Page 60 of The Facade

Heat rose to my cheeks at his compliment, and while I was probably theonlyfaerie he’d seen this week, I liked that he’d called me pretty.

I liked that when our gazes locked, I believed him.

And even though I’d been on the verge of tears and so ready to leave a few minutes ago, I suddenly didn’t want to leave anymore.

“I guess I’ll stay a little while longer.” I tucked some of my purple wig behind my pointy ear. “My mom and I did spend a lot of time putting this costume together.”

“You’ll stay?” Mack’s eyes lit up, and he looked genuinely happy that I wasn’t leaving.

“As long as we promise not to talk about that jerkface Ben and his stupid plans to mess with girls’ hearts for the rest of the night, I’ll stay.”

“Works for me.” He stood up straighter and offered his arm to me. “Let’s go find everyone else, shall we?”

18

Mack

When Cambrielleand I made it to our friends who were in a circle, dancing to a fast song, all the girls quickly surrounded her and gushed over how amazing she looked. And as they touched her purple wig and commented on her amazing dress, I couldn’t help but wish I dared tell her all the same things.

To tell her that she wasn’t just the prettiest faerie I’d seen all week, but that she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.

Because it was true. Cambrielle Hastings was gorgeous, and I must’ve been blind to never really notice it before.

“Did you and Cambrielle drive here together?” Carter asked from beside me as we watched the girls rave over Cambrielle’s dress and flower crown.

“No,” I said, a hint of anxiety filling me over what he might be thinking right now. “I ran into her in the hall.”

“Oh good.”

Good?

I knew he’d had an issue with me sitting next to her on the drive home from the haunted house, but was I not allowed to ever drive in the same vehicle as Cambrielle again?

“You don’t like the idea of your sister and me driving places together?” I asked, deciding to talk about the elephant in the room instead of speculating on what he might be thinking.

He took a sip of water from the plastic cup in his hand. “I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on with you two.”

“You think something’s going on?” I asked, trying to hide the guilt in my voice and failing.

Had he noticed the way I’d been watching her? Had he somehow seen that kiss in the gazebo?

Or could he simply just tell from looking at my face that my feelings for his little sister were shifting?

Carter had always been too perceptive for his own good.

If he ever had the slightest hint that I’d started fantasizing about kissing Cambrielle again and holding her and telling her all my secrets, I’d be in trouble.

Because like it or not, Carter was protective of his little sister. And unfortunately for me, he knew all about my reputation for kissing multiple girls during the same weekend and never having plans to get serious with any of them.

So while it had been fun to brag about in the past when it had all just been a game, I had the feeling Carter wouldn’t be so supportive of someone with a track record like mine getting involved with Cambrielle.

“We’re just hanging out like we always have,” I said with a shrug, hoping to come off as nonchalant. “We’re just good buddies.”

Good buddies who had practice kisses and sometimes slept in the same room when my parents were out of town.

So yeah…totally nothing to get worked up about.

He studied my face like he was weighing my intentions. After a beat, he said, “I hope that’s all it is. Because I’d hate to see her get hurt.”

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