Page 56 of Until Then

Slow.

Probably best.

We’ll play our game in the sunlight, and in the shadows I’ll do all I can to drop the façade, to give the most authentic Hayley.

Only then will we know if this game of pretend can ever be real.

SEVENTEEN

Hayley

Unknown number: Spend beach day with me.

I know exactly who it is

Me: It’s six am, Noah Hayden.

Me: This is not good fake-boyfriend behavior.

Pretty Boy: There’s that word again. Fake. No one’s watching. This is real Noah behavior.

Pretty Boy: Told you I’d blow up your phone.

Me: I see no meme.

Pretty Boy: *meme of surfer running from shark*

Pretty Boy: Beach day? Pick you up at ten?

I knew the answer the second I woke up to his text. Still, I send an eye roll emoji with a brisk

Fine.

The next texts are six GIFs of celebrations from NBA players toThe Officeand a final message:

Pretty Boy: Until then.

He woke me up, but only by a half-hour. I make quick work of feeding the animals and mucking a few stalls before I even have a cup of coffee.

Back inside, I shower, even knowing we’ll be rolling in sand and salt. The only time I pause is selecting the swimming suit. I’m as pale as a snowstorm, so I normally opt to cover as much of my skin as possible.

But the more devious side of me wouldn’t complain if I wore my two piece if it drew Noah’s searing gaze again. The way the man looks at me sometimes—it’s impossible to keep my thoughts straight.

Blood always pounds in my head, heat always pools low in my belly. He’s become a beautiful compulsion and game on whether I’ll be able to resist the urge to touch him or not.

A knock comes to my door, followed quickly by my mom’s voice, “Hayley Bear?”

“Hey, Mom.” I slip out into my living area.

“Hey sweetie.” My mom smiles. “Oh, going to the water?”

“Yeah.” I smooth my hands over my suit cover. “Um, Noah asked me to go to the beach today.”

My mom’s smile doesn’t falter, more softens. “He’s a nice guy, Hayley.”

I hesitate. “You think I’m dumb for getting involved with someone in . . . in this world, don’t you?”

The smile she wore fades. “Did I ever say that?”

---