Contract boyfriend

Alessia groaned, burying her face in her palms. "I have just a week to get a boyfriend. Fuck."

The sound of crunching chips filled the air, drawing her attention to the woman sitting across from her, unfazed by the crisis at hand.

Straightening up, Alessia narrowed her eyes. "You're really not going to say anything?" she demanded, arms crossed.

Brielle barely spared her a glance before rolling her eyes. "What else is there to say? I've told you already-quit the lie. Just tell your family the truth. They won't kill you. They might be pissed, sure, but that's as bad as it'll get," Brielle said, tossing another chip into her mouth. She pointed a manicured finger at Alessia. "And honestly, you're not finding a man like that in a week."

Alessia sighed and let her gaze wander around the lunchroom. The days were slipping away, and she still couldn't confess to her family or, worse, find a fake boyfriend.

If only she had kept her mouth shut. She wouldn't be in this mess. After successfully dodging family visits for two years, they had insisted on her presence this year.

Mama had mentioned she'd been avoiding them-accurately so-but Alessia had denied it, using her "busy schedule" as an excuse for not traveling the world to see them.

The truth was, home stirred up memories-painful ones. It was the reason she'd left Italy for America, searching for a fresh start. But then Mama dropped the bomb: Antonio was getting married.

Alessia had no idea how to process that, so she had said nothing. Mama, sensing her unease, reassured her.

"We know, Amore, this must be hard for you. It's okay to feel sad, angry-whatever you feel. But we want you home, sweetie."

Alessia's emotions spiraled out of control. "I've moved on. It's been two years," she had snapped, ignoring the tightening in her chest. But that was where she messed up. Mama had then asked her to come home if she'd truly moved on and even invited her to attend Antonio's wedding-his wedding.

Mama's subtle hint about bringing someone with her hadn't gone unnoticed by Alessia. When she hesitated, Mama assured her that it was okay to come alone. And that's when Alessia's big mouth betrayed her.

She had told her mother she was seeing someone. Someone serious. And yes, they would come to the wedding.

Now, she couldn't bring herself to tell Mama it was all a lie. And how she had felt so small and insignificant at that moment, not wanting their pity.

And now, she was in deep.

"You know, you could save yourself the headache and ask Noah to go with you. He fits your description," Brielle said, snapping Alessia out of her reverie.

Alessia's face twisted in disgust. "Ew, no thanks," she huffed. The last person she wanted to involve in this farce was Noah. Fucking Noah. Brielle only shrugged, glancing at her watch as she began gathering her things.

"Suit yourself," she said, slamming her hands on the table loud enough to turn a few heads. Alessia raised an eyebrow.