Page 44 of (Not Really) Faking It With My Best Friend's Brother

"Let's kick things off with a mock proposal," Frances directed eagerly. "Nate, down on one knee, and Susan try to look positively swooned." Nate adjusted his shirt with casual grace before lowering himself onto the quilt.

His gaze met mine, highlighting his gentle eyes and chiseled jawline. He was handsome without even trying.

Following Frances' cues to feign surprise, I placed a hand over my heart and released an exaggerated gasp reminiscent of a melodramatic actress from yesteryears.

"Beautiful!" Frances exclaimed. "Now give me longing stares like you're madly in love."

I tried my best smoldering look, which probably appeared more constipated than sultry.

Nate struggled to contain his amusement behind that charming grin.

Clicks echoed as Frances captured our playful theatrics through her lens. "I think we've nailed that pose!" she finally announced.

Standing up, Nate brushed off some grass from his pants, a smile playing on his lips. Without words, we shared a knowing look, our eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that surpassed any act we had put on.

"Let's do something more convincing now," Frances suggested, shuffling through her props. "Nate, pick Susan up like you're carrying her over the threshold." Frances had a piece of wood that resembled a door threshold she put on the ground by a tree.

Without missing a beat, Nate swept me off my feet, his arms strong but gentle. I couldn't help the excited squeals that bubbled up as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pretended to stumble under my weight and staggered around the tree and over the doorstep, both of us giggling uncontrollably.

Frances trailed us, camera clicking. "Perfect! Now twirl her around."

Nate obliged, spinning me in circles till I was dizzy and breathless. I clung to his shoulders, our faces inches apart.

Frances continued snapping photos. "Beautiful, you two! Now give me some romantic poses."

Nate gently set me down, both of us still laughing. I ran my hands through my windswept hair, trying to look presentable again.

Nate's eyes sparkled mischievously as he proposed, "How about a kiss showing them that we are now head over heels?"

I felt my heart race in agreement. Leaning in, Nate pressed his lips to mine in a tender yet fervent embrace, igniting a rush of emotions that danced through every fiber of my being.

Click, click. Frances's camera captured every moment.

"Gorgeous!" she exclaimed. "Now, silly faces!"

Grateful for the humor, I crossed my eyes and stuck out my tongue. Nate followed suit, contorting his handsome features into ridiculous expressions. Our laughter echoed through the quiet park.

After the photo shoot, Frances gathered Nate and me to show us previews on her camera.

"Ooh, I love this one of you dipping Susan back dramatically!" Frances said. She rapidly typed captions onto each photo.

I peered over her shoulder, reading: 'Accidentally in Love!' and 'Picture Perfect Pair.'

"Wait till these land on the gossip mill. Everyone’s going to have a field day," Frances declared, grinning triumphantly.

"These are great, Frances. They really tell the full story," Nate said, giving me a meaningful look.

I smiled back softly, knowing he was right. These photos captured our evolution from faking it to realizing the truth.

"Well, my work here is done!" Frances said. "You two have fun with the rest of your day."

After Frances left, Nate turned to me. "Would you like to head back to my place for some tea?"

“Sure, I’ll follow you in my car, so I won’t have to leave it here.”

Once there, Nate busied himself making tea and grabbing cookies from the pantry. I could tell from his grin that he had news to share.

"Do you remember when I told you about wanting to start a low-cost pediatric clinic in town? I talked to Dr. Maddison, and she encouraged me to pursue my dream."

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