Page 47 of No Summer Hotter than You

My cousin raised a curious brow at him as we headed inside but made no comment about it. We left him to blow off some steam alone. But I doubted he was going to do much since he was already so distracted.

As soon as the door closed behind us, Jonathan whispered, “I’m not going to lie. You both are so good this whole fake relationship thing you might as well be a real couple.”

I gave him a light slap across the chest as I often did with my brothers when they said something dumb. Even though Jonathan was my cousin, I had always seen him much like a younger brother. He could be annoying and was always equipped with a snarky comeback. But he was a loving cousin and he never hesitated to treat me like his older sister.

“Will you shut up? Anthony’s clearly upset your mom thinks we’re real,” I hissed.

We sat down at Anthony’s kitchen table as Jonathan pulled out poké bowls. It was one of Anthony’s favorite foods, so I assumed Jonathan would be crashing the whole day here since he brought it.

“About what?” Jonathan replied with knitted brows. “He looked damn happy at the fair and on Thursday night with his arms around your waist. Even if none of it is real, it sure fucking looks like it.”

I looked at him like he was a crazed man, and he laughed.

“Why do you think my mom thinks all of this is real? Or that Tyson hasn’t said anything? You really think that he wouldn’t call bullshit when he sees a fraction of it?” Jonathan’s lips stretched out into a wide grin like that reminded me of Anthony’s and Andy’s. He put his elbows on the table and leaned forward to whisper again. “Shoua, you two should consider taking this chance and progress it from what you two call fake and into something that’s real.”

I hadn’t even been able to part my lips to reply before Anthony came in. He looked more like his usual self now. Jonathan immediately piped down as I turned to Anthony. I gave him a small smile even though he was avoiding my gaze. After he washed his hands, he sat down across from me instead of taking the usual seat next to mine when we were with other people.

“You okay?” I asked.

He finally glanced up, met me with his light honey brown eyes, and nodded. He looked like the Anthony Hughes we knew, but he was acting like another man. “Yup, fine,” he responded.

“Actually, you look the opposite,” Jonathan replied immediately, peering closely at him. “You look like shit.”

Anthony smiled, shaking his head. “I’m stressed out about making Shoua and me look real tonight.”

“What’s there to stress about when some of the people closest to you couldn’t even tell if it’s fake?”

"What if we get drunk and say the truth?” Anthony countered, glancing at me.

He had a point. I wasn’t worried about that, but he had a point. Either of us could easily get drunk and reveal this was all a sham.

“Maybe we should stick to only having a drink or two,” I suggested as I dug into the food.

Anthony nodded tensely. His thoughts were still occupying most of his mind as they swam across his eyes. But it seemed like he heard me at least. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I think we should do that.”

“You two are no fun,” Jonathan scoffed.

“We can’t take any risks and you know that,” Anthony said.

“As far as I’m concerned, you two are doing perfectly fine.” Jonathan began wearing an annoying, shit-eating grin. “Keep up your great acting and you have nothing to worry about.”

“That’s easier said than done,” I retorted.

“If either of you slip, then I suggest you make out on the spot and do it convincingly.” Jonathan laughed and shrugged nonchalantly. He clearly didn’t care if we screwed ourselves over. “Pretend you’re drunk and that’ll do.”

“No,” Anthony and I said in unison.

“How boring!” Jonathan complained. “Who’s going to believe you two if all you do is lovingly gaze at one another like we’re in the Victorian era? That may have worked at the fair and at dinner, but that won’t work at the bars.”

“We look convincing enough for your mom to believe it. What more do you want?” Anthony shook his head and then glanced at me. His light eyes landed on my lips for a second and then he tore his gaze away. “Kisses with mouth and tongue?”

“As her cousin, no. But as someone who wants to see you both make this work, yes.”

The lines of Anthony’s face pulled taut as I sighed at Jonathan’s words. Our different reactions made me realize why Anthony was acting strangely now. It was because of our pecks last night. Although they were far from real kisses with lips pressed together with nips, moans, and lots of tongue, they were still profound.

We’re best friends and . . . friends usually don’t kiss. It was something we should’ve never done.

CHAPTER 19

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