“I honestly didn’t think the story would get big this quickly. But it’s going to be okay. My manager and our PR firm are on it.”
Joy stood frozen, trying to take in what Jason was telling her. While tempting, running away wasn’t a viable option.
While Jason navigated the social media storm, Joy tried to be logical and weigh the pros and cons of Jason’s proposal. It was what she should have been doing, but truthfully, she kept replaying the kiss with Jason back at the Alehouse over and over. She had to ask herself if she could kiss him like that again and not lose her heart. Could she do it without making the same mistake and jump from one kiss to dreams of a big white wedding dress? She reminded herself she was the new and improved Joy. She wasn’t going to start a relationship thinking she’d found “the one.” Pretending to be engaged to Jason would give her a chance to prove to herself that she’d truly learned her lesson.
Taking a deep breath, she announced, “I made a decision.”
Jason froze, and his anxious expression morphed into a grin when she nodded and said yes.
His arms were strong and comforting when he pulled Joy into a hug. “Thank you.” His breath tickled her ear. Joy leaned into his embrace for a moment before she remembered that this was strictly a business arrangement and nothing more.
“I’d better call my parents,” she said, pulling out of his embrace.
As if she’d conjured them, her phone rang.
Joy took a deep breath and answered, “Hi, Dad.”
“Oh my God, sweetheart, I can’t believe I had to hear about your engagement from TMZ.”
She held the phone away from her ear at her dad’s enthusiastic volume.
“Can you put me on speaker so I can talk to both of you?” Joy asked.
A second later, her other dad Shawn’s deep voice came on the phone. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Pops.”
A lump suddenly formed in her throat. She glanced at Jason and gave a slight shake of her head. She couldn’t bring herself to lie to her dads.
“I’ve already started on a lookbook,” her dad, Douglass’s, voice vibrated with excitement.
Joy gripped the phone tighter. “No, no lookbooks. Please, Dad, this isn’t a pageant.”
“Douglass, let Joy fill us in on the details first. Go ahead, sweet pea.” Her pops, calm, deep voice filled the room.
“Thanks, Pops.” Her voice trembled. “I…” Joy looked at Jason for help.
Jason took the phone from her and put it on speaker. “We didn’t want you to find out about the engagement this way, sir. The press picked up on the story faster than I thought they would.”
There was a pause, and then her pops said, “We’re surprised, that’s all. I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone.”
“It was kind of a whirlwind,” Joy said with a weak laugh.
There was an excited shout in the background. “Shawn, look at this. They’re already posting pageant pictures.”
She closed her eyes. Her face heating with embarrassment. Jason must be wondering how quickly he could get himself out of this mess. He put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“I’m clearing my calendar for wedding planning. If you grow your hair now, we can get it long enough for extensions in a month or two.” Her dad, Douglass, announced.
He’d thrown an absolute fit when she ditched the long extensions she’d lived with for years. She didn’t miss the maintenance that went with keeping her hair straight. Her short pixie cut had been liberating. For the first time, Joy looked in the mirror and saw a more authentic version of herself looking back at her. But her dad still clung to a version of Joy from her pageant days.
“No, Dad, I’m not going to do that.” She paused, trying to quell her rising panic. She had to get control over the situation quickly before he started looking at wedding venues. “The thing is”—she cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders—“the thing is, it’s not really an engagement.”
Another beat of silence passed before her pops asked, “Are you saying you’re not engaged?”
“No, we are, but it’s not real.”
“Sir, I can explain.” Jason took the phone out of her hand and gently pushed her to sit on the couch. He sat down next to her, holding her hand while he explained what had happened.
Would her dads be disappointed in her for doing something so reckless? Even when she was little, she never did anything that really got her into trouble. She wasn’t a perfect daughter by any means, but she’d never done anything this reckless before.
Her dads listened in silence while Jason finished his story. Joy sucked in a breath, waiting for their response.
“Joy, are you sure you want to do this?” Pops asked.
She glanced at Jason, who was watching her with both worry and hope in his eyes. She covered his hand with his. “I’m sure, Pops.”
Jason’s shoulders slumped with relief. Turning his hand over, he linked his fingers with hers.
There was a heavy sigh, and then her dad said, “Is it okay if I say I’m disappointed? I’ve already texted Darlene about working on your wedding dress.”
“You know I think Darlene is wonderful, but I don’t think the woman who designed my pageant dresses is who I want to make my wedding dress.”
Douglas gave a resigned huff. “I’ll call Darlene and let her know.”
“Actually, sir,” Jason broke in, “some of that stuff will help make our engagement look real.”
“You’re right.” The excitement came back into her dad’s voice as he started rattling off fabric ideas and suggestions.
