Page 65 of Off the Mark
I stood as Charlie slid her hands into her pockets. “Even though I messed up big-time with James?”
“Don’t worry about Patronizing McAsshole.Helooked like the dick, not you.”
“But I fell for it. I’m worried Bettencourt will be mad.”
Dempsey touched Charlie’s wrist. “You made an inspiring speech, stood up to a condescending jerk,andyou and Rowan have been all anyone can talk about. You done good tonight, babe.”
Charlie’s gaze met mine, her eyebrows quirked in surprise. I winked and her lips tipped into a smile that felt like a secret, just between us.
Though who was I kidding—wedidhave a secret just between us. We were making all of this up.
I extended my hand and Charlie took it. “Ready to go back in?”
“Let’s do it,” she said, back straight and chin lifted. She waved to a few fans who’d been ogling nearby, and they erupted into peals of happy laughter. But beneath her confidence, I sensed her shy hope, could feel her fingers squeezing mine, and that, more than anything—even more than an almost-kiss—had my heart hammering against my ribcage.
That, more than anything, made me wish that my fake girlfriend was mine for real.
16
ROWAN
Dean peered around at our surroundings like we were standing on Mars. He squinted against the summer sun. Sipped his coffee. Shrugged.
“Why’d you bring me out to the suburbs again?”
I glanced up from the pile of signs I was crouched over. “What’s wrong with the suburbs? It’s nice out here. There’sgrass,dude.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “But no one’s yelled at me from their stoop. And there’s too much parking. It’s too easy to find a spot.”
My phone buzzed with an all-caps text message from my grandmother that read ARE YOU COMING TO FAMILY DINNER OR HAVE YOU ABANDONED ME FOR GOOD?
“Our very nosy family members can still be disappointed in us though,” I said with a grin, showing him the text.
He snorted and took the phone. “I’m telling Alice that Tabitha and I will be there tonight along with Mom and Midge. As long as you think that’s okay?”
“More than okay. Your parents make her laugh, and she needs it right now. It’s also hot as hell so we could turn it into a kiddie pool night.”
“Smart plan.” Dean tapped away before taking out his phone and sending another text. “I told Tab to call Kathleen and invite her and her boozy book club.”
I cocked my thumb and index finger with a wink. “That’ll do it. Alice loves hearing their tipsy explanations of whatever romance novel they read.”
Most summer nights on 10th Street were spent around a dingy kiddie pool that Dean’s parents filled with icy water and dragged into the middle of the sidewalk. Midge, Maria, Eddie and my grandmother sat and gossiped, feet in the pool, cold drinks in their hands. Occasionally calling over other neighbors as they strolled by.
Though it was growing in size—Tabitha’s stepmother, Kathleen, was now a special guest, as was that book club and the frozen alcoholic drinks they offered.
It always cheered my grandmother up. And I’d do anything at this point to do that.
I rose from the ground holding two signs, one for me and one for Dean. A large crowd was forming around us, eager fans here for a morning race at one of the dirt bike tracks outside of the city. I hadn’t seen Charlie yet, though I was extremely aware of her getting ready with her bike, milling about with other riders in their helmets and gear.
And I was also aware that my body was strung tight as a bow, skin already buzzing at the thought of seeing her ride again.
“What do you think? Do these say something likehey, Charlie, I’m happy to cheer you on at your race in a normal way?”
He was silent, studying both with his usual seriousness. Maybe it was the sun, but I swore he was fighting a smile. “I don’t know. Is that amount of glitter…normal?”
I stared down at the pile of signs which were covered in so much glitter it was gonna be a problem. “I, uh…might have gone a little overboard.”
“How many signs did you bring today?”
