Page 48 of It Started at the Lake

“Because you’re a dude.” She says this like it’s obvious.

“Yeah, but every guy has different tastes.”

Her eyes get big, imploring. “Every. Man. Bennett. There’s something I’m doing wrong. Help me figure out what it is.”

Annoyances. I can do this. “I will do my best, Mils. But from what I know of you so far, you’re amazing.”

She smiles at me, but it isn’t her usual one, full of sunshine and joy. It’s sad. “Thank you, but we’re still getting to know one another. When we spend more time together, I’m hoping you’ll be able to tell me.”

“Okay. Are there any other rules we need in place?” I can’t think of any, which means there are a ton of circumstances we should prepare for.

She shakes her head. “I think making it look natural is the best way to approach this. Though we’ll probably need to steal glances at one another often and be flirty with each other.”

There are a lot of positive things I can say about Millie. But saying them in a teasing, affectionate manner will take practice. One, I’m way out of practice. Two, it’s someone other than Jen. “Right. Yes. We should do that.”

“What’s your plan when you get home in August? How do we ‘break up’?” She finger quotes the last two words. “And how will you keep Evie and your mom off your back?”

“We’ll tell everyone we both got too busy with work and school, and things fizzled out. But, while dating, I realized I’m not ready for anything serious and I enjoyed my time with you, but I’m in no rush to date anyone else.”

“Seems like a fool-proof plan.”

Well, yeah. I came up with it. What possibly could go wrong?

CHAPTER 22

Bennett

I’m in the library researching a region in Spain, trying to piece together what a family might have done for work in the early nineteen hundreds and why they’d want to come to America.

It’s been a week since Millie attacked me by the rock, something that still makes me laugh. Confused too. Why did she attack me instead of running to the house for safety? At the same time, I’m proud of her for trying—albeit not well—to defend herself.

A bruise developed on my back where she hit me with the lantern, but that’s all the damage she caused. I felt bad for scaring her. Now it’s just funny. And my gratitude for her agreeing to be my fake girlfriend grows every day. Smiling at her comes naturally. I’m working on flirting.

Wanting to hurry and finish my work so we can spend time together in front of my family, I read about the city of Santiago de Compostela. It’s a college town. Could the great-grandfather have been a professor who was offered a fellowship at a university in the US, and that’s why they came to America?

I’m adding the information to a spreadsheet of possible scenarios when Millie comes into the library carrying a large box. She bumps into a wingback chair, making the contents in her arms wobble dangerously to the side.

“Whoa!” I jump up, rushing over to take the burden from her. Setting it on the coffee table in front of the unlit fireplace, I peer in. “What is this?” Inside, there are a few types of different colored fabric, antique skeleton keys, owl figurines, blue feathers, fake flowers in a variety of colors, and empty vintage picture frames.

“I’m taking aesthetic photos of your mom’s books to post on her social media platforms.”

“Need any help?” Being with her is more fun than researching Mom’s project.

“Actually, yes.” Millie points out the door. “I have another box and a ring light to bring in.”

“You just want me for manual labor?” I puff out my chest, making me look more muscly than I am.

My actions don’t go unnoticed by Millie. She stares at my chest, taking her sweet time to sweep her gaze up to my eyes. Pink colors her cheeks. Right. On. Cue. I like that I can always count on this reaction.

“For now,” she says, like it’s a promise of more things to come.

What else might Millie want to do with me? “I’m your humble servant.” I tilt my head forward like she’s my master I’m submitting to.

“Well then, let’s go.” I follow her outside to the front of the house. She points to a box in the back of her car and grabs a black pole with a round circle attached to the top.

In the library, I set the box next to the other one on the coffee table.

Millie moves both boxes to the couch. “I need the coffee table to do the flat lay.”

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