Page 37 of Billion Dollar Revenge

“For you to relax and pretend like we’re dating.”

I snort. “You make it sound easy. No one we know is here.”

“I thought we could capture this moment on socials.”

My eyebrows lift. “Oh yeah?”

I pull up my phone ready to take a picture of our drink.

“No,” he says. I stop and tilt my head, frowning.

“What’s wrong?”

He grabs my waist, pulling me closer until I can feel the warmth of his body and hear his breathing. The flutters in my stomach are hard to ignore, but I push them aside to play along, wrapping one arm around his neck and holding out my phone with the other.

I’m about to snap the photo when he nuzzles his face into the curve of my neck, and I can’t help but smile as I capture the moment. When I lower my phone, he lifts his head, and I finally breathe again.

“How’d we do?” I ask, but a figure stands in front of our table.

“Callum,” Evan says.

“I thought you two looked great, but I can take the shot for you?” Callum offers.

“He is a professional photographer at my work…” Evan says with a smirk.

My mouth drops open in a mock offense. “Are you saying it’s a bad photo?”

I glance at the picture again, and it’s hot. We look like a real couple.

“No, it’s great. But post it, and I’ll get one for my socials,” Evan suggests.

I hit post on the picture, adding a heart emoji and the captioncafe dates with this one…before lowering my phone to the table. Evan hands his phone to Callum, his arm sliding around my waist again. I’m almost in his lap, and though I want to move, I can’t…not with Callum watching us. We’re supposed to look like a real couple, after all.

We smile for a picture, and I think that's it, we can finally drink our coffees, and I'll be able to relax again. But Callum isn’t done. “One more. The lighting is really good here,” he says, adjusting the phone angle.

I start smiling again, but Evan has other ideas. “Chelsea.”

I turn, and he leans in closer, his voice dropping to a low growl. “Come here.”

His lips meet mine, and I freeze for a split second before I respond, my lips moving with his in a kiss that feels surprisingly sweet for one so unexpected. When we finally pull apart, my lips tingle and I’m left a little breathless.

“That’s a good one,” Callum says, handing Evan’s phone back and pulling me out of my thoughts. I lean toward Evan to see the screen, and his other hand slides up the side of my body in a soothing motion. I’m not sure if he realizes he’s doing it, but I know it’s to show Callum that we’re a couple. We both stare at the photo. This shot is both hot and convincingly real.

“You two look great together. Cute couple,” Callum remarks, and his genuine smile makes my stomach twist with guilt.

“Thanks,” I murmur, smiling back at him.

Evan starts adding the picture to his socials, captioning itwith my girland a pink heart emoji. When he posts it, I feel a strange tingling sensation spread through me.

“I need to head back. I was just grabbing a coffee on my break. See you later.”

“Bye,” Evan and I say in unison.

As Callum walks off, Evan’s phone begins to chime repeatedly with notifications. “How do I turn this off?” he mutters, tapping the screen.

“I’ll help.”

I take it and quickly adjust the settings before returning the phone to him.

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