RINGOFTRUTHEBOOK (1) Read online

  Erin nodded. “They want to do sightseeing on their own time.”

  “And we love it,” Bill said from the front seat. “Traffic jams are a nightmare, of course, but this way we can get where we’re going and not have to worry about which bus or subway we have to take.”

  “That’s great. I usually walk everywhere unless it’s farther out for an audition, but I’d like to get a car so I can drive out into the country when I want to get away,” Jake said.

  “Are you from the country?” Suzanne asked.

  Jake nodded. “I’m from Georgia.”

  Erin looked at him in surprise, but didn’t say anything. The twang had given away that he was from the south, but she hadn’t realized he was so close to where she grew up.

  “Oh, that’s wonderful. We should have the wedding there. It would be perfect.”

  “Uh, wedding?” Erin asked, blankly. Jake elbowed her, and she remembered the ring. “Oh, right. Wedding. “Um, well, we were thinking of a quiet event here in the city.”

  “I think a small country ceremony would actually be nice. I mean, if that’s what your parents want.” Jake squeezed Erin’s shoulders.

  Erin felt panic setting in. She glared at Jake for playing it up, but she couldn’t blame him. She was the one who started this mess by not admitting anything.

  “Great. We can start the plans tonight after dinner. We should do a Christmas wedding. The colors are perfect, and that gives us a few months of planning. Unless you want a spring wedding?” Suzanne pulled out her phone and planner.

  “We haven’t had much time to talk about it. We need to decide on a few things before we get into the actual planning.” Like what in the world was actually going on. Why was he going along with this? She was dying to get away from her parents so she get him to answer.

  “Of course, dear. We can wait if you’d like.” Her mom put her phone away, and Erin groaned at the hurt look on her mom’s face.

  Erin sighed. “We’ll let you know in the morning. Is that okay? We just need to talk first.”

  Her mom brightened a little, but she wasn’t as talkative for the rest of the trip to Erin’s apartment. Erin told them how to get to the parking garage. Once they were parked in her spot, they climbed out and stretched.

  “The theater is just up from this diner. Would you like to freshen up before heading over? We can go up to my apartment if you’d like.”

  Erin’s dad looked at his watch. “We’ll need to be leaving for the theater soon. We can stop by your apartment on our way back to the hotel if you’d like.”

  “No, I’m fine. Let’s head out.” There was no way she would have guessed that any of this would have happened when she left that morning. And here she was engaged.

  Chapter 6

  Jake breathed a sigh of relief when Erin decided not to go to her apartment. He didn’t know what he would do if she’d left him there with her parents.

  “So how did you two meet?” Bill started walking toward the exit to the garage.

  “I took care of her cat.” Jake hoped that the whole mess hadn’t come up with her parents, but he didn’t know what else to say.

  Suzanne pursed her lips. “I see. So you do that for a living, then?”

  “That’s just a side job. I’m actually working on a career in acting. I have a couple of different ads I’m working on right now.” Great. He’d picked exactly the wrong thing to say.

  “How nice. Anything we’d know?” The approval in her voice made Jake relax just a little.

  “Just commercials. So, how far away is this place, Erin?” He hoped they wouldn’t notice the extreme shift in subject, but he really needed to talk to Erin and soon.

  “Where are we going exactly?” Suzanne and Bill fell into step with Jake and Erin.

  Erin gestured down the street a few blocks away. “Carissa and I found it a while ago. This is where we meet when we need to talk. The food is amazing, and I love the old diner theme.”

  Jake was surprised to see that it was the same diner he’d wanted to go to a few nights before. He’d have to come here more often if it meant running into Erin. Jake looked around while Erin found a spot to sit. The diner had an old jukebox in the corner, and the old-fashioned booths and barstools.

  “This place is amazing.” He slid into the booth next to Erin, and her parents sat across from them.

  “It really is. Just wait until you try their food.” Erin opened her menu, and the others followed.

