Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 19643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
"You can touch me, you know," she says quietly, her voice just for me. "It's supposed to look convincing."
Carefully, I settle my hand on her waist. The curve fits perfectly in my palm. She's soft and warm, and it takes every ounce of restraint not to pull her closer.
James grins and gives us a thumbs-up. "Perfect! Now smile. No, not like you're in pain, Elise, or being held at gunpoint. Like you actually know each other, and maybe, you know, actually like each other. Like you're happy standing beside him ... not looking like you just swallowed a demon insect."
She laughs at that, a genuine sound that makes her body shake slightly against mine. I find myself laughing too, not at James's direction, but at the absurdity of this whole situation. Ten years of wanting her from afar, and now I'm holding her, taking fake couple photos, and she has no idea what she does to me.
"One more," James says, snapping another picture. "Okay, one more. Last one, I promise."
"You said that three photos ago," Elise complains, but she's smiling.
Finally, James seems satisfied and shows us the results. A series of photos of us laughing together, my arm around her waist, her looking up at me with a smile that seems almost ... real.
Damn.
We look good together, really good, and the thought sends a dangerous thrill through me.
"We should work on our backstory," I say as James scrolls through the photos. "You know, make sure we're convincing. I could come by tomorrow?"
"I live above the coffee shop, Jane's Brew. It's tiny."
"I don't mind. Just to rehearse what we'll tell people."
She nods. "I finish my shift at three."
"I'll text you when I'm on my way."
We exchange numbers and walk to James's car. Elise slides into the passenger seat, and I close the door for her. Through the window, she gives me a small smile and a wave. I wave back, fighting the urge to press my palm against the glass like some lovesick teenager.
Jesus Christ. I'm almost thirty, and I'm acting like this.
Pathetic, obsessive fool.
James circles around to the driver's side but pauses beside me, well out of Elise's earshot.
He elbows me in the ribs. "Goddamn. I was right all along. I thought I was imagining the way you looked at her back in high school."
"Shut the fuck up, James," I grit out, but I'm not really denying it.
He laughs and shakes his head. "You are in trouble, my man. Rehearsal my ass."
Despite myself, I chuckle.
He's right. I am in trouble. Deep, deep trouble.
And I'm just getting started.
===
3
ELISE
Today will be fine. Absolutely fine. Just a normal day where a gorgeous, successful basketball player worth millions happens to be visiting my tiny apartment above a coffee shop to practice being my fake boyfriend.
I wipe down the counter for the third time in five minutes, glancing at the clock again. 2:47 PM. Thirteen minutes until my shift ends.
"That's the cleanest countertop in America," Jane says, nudging me with her elbow as she passes. "Want to tell me why you've been jumping at every sound the bell makes for the last hour?"
"I'm not jumping."
The bell chimes as the door opens, and I nearly drop the rag. Jane gives me a look that says I've proven her point.
"Just expecting someone," I say, relaxing when I see it's just Joyce coming for her daily cappuccino.
"Someone?" Jane waggles her eyebrows.
I'm saved from answering when Joyce approaches the counter, and I take my time making her drink, adding the perfect milk foam heart. When I turn back, Jane is still watching me, arms crossed.
"It's nothing. Just ... remember the guy I mentioned? From high school? Not James, but Elias. He's coming by to talk about the reunion."
Jane's eyes narrow. "The basketball player? Your crush from—"
"Shh! Yes, that one." I glance around nervously, though the café only has three customers, none within earshot.
"Well, well. Maybe this reunion thing won't be so bad after all."
The bell chimes again, and this time my heart actually stops. For a beat or two. Because there he is.
Elias ducks his head as he enters the café, those green eyes scanning the room before landing on me. He's wearing jeans and a simple navy t-shirt that stretches across his shoulders in a way that makes all my lady parts tingle. His hair is slightly rumpled, like he's been running his hand through it.
The floor under my feet is gone, and I'm sliding through it, with absolutely nothing to break my fall.
"Holy shit," Jane whispers. "That's actually him."
Elias approaches the counter, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Hey, Elise."
Just two words, and my stomach does a full somersault. I manage a smile that I hope doesn't look as shaky as it feels. "Hey."
Jane is staring openly, and I clear my throat. "Um, Jane, this is Elias. Elias, this is my sister, Jane."