Playing Pretend by Cassie-Ann L. Miller

Seventeen

Eliza

The local locksmithslips my new keys into a little brown paper bag before handing the originals back to Granny Bellino. “Here you go, ladies,” the man says, a barely-there smile concealed behind his dark blond mustache.

“Thank you so much, Stephan,” Granny Bellino says, gently tapping the good-looking man on the wrist.

“No problem at all.” Stephan turns his shy blue stare to me. “And don’t hesitate to come back any time you need rescuing, Eliza.” He laughs quietly.

“My very own Superman. Lucky me,” I joke, giving him a wave before looping my arm through Granny Bellino’s and turning for the exit of the hardware store. “Thank you for coming with me to duplicate the keys,” I tell the grandmotherly woman as we weave through the cluttered aisles.

This morning when I interrupted the old couple upstairs in the middle of their breakfast to ask Mr. Gordon for copies of the keys I lost last night, Granny Bellino volunteered to drop by the hardware store with me on her way to the community center. Mr. Gordon is feeling a little light-headed today so he opted to stay home.

“Of course, dear.” She smiles brightly. “You really should have woken us up when you were locked out last night. You’re new in town and I can’t imagine it was comfortable for you, sleeping on the couch of some coworker you barely know.” Her brow creases beneath her gray bangs.

I may have uttered a little white lie or two concerning what happened after I lost my keys. All I told my landlord and his sweet old lady-friend was that I bunked at the home of a ‘kind coworker’ for the night.

I did not tell them that said ‘coworker’ was actually my billionaire ex-boss.

I also did not tell them that said ‘coworker’ almost gave me an orgasm with his fingers against a brick wall a short while before that.

And I most certainly didn’t tell them that said ‘coworker’ coerced me into pretending to be his blushing bride in order to keep a multi-million dollar deal from imploding earlier this morning.

My belly flips around as my brain thumbs through my memory bank from the past twelve hours.

I lie again. “It was fine, really. Uneventful.”

We step onto Willis Street and stroll past the various mom and pops stores, and stuffy-looking government buildings. The sun shines high in the sky but the air is nippy today, reminding us that fall is right around the corner.

Granny Bellino gives my arm a squeeze as we make a right turn at the street corner. “So…Stephan is a nice young man, isn’t he?” The old woman eyes me expectantly from behind her thick-framed glasses.

Oh, boy. “Um, yes. He is.”

“He’s been through so much,” she tells me. “Did you know his wife took his two dogs while he was at work and ran off to Kansas last winter?! Heartless woman.”

“Wow, that’s awful.” I feel a pinch in my chest.

She sighs woefully. “Stephan hasn’t been the same since. He could really use some companionship, I’m sure.” Her eyes twinkle with hope as she looks at me. “Maybe you could bring him lunch sometime?”

She’s been trying to play matchmaker between me and every local bachelor we’ve run into this morning. It’s adorable. But I have enough problems in my life. I don’t need a set-up.

A group of children scamper by, their mothers lethargically pushing strollers as they follow behind. I grip Granny Bellino’s arm protectively as we step into the pedestrian crosswalk. “I’m really not interested in dating right now, Granny Bellino.”

Ignoring me completely, the old lady points to the Hartley Construction workers having lunch in front of their worksite across the street. “A few of those guys are married so they’re off the market. But the younger ones are single and so very nice.” She cups a hand around her mouth. “And you know what they say about construction guys. Really good with their hands.”

I flip my chin up and laugh. “I told you—I’m not interested.”

Her expression drops. She turns to me on the sidewalk outside of the community center. “Look, Eliza. I know what it’s like to be afraid to love. I stayed by myself for years and years after my husband betrayed me and left. I was sad and lonely all the time and I threw myself into community work to hide it. I was the good, little granny with the plate of fresh-baked cookies and the house full of cats. Even after I found Gordon, I hid him from my family because I was so afraid of what they’d think. But now that I’m living my life, with my heart open and free, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I love him so much.” She looks off into the distance. “But we’re old as shit. One of us could drop down at any minute.”

I flinch. “That’s really cryptic, Granny Bellino.”

She chuckles softly. “All I’m saying is it makes me sad, thinking about all the years we could have had together. Now, we’re scrambling to make the most of what little time we have left.” She gives her head a shake. She has previously explained to me that she still owns her house across town but she doesn’t let that stop her from spending as much time as possible with Gordon. The couple splits their time between both homes. “Anyway, that’s why I’m pushing you to find a boyfriend. I don’t want you to waste your best years.” She leans in and lowers her voice conspiratorially. “You need a good, energetic man to fadoodle the hell out of you every now and again.”

I choke on air.

Anyway, the old woman’s words bounce around in my head as we climb the stairs to the community center and step into the lobby. Everybody seems to know Granny Bellino, from the youngest kids to the older folks ambling around the lobby.

We run into Desiree and her adorable son, Nathan. The little boy steals my heart when he runs up to me and gives me a hug, proclaiming that he remembers me from the day he visited his mommy’s office.

I can tell that Desiree wants to question me on the circumstances of my dismissal from Kline-Simmons. Thankfully, she doesn’t. Instead, she and Nathan just say their goodbyes and scamper off.

Granny Bellino pauses for a lively conversation with a little cotton-haired woman stooped over her walking stick. While I wait for her, I pause outside of the large arts and crafts room, my eyes catching on one of the posters pinned to the bulletin board. It announces an upcoming talk to be given at the community center by a bunch of local heroes. My chest snags as I stare at Liam Kline’s picture.

The handsome devil.

I practically tiptoed out of his place in my dirty outfit from last night while he and Varner were still negotiating the final terms of the deal. The stubborn billionaire has been ringing down my phone ever since. He even left me five text messages, demanding that I call him immediately.

I’ve ignored him.

I’m so damn mad at him for pulling me into whatever’s going on with Varner. And I’m mad at myself for not putting a stop to it the minute he told the old man we were married. In my defense, I was shocked silent when I heard him tell the lie. And when he slung his tree trunk arms around me and kissed me into a tizzy, my brain function didn’t stand a chance.

I know that closing the Varner deal means a lot to Liam but I’m not willing to sell myself out to get it done. I don’t mean to be an asshole but what’s in it for me?!

“He’s a handsome boy, isn’t he?” A voice says next to me. Granny Bellino stands beside me, clutching her wrinkly hands to her chest as she stares amorously at the picture of Liam. “He’s a bit prickly. But a nice boy overall. Growing up, he kept my Jason and Declan out of trouble…A really handsome boy.”

“I’ve seen cuter,” I lie to myself, trying to get my heart to stop pounding all over the place.

The old lady rolls her eyes. “Picky, picky. What more could you want in a man? He’s successful, focused, philanthropic. You never see him running around town with any of those loose women who hang around the Strip.” She lowers her tone and her expression goes gossipy. “Plus, rumor has it he has a billion dollars and a big dick.” Grabbing her stiff waist, she turns to amble off. “If I were single, forty years younger, and didn’t need a hip replacement, I’d hop all over that like a mechanical bull at a rodeo bar. Don’t know what you’re waiting for.” Over her shoulder, she winks at me.