  A waitress came over and looked directly at Erin. “I see you brought new company. You want the usual?”

  “That sounds good to me. I always tell myself I’m going to order something else, but I never do.” Erin handed her the menu.

  Jake leaned over and whispered, “What’s the usual?”

  “The James Dean. Burger, fries, and a shake. I always add mushrooms.” Erin looked up at the waitress.

  “That sounds good,” Jake said. “I’ll have that, but without the mushrooms.”

  “You’re not a mushroom person?” Erin asked while her parents ordered their food.

  Jake shrugged. “They’re fine. I just don’t like them on my burger.”

  “Erin has loved mushrooms since she was a little girl. We had to keep her from eating the wild ones in the forest behind our house.” Suzanne laughed.

  Erin blushed. “It’s true. They had to run me to the hospital once. You’d think that would keep me from liking them, but nope.”

  “Wow, that is quite the devotion you have to mushrooms.”

  “That’s what you get with Erin. When she finds something she loves, she sticks with it.” Suzanne looked between Erin and Jake.

  “Mom …” Erin groaned.

  Jake took Erin’s hand and stroked his thumb across her fingers. “That’s what I love about her. I’ve seen how much she loves her job.”

  Erin stared into his eyes, and suddenly jerked her hand away. Jake’s face burned when he realized how good it felt to have her hand in his.

  The food came just then, and Jake could see Erin relax. Jake thanked the waitress and stared at the burger on his plate. It was larger than he’d expected, and suddenly the peanut butter sandwiches he’d been living off of didn’t seem quite so appetizing. He added ketchup and mustard and picked up the burger, fully aware that Erin was staring at him.

  He took a bite and savored the juices that burst in his mouth. This was one of the most amazing things he’d ever tasted. He gave her a thumbs up and finished chewing. “You’re right. This is the best.”

  She grinned. “Told you.”

  Bill added more steak sauce to his steak, and Suzanne seemed to be enjoying her pancake and eggs. Bill told them all about his latest advertising campaigns and the sites he’d been to recently. While Erin seemed more focused on jewelry and clothing lines, her dad was more into ranches and farm equipment.

  Jake looked down at his last bite, almost wanting to order another burger, just to enjoy it all over again, but he was too full from his first helping. Erin reached for her purse, but her dad put a hand up.

  “No, this is our treat. We insist.” Bill went to the front to pay, and the others followed.

  “You really didn’t have to do this, Dad.”

  “Yes, I did. We’ll see you later tonight after the play.” Bill patted her on the shoulder. “How do we get there again?”

  “Okay, head east about three blocks and then take a left. Night.” As soon as they were far enough away that they wouldn’t hear anything, Erin turned to Jake. “Okay, so what’s up? And how do we get out of this?”

  Jake studied her for a second. “Can we talk somewhere more private? It’s complicated.”

  “Sure, let’s head to my place. Unless you prefer somewhere else?”

  “That sounds good to me.” He held out his arm for her to take, but she raised her eyebrows.

  “We don’t have to keep this up when my parents aren’t around.” She turned and walked toward her apartment, and Jake had to run to catch up.<
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  The night air was crisp and cool, a perfect August night. Jake could hear the traffic in the distance, but it was nice and quiet in the part of the city where they walked. He wanted to start talking right then, but knew it wasn’t a good idea. What he was proposing was crazy, and he didn’t really want witnesses.

  “So how long have you lived here?” Jake asked.

  “Since I graduated from high school. My parents wanted me to stick around and work with my dad, but I wanted to try it on my own.”

  “So your dad is in advertising as well?”

  “Yes he is. I could have gone to work with him, but I came here instead. I guess I just wanted to prove I could do it myself instead of just doing well because of my dad.”

  “That makes sense.” Jake followed Erin into her apartment, his stomach in knots. Her place was small, but she’d done a great job decorating. Knickknacks filled up the empty spaces, making it feel homey where his felt … bare. “Nice place.”

