Page 38 of The Fake Family Deal

The next day is the same, and the day after that, passing in a blur of emotion and work and acting. But now the acting isn’t pretending that we like each other — it’s trying to pretend that we aren’t getting closer every day.

We manage to sneak in a few seconds to ourselves and find a space alone where we can breathe out, let ourselves feel the true passion that is bubbling within us. The seconds are scattered and few and far between, but they are the best part of the day.

I love looking into his eyes and seeing that joyful want sparkling inside them.

Finally, finally, I feel truly like we’re a real family. It’s so good to fall asleep in his bed, knowing Lila is safe and sound in the next room, and not feel guilty for it. For months, I’ve felt so guilty for wanting anything for myself.

But driving home and back every day was utterly exhausting, and living on set has many, many advantages. It’s convenient — but the best thing is lying in bed, late at night, in the dark, with Ellis’s warm, strong arms around me, holding me so tightly that I almost can’t breathe, squeezing me with an affection I don’t really deserve. But I can’t get enough of it.

It’s so intoxicating, and he keeps telling me I’m wonderful. The more he says it, the harder it is to disbelieve him. The harder it is to believe that he’s doing this for some ulterior motive.

Ellis loves us. I know that to be true.

And he is so, so good in bed.

Blissfully tired, postcoital hormones flowing around my body, I curl into him, kissing his chin and feeling the lightest stubble on my lips as I breathe him in.

I want this to be forever. And yet…

“Ellis?” I whisper.

He strokes my hair, holding me tight, and hums in question.

“What are we gonna do about us?”

“Hmph,” is about the only response I get. He grumbles something else incomprehensible that sounds like it boils down tostop worrying about it, but it’s not a real answer.

I glance up at his face, and his eyes are already shut, his breath getting deeper with every second.

Was I wrong to try and push him again?

I sigh and settle into his arms, trying my best to forget everything and focus on the here and now. But as the hours drag by, and Ellis sleeps soundly beside me, I can’t sleep.

I can’t stop thinking about how the hours are counting down to him never seeing us again.

CHAPTER 19

ELLIS

It’s amazing how much three weeks can change things. We only have two days left of filming, and against all my better judgment, I’ve been enjoying it. I’ve been spending time with Marina, which is great, and playing with Lila, which is way more fun than I could have ever imagined.

And all week, Marina has been trying to ask me what our future is.

I’ve been ignoring it, giving her noncommittal answers and brushing off her concerns, trying to focus on the here and now instead.

But I’m suddenly realizing exactly how little time we have left. That maybe she was right, and we should think about it.

She wakes up in my arms and I kiss her head. She yawns, and I call her beautiful, and she blushes in that way she always does because she doesn’t believe me.

I wish I could change her mind. I wish I could make her see what I see: the adorable button nose, the sprinkling of freckles on her face. The gorgeously soft body that lies next to me, the one thatI find almost irresistible to touch. The mind behind it that has challenged me in ways no one else ever has, and her perfect hips and legs and breasts that have made me a very happy man.

Lila starts crying in the next room so Marina gets up to attend to her. I groan as she goes, but don’t say anything. No amount of persuading would get her to stay.

Lila comes first. She always will.

I drag myself out of bed, throw on some clothes, and busy myself in the kitchen, setting up a breakfast spread for them. Most of all, I want coffee.

As the machine kicks into action, Marina wanders through. Her eyes widen in delight as she takes in the scene, and her mouth splits into a wide grin, one that shines despite her tired eyes.

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