Page 13 of Whispers of the Water

“It’s especially nice during this time of year,” Akira added from where he sat in the middle row with Avana.

“I bet the autumn festival will be happening while we’re here. It’s an annual event our town does every year with fall-themed foods, games, and activities,” Rune said, briefly looking at me before turning his attention back to the road. “If it is, would you like to go one day this week?”

“I’d love to. That sounds like so much fun.”

Beaming at me, he nodded. “It’s a date.”

I held my breath as my heart clung to those words and the brightness of his smile. I tried not to read into it, but how could I not? Everyone in this car knew our truth, knew the whole dating thing was a charade, so why lie around them? Rune seemed to realize his mistake, too, or rather his unfiltered confession, and he quickly turned stoic again before facing the road once more.

The car went quiet, and I was feeling claustrophobic under the amount of tension in the air. I was fighting for something, anything, to say when, from the back seat, Marlow whispered, “Awkwarddd.”

“Marlow,” Ardley hissed, wrapping his arm around the other Fae. He smiled at me in the rear-view mirror before leaning close to Marlow and whispering, “Just because we’re all thinking it, doesn’t mean you say it, buddy.”

The rest of the car burst out into laughter, and I found myself joining them. Even Rune’s mouth lifted up at the corners as he glanced at me. The old me would’ve cowered in embarrassment at a time like this, but that wasn’t who I was anymore. These people had changed me. My chest and shoulders felt lighter when I was around them, and they had a way of making me feel comfortable, even in awkward situations like this.

We finally spotted a small restaurant on the ocean that everyone immediately demanded we go to. The blue and white building was situated by the shore, and it had a wrap around deck with outdoor seating. The breeze coming off the water below the eatery was cool, salty, and carried a hint of the fish living in its depths.

“This place has amazing crab,” Rune said as he met me at the front of the car.

“And lobster,” Akira threw in. “Never forget lobster.”

I worked not to drool, and my stomach growled in demand for the food. Our group began to make our way inside with Rune and me taking up the rear. Our arms brushed as we walked, lighting up my insides like an explosion of fireworks. I swallowed hard and tried to suppress the growing desire—when ever so slightly—he wrapped one finger around mine before intertwining all of them.

I gave him a brief, questioning glance, and he smiled. “Small town. People talk. Don’t want to look like just friends.”

Of course. This was pretend. He wasn’t having a change of heart where he suddenly wanted to be with me. Where there were strangers’ eyes, there would be public displays of affection. It was all for the show we were putting on, and that fact cut into me like a warm knife through butter. A deep, clean cut right through my chest.

I swallowed past the burning in my throat and followed the group inside the restaurant. I knew what I was here to do. There was no sense in being hurt over the deal I’d made going into this.

We were strictly business.

Although, we both knew that was a lie with our shared feelings. Despite his desire, Rune had made it clear what he intended to do about those emotions. Nothing. Nothing except squash them. That meant I knew what I had to do about my feelings. Nothing. Nothing except do exactly what we’d agreed upon.

I was going to play his girlfriend, and in doing so, I’d shove in his face what he’d be walking out on. I’d show him what we could be if only he’d let us. He’d lived in fear of love for far too long. I understood he wasn’t ready to feel the pain of loss again after having lost so much, but I refused to let someone I cared about live that way. With time, hopefully, we could build a real relationship like the one we were faking.

So, I leaned into his touch, walking with my cheek pressed into his shoulder and a smile plastered on my lips. My steps became lighter as though I were a girl waltzing through a seaside restaurant with the boy for whom I was head over heels. Which I guess wasn’t too hard since it was true.

We were seated at a wooden table with a prime view of the large windows, which looked out past the outdoor deck and onto the ocean. The rushing blue water snagged my attention. It was faint, but I could hear it in the back of my mind. A whisper among the waves. It was muffled, almost like my head was underwater, but it was there.

Calling me.

Urging me to come closer.

Rune gently tugged on my arm, breaking the connection. The motion brought me back to the here and now.

“You okay?” he whispered, his brow pinched in concern.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sorry. I-I thought I saw a dolphin.”

He grinned, which made the lie burn on my tongue. Each fib I told was leaving a mark on my conscience, and I knew I couldn’t put up with this much longer. I was going to have to come clean and tell him eventually, but I also knew how much the truth would hurt him. I wasn’t ready to rip off that Band-Aid yet. Doing so could wait until we were back in Tennessee.

When we were seated, Rune kept a hold of my hand, which I tried not to read into. Though, it was harder not to read into the way his thumb brushed ever so slightly along my hand, tracing a soothing trail against my skin. Our hands weren’t visible to others beneath the table, but I was sure he was just taking precautions. Instead of contemplating the intricacies of his actions, I focused on the menu and all of its mouthwatering seafood options.

Or rather, I tried.

“Well, well, well. Look what the fox dragged in.”

I turned to the head of the table where a petite honey-skinned boy stood. He smiled warmly at everyone, and based on his black uniform and ordering pad, it was clear he was our waiter. The smile he wore said he was more than that, though.

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