  “Thanks.” Erin set her purse on the couch and grabbed some food for her cat before coming over to sit next to Jake. “Okay, spill.”

  Jake blinked. She wasn’t wasting any time, was she? “I’m sorry for getting you into this mess, but I thought we could both help each other out. You needed a date to get your parents off your case, and I … need the same thing. My mom was trying to set me up with… an old acquaintance, and I told her I already have a date for this wedding I’m supposed to go to. Except that I don’t. I was hoping you could fill in. It’s only for a few days, and then we can break it off.”

  “Wait, wedding? What time is it at? I’m supposed to be one on Saturday as well.”

  Jake checked his phone. “It’s at six o’clock at the Booth Gardens Reception Hall.

  Erin’s jaw dropped. “Um, that’s where I’m going for the wedding. What are their names?”

  “Andrew and I don’t remember the bride’s name. Emily?” Jake tilted his head to the side. “Why?”

  “How is that even possible. You know the groom’s family. I know the bride’s family. She’s my cousin. We were already planning on going to the same wedding.”

  Jake laughed. “Well, I guess that makes it easier, doesn’t it?”

  “I guess it does.” Erin studied him. “So we just pretend to be each other’s dates until they’re gone?”

  Jake nodded. “They each get to think we’re dating, and we get out of constant nagging. It’s a win-win situation.”

  Erin leaned back on the couch and studied Jake. “Mom and Dad already think we’re together and they’ve seen this ring, so we have to do something. Although, I’m going to have to give it back tomorrow, so how do I explain that?”

  Jake thought for a moment. “We can just tell them we had to get it resized, or that the prongs were loose.”

  “That works.” Erin stared at the ring on her finger.

  “So, will you do it?” Jake sat back on the couch.

  Erin sighed. “You saved my sanity, so I’ll save yours. But we need to be careful. No making huge plans with parents that we’ll have to cancel or lose money on later.”

  “Deal. Now if we can just get our parents to agree to that. My mom loves planning events, and this is the perfect opportunity.” He grinned and stood. “Well, partner, I better get going. I have to get my apartment ready for when my parents get here. You good for dinner with them tomorrow night?”

  “Sure. Although, I have to see what my parents are up to as well.” She bit her lip. “This is going to get messy, isn’t it?”

  Jake laughed. “We’ll make it work.”

  “I hope so. Thanks again. And, really, you were great in the commercial today. Thanks for doing it on such short notice.”

  “It’s easy when you have a great person to work with.” Jake could feel his face redden and he turned and opened the door. “See you tomorrow.”

  Jake left Erin’s apartment and headed down the stairs. He nodded at one of the tenants who stared as he went past. Was that jealousy on the guy’s face? Probably. He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face as he left the building. He couldn’t believe that Erin had gone along with the plan. It helped her too, but it had been a long shot. And it would be a miracle if they managed to survive the weekend.

  The night was cool, so Jake decided to walk home. He wasn’t all that far away, and he wanted to think. He was glad that the ads would be next week so he could concentrate on this weekend. As much as he dreaded having his parents come before, now he just wanted to get it over with.

  His phone rang, echoing among the silent buildings. He pulled it out of his pocket, taking a deep breath. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

  “We just wanted to make sure you’re ready for us.” She whispered to someone in the back ground. Probably his dad.

  “You’re not in New York already, are you?” Jake cringed. He hadn’t had a chance to furnish his apartment yet. His mind went back to Erin’s apartment, but he pushed the thoughts away. Having her help him decorate wasn’t an option. He was already asking too much of her.

  “Our flight gets in tomorrow at two. We’ll head to the hotel first and then find out where to meet you. Can you give me your address?” More whispering as she asked Jake’s dad for a piece of paper.

  Jake gave them the address and told them the best place to park.

  “Wonderful. We’ll see you tomorrow night. And you’re sure you don’t need me to call Melody’s mom?” his mom asked.

