“Boyfriend,” Marion repeated. It was difficult to tell if she was upset or surprised.

No, that wasn’t right. Parker’s entire family appeared shell-shocked. The memory of Parker crying over Theo slid through me, and I knew with cold certainty she hadn’t brought a man around them since.

Her hand grew clammy, but she gripped me a bit tighter. “Ah, yes … that is …” She glanced at an expectant Fairchild. “We just started dating.”

Fairchild nodded with impatience, his hand returning to my shoulder. I really fucking hated when he touched me. My muscles clenched but I held still. Not that he’d noticed. “Rhys, why don’t we let Parker catch her parents up? There are some men I want you to meet. They’re really interested in investing in the sport.”

At this point, I figured it would be a blessing to get out of Parker’s hair. She looked one step away from screaming. Fairchild waved to a group of men in the crowd. He then grabbed my arm and tugged like I was a dog on a leash.

Money. I needed sponsors to save the gym.

Parker. I needed to pander to this asshole or she’d be in trouble.

Gritting my teeth, I let him lead me away. This truly was the party from hell.

Fourteen

Parker

There were very few moments in my life when I wasn’t happy to see my parents. This was one of those rare moments. I watched Fairchild lead Rhys across the lawn toward a tall, blond man, wishing he’d stayed. The comforting feel of his hand clasping mine had been the only thing holding me together when Fairchild announced to my family that Rhys and I were dating.

That I wanted to be comforted by Rhys was a contradiction because he was the reason I dreaded the next few moments. I would have to lie to my parents and my sister.

How had this fake dating business spiraled so completely out of control?

And where was that damn door to the sand-snake dimension so I could throw myself through?

Strike that.

I was absolutely shoving Franklin Fairchild through that door if it ever did make a miraculous appearance.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” I wheezed out, my chest tight with anxiety. “Or that you knew Franklin Fairchild.”

Dad’s brows drew together. “Everyone knows Fairchild. Your mother is on several charity boards with Fairchild’s wife, Evelyn.”

I hadn’t known that.

Crap.

“Oh.”

“We had breakfast not that long ago and you never mentioned a boyfriend,” Easton mused, her tone unhappy. “Especially not one who looks like that.”

“Like what?”

She shrugged. “Like one of the strippers we’ll hopefully hire in Hawaii.”

“Strippers?” my parents said in unison, my dad’s eyebrows raised, my mother’s mouth open in horror.

Ignoring them both, I scowled at my sister. “Don’t objectify him.”