“What did you lie about?” His tone changed from amused to curious.
Guiltily, Gia set down her coffee. She looked for judgment in his face but saw none. She shivered and covered her eyes with her hand. “Ugh. I still feel slimy over it.”
“Lying isn’t optimal . . .” He paused, understanding in his voice. “But does the end justify the means?”
“I don’t know.” She peeked at him from behind her palm and studied his face.
“What did you lie about?”
Here it was. The reason she’d come over. “Um . . . well . . .” she hedged. “I told them the quilt was for my wedding.”
He looked shocked. “You’re getting married?”
“No, that’s the lie.” Gia covered her head with her arms. “I’m a horrible person, aren’t I?”
“No,” he murmured. “Not horrible. You just want everyone to get along and to honor your grandmother’s wishes. But I am concerned.”
Her stomach took a nosedive. “What about?”
“I know you. The lie will eat you up inside. Is finishing the quilt worth your peace of mind?”
“It’s not about the quilt. The quilt’s just a symbol. If we can finish the quilt, then maybe, just maybe, we can mend our family.”
“They’ll forgive you.” He gave her a look so tender that it stole her breath away and made her wonder when things had changed between them. “No one can stay mad at you for long.”
Wow. Her heart skipped. Was she reading more into his expression than was actually there? “Yes, but will you?”
“Me?” His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Why do you need my forgiveness?”
“Because I kinda told them you were my fiancé.”
Mike’s eyes widened, his smile vanished, and his voice raised. “You did what?”
“I told Shelley and Maddie you were my fiancé.”
“Huh.” He looked shocked and paused as if mulling it over.
“I was desperate.”
“Gia, I don’t know what to say.” He shook his head vigorously, mouth pressed into a grim line.
“I shouldn’t have done it. I freaked out. It was stupid.” Oh gosh, she’d upset him. Gia raised her shoulders to her ears, cringed.
“Not stupid. Not you. Not even.” His voice gentled. “In fact, it seems natural.”
“What do you mean?” she whispered, feeling all tingly.
“I’m right next door. We’ve been friends for as long as either of us can remember. Why not?” His smile was back, and he looked as if he might be warming to the idea of being her pretend fiancé. He was such an amenable guy.
Her heart swelled against her chest and she felt an odd pressure in her throat. “I’m sorry. Do you hate me?”
“I could never hate you, Short Stack.”
“But I lied and roped you into this crazy drama.”
“For a good cause.” He raked his gaze over her. His eyes were kind, and his smile understanding. “The best cause, actually. Family.”
“Still . . .” She scrunched her nose and bit her lip. “It’s not right.”
“Just out of curiosity . . .” He lowered his voice, and his gaze never left her face. “Why did you pick me?”
“You said you’d do anything for me. Anything at all . . .”
“I meant like mow the yard, or cook dinner, or drive you to the hospital or sit with your grandmother . . .”
“I know. I know. I’m so sorry. It’s way too much to ask for you to be my pretend fiancé. It’s like something out of a goofy romantic comedy. I’m such an idiot.” She dropped her forehead to the bar.
“Hey, I like goofy romantic comedies.”
“I didn’t mean to rope you in. I was desperate to stop Madison and Shelley from fighting and it just popped out.” She banged her head on the counter. “Never mind. I’ll tell the truth. Maybe just knowing I was willing to lie to make this happen will convince them to stay and finish the quilt.”
“Gia?”
“Yes?” she mumbled.
“Look at me.”
She raised her head. The glimmer in his eyes kicked the air from her lungs. “What is it?”
He cupped her chin in his palm and tilted her head to meet his beautiful blue-eyed gaze. “Will you marry me?”
“Wh-what?” Stunned, she gaped at him, her skin tingling from his touch.
“Say yes. Then it’s not a lie. We’ll be officially engaged.”
She shook her head. “Nooo . . . Mike, you don’t have to do this.”
“I know.”
A dozen different emotions pelted her, most of them conflicting. “I—”
“Say yes and it’s not a lie,” he repeated.
This was too much to ask. He was so nice for trying to make her feel better.