Page 16 of Lie For Me

‘My constant…. What are you talking about?’

‘I’m getting into character, thinking about how we are as a couple, what irritates me about you, what creates tension in our relationship. Your lateness is definitely a flash point for me.’ Jack landed on an article about female shepherds. ‘I’m also thinking your casual attitude to shoe ownership is a concern.’

‘I think you find everything about me charming and are deeply indulgent of what others might see as my flaws,’ Lucy said. ‘After all, you are a fake boyfriend, so we can make this the ideal relationship. You can find my lateness amusing, and in return, I promise to find your condescension endearing.’

‘I am not condescending,’ Jack protested. ‘I admit to being occasionally patronising.’

‘That’s exactly what a condescending person would say,’ Lucy retorted.

Jack skimmed an article about someone who had left a stressful career as a lawyer in London and now made cheese for a living.

‘I’m thinking I call you darling,’ he hid behind the magazine, ‘and you call me big man.’ He stared at a picture of a converted lighthouse and clenched his jaw as he tried not to laugh.

Lucy burst out laughing and spilt some of her water.

‘Ha! Forget it. That’s not going to happen. I’ll decide what my pet name for you is. I’m thinking…. cupcake.’

‘Ummm, no. How about dream machine?’ Jack countered.

Lucy snorted into her glass. ‘Okay, not cupcake. I think maybe bunny is the way to go.’

Jack shook his head firmly. ‘I won’t reply if you call me bunny.’ He flipped a page. ‘But if you were to call me captain…’

He buried his face in the magazine, his shoulders shaking.

‘Captain?! Call you captain?!’ Lucy howled, doubling over and clutching at her side. ‘Captain of what, exactly? Okay, yes,’ she laugh-gasped, ‘I will call you captain. Just to watch you spend the weekend explaining to people that it’s got nothing to do with military service or owning a boat.’

Jack closed the magazine and tossed it onto the coffee table, dislodging a coaster that said Plan to be spontaneous tomorrow.

‘Okay, not captain then. Maybe you should stick with the usual ones. You can call me honey.’

‘Okay, honey, it is. And you can call me darling or,’ Lucy looked mischievous, ‘Angel. That’ll work.’

Jack snorted.

‘We’re trying to make this relationship believable, Luce. People will think I don’t know you at all. I’ll see what inspires me in the moment.’

The smile disappeared from Lucy’s face, and she held out a hand in front of her.

‘Jack, please don’t embarrass—’

‘Hey.’ He held up his hand and cut her off, ‘I’m an artist—let me work.’

He made a face like he was trying to channel his muse.

Lucy looked like she was regretting asking him to come, and for a moment, she seemed uncertain as she hovered in the doorway, her expressive grey-green eyes full of questions. It surprised him how quickly she had gone from laughing at the silliness of the ruse to real concern.

He watched as she fiddled with her glass.

‘It’s just….’ She stopped and took a breath. ‘I can’t get much right where my family is concerned.’

He could see she was chewing over how to explain herself.

She gave a half smile and counted off on her fingers.

‘Wrong degree, wrong job, living in the wrong part of the country, not married—or even engaged. And they like to go over what I could do differently—better—when we’re together….’

In a small voice, she added, ‘I’m just trying to give them less ammunition for the weekend, by bringing you. Not more.’

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