“Snip, snip,” I whisper.
He draws back, looking at me as his face splits into a wide grin, and he laughs. It’s deep and full, and it comes from low in his chest, making him appear taller as he embraces it.
It’s like real-life magic.
I watch him, entranced, as the door opens.
“Hey, you two. Sorry to keep you waiting so long.” Stuart grins, standing back so we can walk in.
I kiss him on both cheeks. Then Reed shakes his hand as they pat each other on the back.
“Wow.” My mouth hangs open as I look around the beautiful hallway. It’s bright and inviting, with giant black and white family images on the walls. I assume they must be Stuart’s brother and family if the resemblance is anything to go by.
“Yeah… my brother married an interior designer. She can tell you any New York hotel, just by looking at its room décor. It’s bordering on an obsession requiring institutional intervention.” Stuart laughs. “Come on through. Everyone’s out back.”
We follow him to the back of the house into an open-plan kitchen and dining area. The giant folding doors are open, allowing the room to flow seamlessly out onto the large, flat manicured lawn and gardens. It’s stunning. I guess this is what you can get for your money if you live somewhere like Riverdale. It’s so much greener than Manhattan. A family’s dream.
Stuart introduces us to his brother, Reuben, and wife, Nina, and he points out his girlfriend, Shannon, who waves at us from across the lawn. I smile and give her a wave back, but then my attention is stolen by a whirl of giggles and party hats as a gaggle of children tear past us in the direction of a trailer where a man is unloading animals. I watch in fascination as a small pony is led out and placed in a pen on the grass.
“Reed!” I point over at the pony and then squeal as it’s joined by a micro pig and small sheep.
He looks down at me, eyes crinkling. “Why don’t I find you a party hat and you can join the kids?”
“Really?” I wiggle my hips side to side on the spot. “Look! There’s a goat!”
“I’ve seen a goat before, Harley.”
I shove him in the arm, but he doesn’t even wobble. It’s like pushing a boulder up a mountain. We’ve only just arrived, but I can already tell this was a great idea. I feel better about today already.
“I bet you haven’t seen one in a pink bow, though. Look.” I point over to the happy little goat whose tail is shaking as it bleats in its pen.
“It’s a goat. Why does it need a fucking bow?”
I lean into Reed’s side and pat him on the chest with my palm. Even though this is a friend’s party, only Stuart and his girlfriend know we aren’t a real couple. It’s getting much easier to be physically close to Reed when we’re out now. Maybe I’m just getting better at acting, but it feels so much more natural as each day goes by.
“Oh, shut up, party-pooper. It’s her party outfit. I think she looks sweet.”
Reed wraps his arm around my waist and dips his nose to my hair. “How do you know it’s a she?” He squints toward the goat’s little furry tummy.
“Just a feeling.” I smile and blow a kiss to the goat, who is watching us.
The grumble in Reed’s throat vibrates against my forehead where he’s pulled me into him.
“What?” I lean back to look at him.
“Harls, you’re blowing a kiss to a goat.”
“And why not? It’s the only thing I am blowing since our arrangement began.” I hold in my laugh for as long as I can until it bursts out, fueled by the murderous look crossing Reed’s handsome features.
“On second thoughts”—he pulls me back against him and leans down so his warm lips graze my ear, sending electricity dancing over my skin—“I’d rather see you French fucking kiss the flea-ridden thing than ever imagine what you might be doing if you weren’t mine at this exact moment in time.”
I crane my neck and look up at him as he pulls back, his eyes burning into mine.
His?
Fake his, obviously. That’s what he means. Still, the way he says it, his eyes dropping to my lips and back up again. If this was real, then I would be in serious trouble of falling deep. I don’t think there’s a middle ground with Reed. Just the way he says it,‘his’, tells me that once you have his heart, you’ll never doubt the strength of love again. Bea was a fool. Whatever she did that hurt him, she’s paying for it now by missing out on him. Maybe that’s why she was such a bitch at the dinner. He’s never had a girlfriend since her. She was always the one that no one ever replaced. No one ever followed. She left too big of a hole behind. But then she saw me. She doesn’t know this isn’t real. She sees Reed finally moving on. She sees what she lost.
And for now, what she lost is mine.