instead

"Whatever floats your paddleboat," Bella said as we approached the door "I appreciate you coht"

I hustled past Bella so I could open the door for irlfriend "This is really such a chore," I told her, holding it open "A night without dining hall food"

"The food won’t be that good," Bella warned

"Yeah, but I’ difference"

"And there’s free wine," she added

"That’swhat had happened the last tiether Dios I needed to stop thinking about that But Bella earing a sleek red dress that drew h I rarely saw Bella in anything dressier than a pair of jeans and a hockey T-shirt, she had the kind of curves loose clothing couldn’t hide And tonight they were all on display

It was going to be a long evening

Bella led me toward the main ballroom Cipriani was an old New York mainstay of the banquet set It was the sort of place that was built to i "What a dump," I joked as Bella declined the coat check

"I’ll keep etaway," she said