Page 40 of Movers and Fakers

“And I think you know by now how little I care about what you prefer,” I shoot back.

He chuckles, and warmth pools deep in my abdomen.

“If people hear you they’re going to think you don’t like me,” he teases.

I roll my eyes. “If they think that after you were all over me tonight, there’s no hope for their comprehension skills.”

His hand lifts and he brushes a strand of my hair back, then runs his fingertips over my jawline.

“If we broke rule number one things would be cleared up pretty quickly,” he murmurs.

My breath catches, and I have to fight to keep up with the conversation.

“If we break rule number one, it’s not going to be in front of all these people.”

Pleasant surprise lights his gaze.

“Interesting phrasing. A lot of implications hidden within it.”

“Shut up and take me home,” I grumble.

His grin widens. I smack his bare chest.

“Not like that!”

He laughs again and takes a step back.

“Let me change and then we’ll leave. I’ve tortured you enough.”

“You can say that again.”

My words come out gruff, but I’m finding it hard not to smile as he dodges everyone who tries to talk to him so that we can leave. Just like he promised. Maybe this whole fake-dating thing won’t be so bad.

Chapter twenty

Sunday at Six

Hayes Rosewood

Aurora looks down at her phone with a pained expression, the blue light casting her face in an odd glow.

“Something wrong?” I ask as I close the basement door behind me, leaving the party to continue without us. It’s not like me to bail right after a fight, but I’d be bored without Aurora, and leaving with her makes our relationship look all the more real.

Her pink lips purse to the side. She turns the screen toward me.

Mom: I checked your location and saw that you’re out! Are you at a party? Having fun? Send pictures!

Mom: Your father says to be safe and let us know when you’re back home. I told him I can track you but he doesn’t believe the little dot.

The time stamps on the messages are from twenty minutes ago.

“Your mom is happy you’re out late?” I ask with a laugh.

Aurora frowns as she turns her phone back toward her.

“I told you they think I should get out more. I haven’t told them about us yet. I’m sure when I do I’ll get a whole slew of questions.”

I gesture for her to head up the stairs. No sense in having this conversation down here. She starts up them and I follow.