Page 52 of The Guy Who Fake Dated Me

One could get drunk off of such power.

“What?” she asked as she put an earring in. She’d dressed in tight black workout pants that came to her mid-calf and an off the shoulder hot pink shirt with a black bra underneath. I bet she could get cast in an 80s music video.

“I think it’s cute that you’re so musical,” I said from the couch.

“You’re weird,” she said. “Are you ready for today?”

I shrugged. “I’m still not sure what to expect.” I’d thrown on a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt. The itinerary had warned us that we were going to get a bit of a workout this morning.

“Me neither, but I’m sure it will be entertaining.”

“As entertaining as you being circled by a bunch of cats and dogs?”

Victoria shot me a glare. “Too soon.”

“Sorry.”

She held up a finger. “You get to tell Kyle that he’s a big jerk and that I’m coming for him.”

I’d have to remember that. “So we’re not going to bring up that adorable shriek of yours?”

“No.” There was a low tone to her voice that told me I was pushing a little too much, so I shrugged one shoulder.

“Got it.” I rose from the couch, and we met at the door. “Ready?”

“Ready.” She gave me a smile, and my stomach did a little flip.

“Then let’s do this.” I offered her my hand. After not touching the night before, it felt strange to wrap my fingers around hers. We’d done this plenty of times, but this morning it felt different. Better. New. My whole arm tingled, and the floral scent of her lotion seared itself into my brain. This was a moment I’d never forget. Before I let myself dwell on that, I opened the door and waved Victoria through. “Ladies first.”

“Why, thank you.”

As if they’d been waiting for us to emerge, Courtney and William exited their suite at the same time we did. They’d also donned casual clothes, but I recognized the brands they were wearing—thanks to Crystal—and knew that they’d dropped more money on their outfits than I sometimes did in a whole month of living expenses up in Alaska.

“Morning,” Victoria said in a cheery voice.

I kind of felt bad for William. Victoria had made it her mission to be perky around him. Apparently, he’d broken the three-sip rule and was now being punished.

“Morning,” William said.

Courtney gave us a nod.

We led the way to the elevator and hit the button. I noticed Victoria’s eyes skimming the other two, and I readied myself for a silent conversation in the elevator.

Sure enough, we stepped in first and hugged the back wall. The other two stayed in front of us and closer to the door. Lucky for us, there were no mirrors.

Instead of talking, both William and Courtney looked at their phones.

Victoria’s gaze met mine, then darted to Courtney’s short shorts. Victoria’s look conveyed a grudging respect for the fact that Courtney kept in good shape.

I glanced at William’s shirt, which hugged his chest and arms, and bounced my eyebrows a couple of times in appreciation of the lean muscles that sat beneath his usual attire.

Victoria’s eyes went wide, and I could practically hear her saying, “Right!?!”

We’d done this sort of thing to Rachel and Shane when they weren’t looking, and part of the rules were that neither of us could laugh. If someone did, then they had to distract the other couple with actual conversation.

When Victoria took in William’s bare calves and then gave me a wink, I snorted.

Which counted as a laugh.

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