Page 209 of Love Unwritten

She nods.

“Who?”

Her nose scrunches in distaste. “You’re not going to like it.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to have to ask you to keep the whole thing a secret from Rafael.”

“It’s always been a secret—” I pause and stare at her for a few beats. “No.” There is only one reason Willow would want me to keep Operation Fake Fiancée from Rafael in the first place, and it can only be because…

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Please tell me you’re not thinking of her.”

Her lips purse. “She wasn’t my first choice.”

“That’s a perfect reason to pick someone else.”

“I did.”

“But?” I ask.

“Lorenzo refused everyone else.”

“Of course he did. Rafael is the least of your worries because once Julian finds out…”

“Lily knows that.”

“But she applied anyway?”

“Not exactly.”

“Willow.” I say her name with a groan.

“I know this isn’t ideal.”

“Ideal? I like her way too much to subject her to that kind of torture.”

“Lorenzo isn’t the worst guy out there.”

“Does he use that slogan on his dating profile?”

My best friend glares. “With the election fast approaching, we’re out of options.”

I drop my head into my hands and groan. “I can’t keep this from Rafael.”

She takes a brief pause before speaking again. “Can you trust him with a secret like this?”

“I hope so because omitting the truth isn’t happening.” There is no way in hell I could pretend to be unaware of Lily and Lorenzo’s fake relationship, especially if it means Lorenzo spending time around the Muñoz and Lopez families.

Her head falls back against the vinyl booth. “If he tells Julian…”

“I know.”

“Lily doesn’t want her family to know the truth.”

Why would she choose to do this in the first place? It’s not like Lily needs the cash, seeing as Dahlia, Julian, or Rafael could bail her out in a heartbeat, so I’m not sure what her reasoning is for fake-dating Lorenzo.

“What is she getting out of this?” I ask the question aloud.