Page 21 of No Summer Hotter than You

My mouth was ajar when I looked up to see Shoua standing in front of me. She was in a casual, form-fitting, off-the-shoulders dress and looked amazing. With her hair and makeup done, she was showstopping. Some may say she was overdressed just to go to the airport, but I knew she was pulling out all her guns because of our fake relationship.

“You look hot,” I muttered dumbly.

Shoua shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, someone has to be the hot one in this fake relationship.”

I laughed as I opened my hand out to her; she slipped her smaller one into mine.

“Joke’s on you because I’m certain we’re both hot,” I said as she playfully rolled her eyes at me. I got up on my feet and eyed her from head to toe, letting out a low whistle. “Damn, Shoua.”

She wore a tiny smile as her hand ran through her beautiful, long locks. “I know. I look good.”

“Damn right you do. Now let’s head out.” I quickly ducked down to practice giving her a quick kiss on the temple when she suddenly jerked away—panicked.

“What are you doing?” she said in a hiss. She quickly stepped back. “No kissing unless it’s necessary.”

I let out a long breath. “How do you expect people to believe we’re a real couple if you recoil like that? Besides, I was only going to kiss your temple. Not on your lips. Even then, you know we have to kiss on the lips at some point if we go out with Evelyn and Kelvin, right? We also clearly need to practice if you’re reacting like this.”

“Fine, practice away, then.” She waved her hand in the air dismissively.

“You better not retract and be awkward. It’s just a quick peck. You’re my girlfriend, remember?”

Shoua didn’t say anything as I stepped in close to her and leaned down to place a quick awkward kiss against the smooth skin of her temple. My body was just as stiff as hers.

“See?” I asked, pulling away from her. “All done. Easy, right?”

“Yeah,” she said, rigidly. “Easy.”

I frowned. “Aw, c’mon, Shoua. You need to loosen up. No one’s going to believe you if you’re this stiff from a simple kiss. You can’t be like this when I kiss your cheek or the corner of your lips.”

She let out a shaky breath. “Kiss me again, then.”

“Your wish is my command.” I smiled, and she rolled her eyes.

I grabbed her face and leaned in. My movements were still tense, but I wasn’t as awkward as I was before. My lips brushed against her temple again and she let out a soft sigh this time. Her breath lightly tickled my sternum as I pulled away.

“There,” I breathed. “That’s exactly how a girlfriend should react to her boyfriend kissing her on the temple.”

She swallowed down hard and nodded as she licked her pink lips. My gaze traveled to them for a split second before looking back up to her dark, unreadable eyes.

“Yeah, that was easy,” she said stiffly.

CHAPTER 8

shoua

I smiled tightly as Anthony and I stood next to each other in the middle of our small, international airport at the baggage claim. The big words “Welcome to Sunset Valley” were painted on a wall behind us as a few people stood around waiting for their loved ones. I went onto my phone and texted Anthony because there was no way I could ever whisper without Aunt Sue overhearing our conversation.

Me

Why are we here again?

Anthony

AUNT SUE INSISTED YOU AND I COME WITH HER TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK UP EVELYN.

I COULDN’T SAY NO !!!

Me

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