  “No, I have a date. Her name is Erin.” Jake stood outside his apartment complex. He didn’t want to be talking when he walked past the landlord. He’d have the rent the next morning, but didn’t want to draw attention to himself and have to apologize. Again.

  “Well, we look forward to meeting her. Is it serious?”

  “You could say that, yes.” Jake cringed as he imagined the cheering that would go on as soon as they got off the phone. They’d been waiting for a long time to hear him say that.

  “That’s so great! If this doesn’t work, there’s always Melody—” She was suddenly interrupted by the phone being yanked away. His mom had been devastated when Melody broke up with him. Their parents were good friends and wanted a marriage to happen.

  “Don’t mind your mother. We’ll see you tomorrow at seven, all right?” his dad said.

  “Sounds great. Tell Mom bye.” Jake chuckled.

  “Bye, son.” His dad disconnected just after Jake heard his mom yell to Jake that she loved him.

  Jake shook his head and entered the building. The warmth flowed over him as he crept up the stairs and into his apartment. The bare living room greeted him. Home sweet home. It was too late to go out tonight to find anything. Hopefully Erin wasn’t busy a tomorrow and could help him.

  He dropped onto his bed, too tired to worry about looking for new auditions. Instead, his mind ran through the different things he needed for his apartment, and it worked like counting sheep.

  Chapter 7

  Erin couldn’t help staring at the ring on her finger as she got ready for the day. It was gorgeous, but it was also causing a lot more trouble than it was worth. Well, probably not. The thing had to be a few thousand dollars. She finished blow drying her hair and pulled it up into a French twist. It was her day off, but she had to meet with Mr. Smith to give him back his ring.

  She pulled on her boots and checked the mirror before leaving her room. Hopefully she looked good enough to satisfy Jake’s parents. She couldn’t help the butterflies, even if she wasn’t really engaged to him. Maybe that’s what made it worse. She had no idea what his type usually was, or if she would mess everything up. They’d have to go over everything before that night.

  Erin’s phone buzzed with a text message. She smiled when she saw that it was Jake.

  Hey, what are you up to this morning?

  She typed back, Just returning the ring. What are you up to?

  I was going to see if you wanted me to come with you. And I need to ask you a huge favor. Don’t worry, it’
s not as huge as what I asked for last night.

  Erin paused. She was dying of curiosity, but what more could he want? She already had to play his fiancée.

  What’s up?

  My parents are heading over here tonight and my apartment is pretty much bare. I need some help figuring out what to do with it.

  Erin sighed in relief. She could do that. She loved decorating. She checked her watch to make sure she had time. She’d called ahead to make an appointment so she could see Mr. Smith. He was more than happy to meet with her, and told her to come right over. Hopefully he’d be that happy once she got there. She texted Jake for his address so she could what she was working with before picking out decorations.

  Jake texted her his address, and she texted back that she’d be over soon. She shoved her phone into her purse and fed Coco before heading out the door.

  The morning sun matched Erin’s cheerful mood as she flagged down a cab and headed for Jake’s. His building was a tall brick building, in about the same shape as hers. She checked her phone again for the right apartment number and rang the buzzer so he could let her in.

  The door opened, and Erin went upstairs. The stairs were worn, but polished, and there were paintings along the walls. Whoever owned the building cared about making it look nice. She smiled at a young girl peeking out from one of the doorways, and continued on.

  Erin took a deep breath before knocking. Jake opened the door with a grin on his face and stepped back.

  “Thanks for coming to help out. As you can see, I need some major help.” Jake blushed as he looked away. “Most of this was here when I got here. That’s actually why I chose it.”

  Erin studied the room to get some ideas. It was small, about a third of the size of hers, and the couch was worn. The walls were bare, and the wood floor needed a good polishing. She moved on to the kitchen where the drab white cupboards were begging for a repaint. Something that definitely wouldn’t happen before that night. She’d just have to make the rest of the apartment look nice to hide it.

  “Your parents are coming when?”