Joy chewed on the inside of her lip, growing more and more annoyed. “Dad, it’s fake. When the time comes and I’m engaged for real, I want to go dress shopping just like everyone else does.”
“But why when we have Darlene?”
“Douglas, it’s Joy’s decision,” her pops said.
Her dad’s frustrated huff brought a smile to her lips. This was her parents. Her dad was always ready to jump in feet first with boundless energy while her pops was the island of calm in stormy seas. They were both wonderful parents, but her relationship with her pops was special. He always listened, even when she wasn’t talking. He’d do what he could to keep his husband’s enthusiasm in check.
“Let us know what we can do to help,” Shawn continued. “We’re always here for you. You know that.”
“Thanks, Pops. I miss you both, love you.” She bit her lip when her voice broke a little when they ended the call.
Joy jumped off the couch and turned away, wiping at her eyes. She took a deep breath and shook out her hands, trying to release the tension. Joy turned back to Jason with the best smile she could muster.
“So those are my parents. My dad, Douglas, can be a bit—extra. We… well, he was really into pageants when I was growing up. He’s a pageant coach, and he still thinks I can be Miss America someday.” She reached up and fingered the short hairs at her nape. “I made some changes this last year, and he’s still having a hard time getting used to it. It’s not that he doesn’t support me, it’s that I’m… trying to do things differently.”
Joy realized she was babbling and clamped her mouth shut.
“I remember,” Jason said, his eyes trained on where her hand was at her nape. “It was one of the things you asked for last Christmas.” Rising from the couch, he came over to stand in front of her. “Your parents sound like great people. I can tell how much they love you.”
“I know what you’re thinking.” Joy shook her head. “How is it possible that I grew up with two dads and somehow ended up clueless about men?”
Jason’s eyes filled with amusement. “That’s not what I was thinking at all.”
This was all for show. Jason was being nice because he needed her help, nothing more. She took a step back, realizing she’d started to lean forward. Everything about Jason drew her in, from his deep blue eyes to the faint hint of lemon and something smoky that reminded her of whiskey. Turning away, she went back to the kitchen. Maybe that was what she needed, another shot of whiskey, not Jason holding her in his arms.
“Thanks for being so kind to them,” she said.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Joy arched her brow. “A gay interracial couple who adopted a Black baby? We may not be what some people think of as a family, but that’s what we are, and I grew up never doubting they love me.”
Jason followed her to the kitchen, leaning against the counter. “Well, that’s not me, and I hope I’ll meet them someday.”
“I doubt we’ll be engaged long enough for that to happen.”
Jason downed the rest of his drink. “My family is up next.”
“Are you sure they will be okay with this? I know it’s a fake engagement, but… will they mind that I’m Black?”
Jason looked at her, his forehead creased. “No, they won’t mind at all. All my parents ever want is for each of their kids to find a partner in life who supports, respects, and cares about them.”
His thumb hovered over his phone for a second before he pressed the button. “Ready or not, here we go.”
“Hi, Mom,” he said, giving Joy a quick wink that set off another round of butterflies in her stomach.
“Sweetheart, I can’t believe you kept this secret from us.” His mother’s voice filled the room. “When do we get to meet her? When is the wedding? Do you think… what is her name? Joy? Do you think she would be willing to have your sisters as bridesmaids? You know how disappointed they’d be if they can’t be a part of the wedding.” Jason’s mother gasped. “You’re not going to elope, are you?”
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. “Can you stop talking long enough to give me a chance to answer?”
With a low deep chuckle, Jason’s father said, “Jason’s right. Let’s give him a chance to tell us what’s going on.”
“Thanks, Dad. You’re both on speaker, and Joy is here with me, so try to make a good impression, okay?”
He mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
His mom scoffed. “Of course we’ll make a good impression. Joy, we can’t wait to meet you.”
“I—” Joy gave Jason an unsure look. What should she say? Would they be engaged long enough for her to meet Jason’s parents?
He cleared his throat. “There’s something I need to explain before you get too excited.”
Jason’s parents were exactly how Holly had described them: warm and loving. His mom admonished her son for putting Joy in such an awkward situation while offering support and understanding at the same time once they knew the truth.
“Your mom and dad are so nice,” Joy said when they finished the call.
“We’re a big boisterous family. I’m afraid we don’t do boundaries well. We’re always in each other’s business, so brace yourself.”
“Why would I need to brace myself?”
“They’re all coming for Thanksgiving.”
“Everyone?” The word came out as a squeak.
Jason gave her a reassuring smile. “You’ll like my sisters and my folks. They might be a little overwhelming, but it’s because they mean well.”
“You have such a big family. It’s always been the three of us. My dad is the outgoing one. Pops is the quiet, thoughtful one. They balance each other well that way.”
