Page 55 of Broken Pact

I huff a laugh under my breath and pitch my voice to the end of the hallway. “Don’t mind her, man. She’s trying to get lucky tonight by being charming and cute.”

She sends me a dark look, her pleased smile curving into a scowl. “Get lucky? Puh-lease.”

“Well I don’t find either one of you charming or cute,” the tour guide drolls. “So hurry up before I leave and lock the door behind me.” He’s still using his showman accent, all booming voice and sweeping vowels.

“Fucking ouch, bro.” My hand presses against my chest like I’m staunching a wound. “I’ll have you know I’m one of the most charming motherfuckers around.”

The tour guide grumbles something about not getting paid enough. But I don’t really give a fuck. Because tonight was the best fake date I’ve ever had. I wink at my girl and hustle us toward the impatient tour guide holding the door open.

27

JASPER

It’s been three days since our Grand Avenue haunted tour date. Technically, sixty hours since I last kissed my girl. Which is fifty-nine hours too many if you ask me.

Which she hasn’t, since she’s barely responded to my texts over the last few days. I thumb open our text conversation while I wait for the drinks I ordered at The Coffee Shop. It’s not as busy as it usually is this time of day, but even half-full, it’s loud in here.

Me: It’s been twenty-four hours, baby. I’m tired of waiting for you to reach out.

Coraline: Okay? Why are you telling me this?

Me: I’m communicating my feelings. That’s the key to a successful relationship, according to the two romance novels I read recently.

Coraline: *fake relationship

Me: Potato, potato.

Coraline: Just so you know, this isn’t real.

Me: So you keep saying, but I’m not sure you believe it, baby.

Coraline: Trust me, it’s all fake. Pretend, you know?

Me: Your hot little cunt rubbing against my dick says otherwise.

Coraline: A temporary lapse in judgment. It won’t happen again.

Me: What if I wanted it to?

Coraline: What’s that thing Mick Jagger always said? You can’t always get what you want.

Me: But if you try real hard, you might get what you need.

Me: Do you know what you need, baby?

Coraline: Yeah.

Coraline: To go to bed.

Coraline: Goodnight, Jasper.

Me: Sweet dreams, baby.

I tried to play it cool. Waited the obligatory three day rule or whatever it is to see her again, but I’m done now. It’s officially the start of day three, and I’m gonna go see my girl. But first, I’m gonna bring her some coffee. Soften her up a little before I tell her we need to plan our next public date.

My phone vibrates with an incoming text, and my heart does this funny little flip. But it’s not my girl. It’s my estranged half-sister.

Naomi: Did you forget about me? I’m still in Rosewood in case you forgot!

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