Page 63 of How to Kidnap a Fake Date
‘Eliza,’ I say, smoothing down my clothes and wiping my mouth. ‘Don’t say anything.’
‘As if I’m keeping this story to myself. I didn’t know you had it in you. Do you know that Fraser and I had a bet that Roman didn’t even know you existed and was just a ploy?’ Eliza holds up her hands as Roman rights his trousers, barely able to meet my eyes. ‘Well, you sure showed me. Not only does he exist, but you two are a bunch of dirty horn-boxes.’
I’m stumped as to what to say. The fact that they didn’t believe me hurts. Albeit, more so because they were right. I’m predictably pathetic.
Eliza heads off with a laugh, and I turn to Roman with my cheeks three-bars red.
‘I can’t believe she saw that,’ I say, mortified.
Roman drags a thumb over my chin, removing a streak of white that I missed. My mortification monitor increases.
‘Did I have cum on my chin the whole time?’ I squeak.
‘I think it suits you.’ His eyes darken before he takes my hand and drags me along the corridor.
20
ROMAN
My head is thumping, from the booze or the squashing of Maggie’s thighs, I’m not sure.
But I need air. ‘Come on, let’s go outside a minute before we head upstairs.’
Maggie follows. Her cheeks are flushed, curls escaping their earlier taming now thoroughly undone. We steal two cocktails from a passing server and slip out like teenagers bunking off school early.
Outside hits me with a wave of freshness. It’s cold and rainy, and much needed.
The stone terrace glistens under the lights, rain dropping steadily. I inhale the smell of damp earth and smoke. Maggie tips her head back to let the rain hit her face, smiling softly. After our heated and likely misguided encounter in the alcove, it’s exactly what I needed to calm back down.
Not that I regret it, but my growing feelings for Maggie are complicating things. I should want to escape, but instead I find myself craving the next touch.
With heavy tread, Eddie steps out of the shadows.
He’s drunk. Messy-drunk. His gaze is positively menacing. He saunters, his body is loose, but those eyes are deadly, social graces utterly abandoned as he lurches towards us.
‘Running away already?’ he says, voice slick.
Maggie stiffens beside me.
I move to angle my body in front of her.
‘Look at you, all knight in shining armour for my little Maggie. You barely know her, but I’ve loved her since I was ten.’
‘We’re just getting some air,’ I say. ‘We don’t want any of your shit. Maggie doesn’t want you. Get over yourself.’
He laughs. An ugly sound.
‘Her wanting me isn’t necessary.’ His gaze slides over us; it’s like being dunked in raw sewage. ‘You know, it’s funny. You think you can just walk in here. Play pretend withmy girl.’
My stomach tightens. ‘Pretend what?’
‘That you’re not who you are.’
The rain runs down Eddie’s face, dripping off his chin. He doesn’t blink.
‘I know all about you. All your online bullshit. The fact that you’re a fucking liar. Does Maggie know who you really are? A cunt who’s convinced half the population you’re someone worth listening to.’
My pulse thunders as his eyes sweep over Maggie.