Jason looked at her thoughtfully. “And you’re a combination of the two of them.”
“I guess so. I used to be more confident, but that was before I realized…” Joy grimaced.
“Realized what?”
“When I was having my meltdown, and I told you all that stuff, well… A few minutes before I realized I’m one of those girls in the Hallmark movies.”
“My sisters are always watching those movies.” Jason’s brow wrinkled. “I’m confused. Why are you like the girls in the Hallmark movies?”
“You know how in those movies, the guy has a pushy girlfriend who doesn’t get that he’s not really interested in her? He meets the”—Joy made air quotes—“‘nice girl,’ and they live happily ever after?” She sighed. “I’m the pushy girlfriend who doesn’t get it.”
Jason wrinkled his forehead. “I think you’re a ‘nice girl.’” He said, mimicked her air quotes.
Joy gave him a small smile. “Thanks.”
Jason let out an exasperated groan when his phone buzzed again.
“It’s my manager.” He got up and answered, “Hey, Paul, what’s up?”
Joy watched as Jason paced. He glanced at her, and something in his eyes made a knot form in the pit of her stomach.
“Yeah, okay. Of course I’m pissed off,” Jason exclaimed. He looked at Joy again and said, “Sorry.” Joy wasn’t sure if that was meant for her or Jason’s manager.
She gave Jason some privacy and headed into her bedroom to use the bathroom and change. Pulling on her University of Delaware sweatshirt and a pair of leggings, Joy fought the worry gnawing in the pit of her stomach. Whatever Jason’s manager told him, it was clear by the look in his eye it wasn’t good.
Taking a deep breath, she headed back into the living room, where she found Jason sitting on the couch with a glass of whiskey in his hand.
“I hope you don’t mind. I helped myself,” he said, gesturing toward the small bar cart she had set up.
Joy sat down on the other end of the sofa, drawing her knees up and stretching her sweatshirt over them. “Of course not.”
When Jason remained quiet, staring into the amber liquid in his glass, she asked, “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
“No. But I need to tell you.” He set his glass down and raked his hand through his hair. “Some”—he winced—“a few of my fans aren’t too happy with our engagement. They believe Madison and I are destined to be together.” He scrubbed his face with his hands and sighed. “This is all my fault. When Madison started flirting with me on stage, I played along. It was fun, and the crowd was eating it up. I shouldn’t have let it get so out of hand.”
“Like kissing her at the Grammys last year?”
Jason and Madison had performed a duet during the show. The chemistry between them was palpable through the performance, and when he swept her in his arms and kissed her at the end of the song, the crowd went wild. Now that she’d been on the receiving end of one of his kisses, Joy understood.
“I know you’re not going to believe this, but it was all rehearsed.”
“It’s okay. You don’t owe me any explanations, Jason. That kiss was hot. It probably did wonders for your record sales.”
A slow grin spread over Jason’s face. “You thought my kiss was hot?”
“No.” She shook her head. “It was a good kiss… I mean, it felt real… I mean, you’re good at making it look real.”
Joy pressed her hands against her heated cheeks, trying to hide the pink that she knew was there. She wondered if their fake engagement would include more kissing. Even if they weren’t real it would be good practice. Sometimes, a kiss was just that. It meant nothing more. But the kiss she shared with Jason back at the bar was different. It wasn’t like she hadn’t had her fair share of kisses, and they’d been nice. Some better than others. When Jason kissed her, though, the entire world faded away, and it was only the two of them. He’d set a standard Joy wasn’t sure anyone else could meet.
Jason’s smile fell. “Some fans are saying… well, they’re not being kind to you.”
“Oh.” Joy’s heart fell. “How”—she swallowed—“how bad is it?”
“It’s… bad.” Jason’s jaw ticked. “I never thought my fans would ever do anything like this.”
Joy picked up her phone, her hands trembling as she opened her Facebook account. Jason was at her side as soon as she gasped, covering her mouth with a shaking hand.
Jason gently pried the phone from her hand. “I’m going to change your settings so your account is private, okay?”
Joy could only nod, numbed by the vitriol she saw. There were posts that implied she was a prostitute and, worse, some used racist terms that were… she shuddered and turned away. She’d dealt with racism before. Most of the time, it was veiled in microaggressions. This was different. Joy swallowed a couple of times, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.
Jason set her phone down and took her hands in his. “Your hands are freezing. Come here,” he said, pulling her close as he wrapped her in his embrace.
Her phone rang. Jason stopped her when she started to answer. “Do you recognize this number?”
She frowned. “No, I don’t.”
Jason silenced the ringer on her phone and made a call on his.
“Paul, we’ve got a problem.”