Page 61 of Movers and Fakers

“Either way, he’s different with you. I’ve heard about his past. He doesn’t go on more than two dates with a girl.”

“We’ve only been on one, though,” I remind her.

She smiles at me through the mirror.

“Agree to disagree. You went to the Shadow Ring with him. You took him to meet your parents. I’m sure some of your tutor sessions would be considered dates to most girls. All of that is a lot more than he’s done with anyone else.”

Her words spark hope in my chest. I can’t decide whether I want to stamp out the flame or fan it.

“He’s coming to a dance recital tonight,” Marigold says with a laugh. “I don’t care for the guy, but even I can admit that means something. And don’t give us that fake-dating excuse. Hayes Rosewood doesn’t need to fake date anyone. He’s spending time with you because he wants to, plain and simple.”

Jasmine and Saylor both nod their agreement. I bite the inside of my cheek.

After a beat of silence, I mumble, “I need to go. I really am going to be late. But—” I sigh. “I appreciate this. You guys.”

Clearly, I’m a paragon of communication and emotion.

“We’ll always be here for you,” Jasmine says, and squeezes my shoulders.

“If you do kiss him, I want all the details,” Saylor adds with a giggle.

“And if he turns out to be a jerk, I’ll help you make sure he regrets it.” Marigold finishes off the conversation with flair.

A laugh escapes me. However things with Hayes turn out, at least I know I’ve got my best friends on my side.

Chapter thirty

Real

Hayes Rosewood

My security guard, Mac, grunts as he struggles to open the auditorium door while holding fifteen ballerina teddy bears with matching pink roses tied to each one. I try to help him, but it’s difficult when I’m carrying a bouquet the size of a small child and a gift bag.

“Here, I’ll set this down and open the door for you,” I offer, and place the giant cluster of pink and white roses on a nearby table that’s lined with brochures about the dance school Aurora teaches at.

Mac glares at me above the mountain of stuffed animals. I give him a bright smile as I open the door.

“We should have gotten a box,” he grumbles, and shoulders his way through the too-small doorway.

Yeah, probably, but the gift was a little last minute, so there was a lack of forethought put into the transportation aspect. I knew I would get Aurora a gift, but then I realized that the recital is for the little girls she teaches, so I did some research yesterday and called a gift-and-flower shop that’s close to the school. We took Mac’s SUV and piled everything in the back.

Once Mac is inside, I hold the door open with my foot and reach over to grab the roses. A flurry of brochures falls to the floor. I heave a sigh and let the handle go, so that I can clean up my mess. I’m on the floor gathering pamphlets when I hear someone call my name.

“Hayes? Hayes Rosewood is that you?” the feminine voice trills.

I glance over my shoulder and let out a quiet groan. Sheila Truncator, one of my mom’s closest friends. They were sorority sisters, and even though my parents stay in New York more than Atlanta, they’re still close and talk often. Sheila has several kids, and I don’t keep up with any of them beyond what my mom says, but a faint memory of her saying Sheila’s youngest is a dancer comes back to me now. That must be why she’s here.

“Hey, Sheila, how are you?” I ask, and stand up.

She pulls me in for a Chanel-scented hug.

“I’m wonderful! It’s been too long. I was just telling your mother last week that all of us need to get together again. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to support a—” I’m about to say friend, but then Sheila’s eyes dip to my T-shirt. The one Aurora is going to kill me for wearing. The one with her face on it. Yeah, there’s no downplaying this. “My girlfriend,” I sigh.

To everyone on campus, and almost anyone else, I’m happy to pretend Aurora is my girlfriend. But I know as soon as Sheila leaves here—maybe before—she’s going to call my mom saying she didn’t know I was dating someone. Which means shortly after that, my parents are going to call me. I wanted to keep Aurora out of my world, but this chance encounter has ruined that plan.

“Girlfriend?” Sheila squeals. “I was just listening to your mom lament over how you’ll never settle down, but here you are!”