Page 84 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

“Ya know, kills the bird with the two stones? We’re both getting what we need?”

She shakes her head again. Clearly I’m getting the saying wrong. Frustrated, I say, “You know, because now everyone’s left me alone about the whole dating thing. Oh, and I’ve been posting about the whole thing on my Instagram page and people are loving it. So now I’m selling more books, too.” I shrug since that about sums it up. “And that’s basically the story.”

“What?” Billie looks to me, confused.

“Yeah, that’s about it.” Well, it’s not all of it. There’s also that teensy thing about Monty and me having sex so I can figure out what I like, but that seems a bit too personal to share. Some things should be private between Monty and me. “So we’re fake dating until he finishes his book. And then we’ll break up and go back to being friends.”

Even as I say the words out loud, my stomach rolls at the thought of this all ending. Fuck, I shouldn’t have slept with him.

Billie coughs out a laugh and then slaps a hand over her mouth. “Oh, Penny, no.”

“I’m being serious! That’s the story.”

“You read romance, right?” She’s wearing a smile now.

“Yes…obviously.”

“So you must have read a book where two best friends realize they have long-standing feelings for each other but deny it for a long time because they’re afraid to mess up the friendship.”

“Yeah, friends to lovers.” I roll my eyes. “It’s a great trope. If done right, of course.”

“Penny.” Billie’s expression turns serious again. “Monty wanted to kiss you because he liked you. He basically told you that!”

“No, he didn’t. He said he could kiss me like that, not that he wanted to.”

“And has he since then?” She quirks a brow as if she already knows the answer.

I shake my head to tell her it’s not like that, but she holds up a finger.

“He claimed you as his girlfriend in front of the entire town.”

I shrug. Okay, yeah, he did do that. But it was only because he was trying to protect me.

“And he asked you to help him learn about chemistry so he could write a better book.”

“I don’t know why you’re just repeating what I told you.”

“So you can hear the words yourself,” Billie cuts in, exasperated. “Penny, Monty likes you! Hell, my panties were even wet after that kiss he just gave you at the door. Let me guess, he said it was because I was parked outside.”

My lips twist. “He said we could go with that.”

She snorts.

“And that’s after he showed me the tattoos on his chest,” I continue, sinking my head into my hands and hiding from her.

“What tattoos?”

Between my fingers, I spy the huge smile on her face.

“One of a maple tree and a bonfire. They were our thing in high school; we used to spend hours under that tree at the bottom of his garden.”

My fingers settle against my lips as I remember the way Monty looked into my eyes and told me he wanted to add me onto his chest, beneath that tree, right where I belong.

“What do I do?” I ask Billie now.

“My help ended at pointing out the obvious.” Her shoulders fall in defeat. “When it comes to relationships, I’m even less experienced than you or Monty.”

I blow out a breath and my bangs fan upward. “Fuck, Billie, I really like him.”