“My proposal is that, from here on out, until we close on a house — you’re my girlfriend to everyone who isn’t you and me. No one else knows the truth but us.” It was me who opened my mouth this time, but he held up a finger to stop me. “I get to do my part in keeping your…” He swallowed, jaw tense, and then chose his words carefully. “Ex in line. I get to keep you and Sebastian out of harm’s way. And you pretend to be my girlfriend so my friends will lay off the jokes and take me seriously for once.”
