“Why are you being nice?”
I rear back. “What does that mean?”
She lifts a shoulder in a lazy shrug. “I guess I just thought, even if we’re in this scheme together, that you’d treat me more like the enemy. I assumed you’d be in this for yourself. I didn’t expect you to be almost like…a friend.”
Her honesty softens me. It’s unnerving how much I like knowing how she feels. “Don’t friend-zone me. We still have to act like we’re in love. And I’m still going to fuck you, princess.”
Corinne sniffles, then laughs. “There’s the jerk I expected.”
“You’re welcome.” I flash her a grin.
I should feel better that we’re on a less touchy-feely footing, but I don’t. She was opening up to me, and I just didn’t know what to say.
When I was with Hadley, we rarely connected on this level. For years, I assumed I sucked at being sensitive because she brushed off conversations and initiated sex instead. Looking back, it’s obvious she not only didn’t love me, she didn’t care at all.
Fuck, I’ve buried most thoughts about my ex since the breakup. But today, her ghost has been everywhere. I need to put it to rest and focus on Corinne.
“I’m going to brush my teeth and go to bed.” She stands.
Without even stopping to think, I grab her wrist and tug her down to my lap.
“Xavian?” Perched on my thighs, she blinks at me.
Shit, what am I starting here? “Are you going to be okay?”
A smile curls up her lips. They aren’t painted some sexy color. Her face is devoid of all makeup. Her hair is pulled away from her face, without any hint of the tumbling curls I want to grab in my fists. And I still think she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever touched, especially when my simple question makes her smile.
“I think so. Thanks.”
“Listen, if you need tonight to yourself, I’ve got four other beds in this house. I’ll find one of them.”
Normally, I never show mercy. But Corinne seems so down, and I like that, right now, she doesn’t think I’m a douchebag.
“It’s your bed. I’ll find another one.”
But something about the idea of her in mine, half-naked on my sheets, isn’t just a turn on, it feels right. Like she belongs here.
It’s official; I’m crazy.
“Stay. I’ll grab a few things and be out of your hair.”
“I thought you said we need to get used to each other.”
“You’ve been through enough today. We’ll work it out tomorrow.”
“Thanks.”
Even though I’d ten times rather slip my hand under her shirt—to test my theory that she isn’t wearing a bra—while I kiss her breathless, I help her to her feet and gather my stuff. “I’ll be down the hall if you need me.”
She nods. “Good night.”
At the door, I hesitate, remembering that we have business. “My best friend, Hayes, and his wife, Echo, are flying in for our party tomorrow. They’ll be staying here this weekend.”
“So we’ll have to be constantly on? And we’ll have to sleep together?”
“Yeah. If we want to keep up pretenses, there will be no way around it. Get ready…”
The airport is a zoo.
Hayes and Echo enter baggage claim, looking the same as always—in a good way. My buddy’s bohemian wife loves hiking and outdoor activities, so he’s avoided the desk-jockey paunch tons of guys get. And they’re obviously happy, walking hand in hand, like they share a secret the rest of the world will never understand.
“X!” Echo darts for me, skirts swishing, arms outstretched.
“Hey!” I scoop her up in a big hug and twirl her around.
“That’s my wife, scumbag. Hands off,” Hayes growls, grinning from ear to ear.
“I let you have her V-card,” I protest, joking about our graduation trip to Maui right after college, when Echo asked me to do the honors because Hayes still hadn’t noticed she was female and fuckable. Thank god he came to his senses.
“That’s the only reason you’re alive.”
Echo laughs. “It’s ancient history. Forget it.”
“As long as you remember you’re mine,” my pal insists before enveloping me in a bro-hug. “How the hell are you? Where’s your soon-to-be better half?”
“Having her hair and makeup done for the party.”
I had to twist Corinne’s arm to keep the appointments Harlow made on her behalf. She worked all morning while we talked through our ruse. Together, we agreed to release a picture I swiped from Duke’s footage of me kneeling at Corinne’s feet, ring in hand, to social media, along with a statement officially announcing our engagement. Then we turned off our phones, knowing the world was about to explode. The last hurdle? Our fabricated meet cute has to hold water.
“Aww.” Echo frowns. “I was hoping to chat before the festivities.”
I get it. She’s only been gone a few hours, and it’s already weird not having her around. I…miss her. At least I think that’s what I’m feeling.