Page 134 of The Fake Out Flex

"Even the ice-skating dog one?"

"Even the ice-skating dog one. She claims it's for research because she produces reality TV, which may be true, but I'm convinced it's not the only reason."

A grin spreads across his face. "You're just as meddlesome as your brother."

He's possibly right.

I'm possibly in blissful denial.

"Stop deflecting and answer, please."

Rather than answering my question, Fraser makes the zippy-lip gesture, throwing away the key over his shoulder for good measure.

"You really shouldn't have done that," I say, resting my hand on his knee.

"Why?" he mutters, through pursed lips.

"Because I really want to kiss you. But since your lips are sealed, I can't."

"Spare key," he mumbles out the side of his mouth, producing it magically out of thin air and unzipping his lips. "My lips are all yours."

I laugh. "Are they, now?"

"If you want them."

I do. I lean forward and plant a long, closed-mouth kiss on his lips.

When I pull away, Dawn is looking at us.

She averts her gaze swiftly when I see her.

Fraser smiles. "Oh, boy. She's going to have a field day with this."

"Do you mind?"

"Not in the slightest," he says with zero hesitation.

"One last question," I warn him.

With the silly question out of the way, it's time for the serious one.

He grins. "I know you, Evie, and I don't believe that for a second. But go on."

"Okay. Last question for now," I clarify, before coming right out with the question that's been playing on my mind. "Why did you decide to tell me all of this now?"

He looks over at his sister and smiles before answering, "Dawn and I talked and it got me thinking about how closed-off I normally am."

"Okay."

He turns to face me again. "I know I'm not a naturally expressive guy. Talking doesn't come easily to me. But I actually enjoy opening up to you. I like the feeling I get when I let you in and tell you things I haven't told anyone else. For some reason, I've always been afraid to do that with anyone else."

"Why? What did you think would happen when you shared your feelings?"

"The universe would implode, reality would fold in on itself, and time would cease to exist."

"Makes sense." I smile at him, then find his hand and thread my fingers through his.

"You're the only person I've ever opened up to like this, Evie."

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