Accidentally Yours Chapter 26

**Lola**

Lola stared down into her own glass like it held the answers to the universe.

“What do you want, then?” Dom asked, teasing.

Enzo’s fingers curled around her shoulder, just a little. “I already have it.”

Gino made a sound between a bark and a scream. “OH my GOD, bro, are you in love?!”

“Shut up,” Enzo muttered.

“You are!” Nico cackled. “Look at you—you’re staring at her like she hung the damn moon.”

Enzo didn’t look away.

“She did. I just didn’t realize I was living in the dark until now.”

***Oh my god.***

Lola rolled her eyes—but yeah, she was blushing.

***I hate him. I hate him so much.***

***I want to lick his teeth.***

She reached for his glass again and took a sip—just to buy herself a second. Then glanced at him over the rim. “You’re lucky you’re pretty. Because you sound insane.”

He smirked, slow and knowing. “You like it.”

***Unfortunately? I really, really do.***

The music shifted—bass low and slow, thumping like a second heartbeat.

Lola didn’t even think. She just turned in Enzo’s lap and swung a leg across his thighs, straddling him like it was the most natural thing to do.

Because maybe it was.

His breath hitched. Subtle. But there.

She leaned in close, arms draped around his shoulders, their faces just inches apart.

“You missed my real dance,” she murmured, her voice dipped in honey and smoke.

“I don’t think it could have gotten any better.”

His hands landed on her hips like he was afraid she’d disappear if he didn’t touch her.

Or maybe afraid he’d do something worse if he did.

“I didn’t mean Cinnamon.” She grinned, rolling her hips slowly. Teasing, not filthy. Sultry, not aggressive.

Just enough to make his eyes drop to her mouth.

Just enough to make her feel powerful.

“I meant this.”

She gave him a little shimmy—playful, almost silly—and then a low, slow grind, her hands threading into his hair as she tucked her face beside his ear.

Soft laugh. Gentle sway. The kind of dance that lingers.

Not a show.

A secret.

“You keep looking at me like I hung the stars,” she whispered. “You’re gonna ruin my self-esteem. I was doing great at pretending to be unlovable.”

He laughed, low and rough. “Too late. I’ve already started assigning planets in your name.”

***Goddammit.***

***Who gave this man permission to be sexy and sentimental?***

She rolled her eyes and pressed a kiss to his cheek—innocent. Dangerous.

Then she slid off his lap and back into her seat with a wink. “That’s all you get, Don Juan. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

He looked wrecked. And not even sorry. “Yeah. You and your universal boobs.”

***I like this version of him. Relaxed. Smiling. A little dazed, probably from the alcohol.***

***Like he forgot the world exists outside of this moment.***

The music faded out with a lazy thump, and the strippers scattered like glittery fairies—leaving behind the scent of vanilla, sin, and sweat-soaked dollar bills.

Lola leaned back, satisfied. She stretched with a groan, then stood up and promptly dropped herself into Nico’s lap.

“Uh—hello?” he blinked, hands hovering. “Do I get a choice?”

“Nope,” she said, settling in like he was a $300 ergonomic office chair. “Just smile and absorb the trauma.”

***I could let the lie sit. Let them believe what they saw.***

***But these guys don’t deserve smoke and mirrors—especially not from me.***

***I actually really like these guys, even Gino.***

She grabbed Marco’s drink and tossed it back. “Okay, so. Cards on the table. Since the glitter’s settled and nobody’s actively bleeding...”

Gino leaned forward like he was about to hear a prophecy.

Lola wiggled her ring finger. The heart-shaped pink diamond caught the light like a wink.

“This? The engagement? Totally fake.”

Nico blinked. “Wait. What?”

Dom narrowed his eyes. “Define fake.”

“Define why?” Marco added.

Lola sighed. “When the armed mob kicked down my door, I panicked. Enzo panicked. And to stop you all from shooting me or turning my apartment into a crime scene, he told you I was his fiancée.”

“You said it?” Gino’s face scrunched. “But—wait—I announced it. Oh my god I told Auntie and your sister...”

“You did,” Enzo muttered, dragging a hand down his face. “We were hoping to clear it up quietly.”

Lola pointed at Gino. “You walked in and told the entire FAMILY we were in love and planning a future together. We barely had time to put pants on.”

“I got excited!” Gino shouted, hands in the air. “These guys told me about it and I got all excited… I don’t know, man, there was vibe!”

Dom choked. “You saw a vibe and committed to a lifelong lie?”

Gino looked around the table. “You all believed it too! Don’t put this on me!”

Marco pointed at Lola. “She’s hot, and he looked like a man freshly wrecked. It added up.”

Enzo, silent until now, finally spoke—softly. Calmly. “Wasn’t supposed to last beyond the moment. But…”

He looked at Lola. Something quiet passed between them. Something that didn’t feel fake at all.

“…maybe it wasn’t a lie after all.”

***Oh no.***

***Oh no no no.***

Lola looked away first. Nico made a low whistle under his breath.

Gino clutched his chest. “I knew it. I knew you were my future cousin-in-law.”

“It’s not real,” Lola snapped.

“It’s not not real,” Nico said.

Dom held up his drink. “To trauma bonding and poor impulse control.”

Marco clinked his glass. “Cheers to that.”

***Of course, everyone’s on board and no one even cares.*** 

They gathered up their shit—wobbly legs, open tabs, and broken emotional boundaries.

“I’m hungry,” Gino whined.

“You just ate mints and someone’s fries,” Dom said.

“That wasn’t a meal, that was a journey,” Gino countered.

As they walked toward the exit, Lola felt Enzo’s hand slide low against her back.

“You good?” he asked quietly.

“I’m wearing three-inch heels, I’ve been fake-engaged for twelve hours, and your cousin told a stripper we were soulmates.” She paused. “Yeah. I’m good.”

He leaned in. “You’re mine, you know.”

She smirked. “We’ll see.”