Page 99 of The Fake Out

Once Mila was sitting, I settled beside her, and Pop took the seat beside me. After a second, he frowned and turned in his chair, scanning the people around us.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, leaning in and keeping my voice low.

“Nothing,” he said. But he stood up and tipped forward so he could see down the row. “I need an aisle seat. I can’t be cramped up like this. It makes me hurt.”

Hurt? My stomach sank. He hadn’t complained about pain in weeks.

“What?” I asked, scooting forward in my chair, ready to help him out of here.

“Don’t worry.” He waved me off. “I just want more room.” He looked at Emerson, who had taken the aisle seat. “Switch with me?”

Emerson popped out of his chair and moved instantly so Pop could sit down. “Is that better?” he asked when my father was settled.

Pop nodded and shooed him away. Emerson chuckled at him, then turned and moved toward me. My mouth lifted slightly as the rich scent of his cologne filled the air.

“Hey,” I said as he sat beside me. Instantly, I was enveloped in his warmth and scent, and my nerves drifted away.

“Hey.” He smirked, leaning back in his seat. As he adjusted, our arms grazed, and his pinkie twitched, brushing against mine.

I glanced down at the sensation, and he did it again.

“Nervous?” he asked.

I shrugged, feeling much more settled than I had only a moment ago. “People will bid on them, right?”

“Hell yeah, they will,” he agreed, ghosting that finger along the side of my hand.

And they did. When my first painting sold for eight thousand dollars, he locked his pinkie with mine and grinned so wide it hurt to look at him.

Damn, was I glad he was here with me.

Thirty-four thousand dollars. Holy shit. Between the three paintings up for auction, Gianna had made thirty-four thousand dollars tonight.

I was so fucking proud of her.

Sitting next to her, feeling the excitement and nerves bubble off her, might have been the single best experience of my life. She glowed all night long, pressing her teeth into her lip as the bids went higher and higher. When the auctioneer banged the gavel, she beamed brighter than I’d ever seen.

My heart ached in the best way as I watched those big brown eyes shut for one second while she collected herself.

It had been the best night.

And yet, I’d been trapped on the outside. As desperate as I was to pull her into my arms, kiss her, tell her how proud I was of her, I was forced to keep my distance.

I couldn’t act like she was mine. And even now, as I waited while she said goodbye to my teammates, I had to pretend I was just her ride home. Just the temporary roommate.

“Big night for her.” I yanked my gaze from Gianna when her dad suddenly appeared next to me.

I cleared my throat and straightened the cuffs of my jacket. “Yeah.”

“Chris is pulling the car around.” Pop rolled his eyes. “Both my kids will baby me forever.”

“Because they love you,” I said honestly.

“Not sure I really want to live down the hall from Mr. Overprotective.” He frowned.

Chris and Avery had just signed a lease for a two-bedroom apartment on the same floor as Avery’s. They were moving all their things four doors down, and as soon as Pop left rehab, Chris planned to move him into Avery’s place so they would be close.

“Avery will keep him in check.”

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