Fool for You (Southern Bride #7) - Kelly Elliott Page 0,42

to do anything that would be deceitful.”

“And what happens when people back home ask us about it?” Malcolm asked.

Emmerson shrugged. “It’s simple—just say something about how we’ve always been two peas in a pod. Or how it’s no surprise it would happen, considering it’s Emmerson and Landon. You don’t have to say what the it actually is.”

Malcolm raised one brow as he stared at Emmerson. “That’s still lying, sweetheart.”

All she did was shrug. “I don’t see any other way, Daddy. And like I said, we are dating, just not how everyone thinks.”

Malcolm let out a long sigh. “Unfortunately, I agree. You two dug yourselves into this mess, and it will be interesting to watch you climb out of it.”

My father grinned as if he knew something the rest of us hadn’t figured out yet.

Emmerson and I exchanged a look. When she smiled weakly at me, I reached over and took her hand in mine. “It’s all going to work out just fine. You’ll see.”

I wasn’t exactly sure who I was trying to convince. Myself, Emmerson, or the rest of the table.

After our parents excused themselves for the evening, Hailey and Mike invited us to go out with them. I wasn’t really been in the mood, but I also wasn’t thrilled about the idea of going back to my hotel room and sitting there alone, either.

“So this is the Container Bar, huh?” I asked as we walked up to the popular nightclub on Rainey Street. They had taken shipping containers and stacked them to make a two-story bar.

“This is it! One of my sorority sister’s boyfriend is the DJ here,” Hailey shouted back at me and Emmerson.

“Did you get any of that?” Emmerson asked.

I shook my head and took in the different containers that made up the bar. “I see where it gets its name,” I said with a grin.

Emmerson giggled, and I laced my hand with hers. Mostly because I didn’t like the way guys were eye-fucking the hell out of her.

We ordered our drinks at the bar and then followed Hailey and Mike outside to the courtyard area where the DJ was set up. The entire courtyard was surrounded with stacked containers except for the back area where a building sat. It had ‘Restrooms’ written on the front, with a giant painted rooster on one side and a cat on the other. I shook my head and laughed.

“Nice restrooms. Love the whole cock and pussy reference,” Emmerson said with a laugh.

A large dance floor sat in the middle of the courtyard and was packed with patrons. It was late and the bar was only open for another hour and a half, and I was stunned to see this many people still here. I glanced up at the second floor to see some people standing behind glass windows and others out on patios looking down at the dance floor.

“Christ Almighty. That’s a lot of people,” I stated as I stared out at the crowd.

Emmerson gripped my hand tighter and moved in closer to me. It wasn’t like I hadn’t ever been to bars or nightclubs before, and I knew Emmerson had as well. It was just that this place was packed full of people, and it had already been a long-ass night. I was honestly exhausted.

Hailey and Mike soon slipped into the crowd of people dancing.

Emmerson took a sip of her cranberry and vodka and glanced around. “This really isn’t my thing anymore.”

I nodded, watching a guy and girl kiss each other like they were trying to eat each other’s mouths off. Yeah, this scene wasn’t one I missed. I looked at Emmerson. “Mine either.”

She smiled. “Would you mind if we left and walked back to the hotel? I don’t know what I was thinking, agreeing to come. Honestly, I’m exhausted after this crazy night we’ve had.”

“Of course, Emme.”

After trying to find my sister and Mike for fifteen minutes, we gave up and sent them both a text that we were heading back to the hotel.

We walked back mostly in silence. I wanted to ask Emmerson what was going through her brain. We’d kissed three times already, and my body felt like it was humming. The moment I got to my room, I was either going to take a cold shower or get myself off. Most likely it would be the latter while I thought about how Emmerson’s lips felt on mine.

“Do you think we can do this, Landon?”

“Which part? Pulling off being fake engaged, or exploring this thing between