Page 33 of Flake It Til You Make It

Taylor shrugged, pretending now and smiling easy, like he hadn’t just been staring like he wanted to catalog every nonexistent smear of tomato sauce along Rocco’s jaw.

“Well, that’s really helpful,” Rocco hissed under his breath. It sucked they were doing thishere, in public, because he couldn’t evenactmad. No, he had to look lovestruck.

Was it worse that he was actually, legitimately torn between berating him and gazing at the guy with heart eyes that didn’t feel all that fake?

“Listen, I’ve never done this before,” Taylor said. “And I’m shitty at dating, anyway, but fake dating? That’s a whole other thing.” He made a face. “I should’ve texted you, I know. I . . .well, if I’m being honest, I wanted to a little more than I felt comfortable with and that was weird.”

Rocco felt that hard, anxious place inside him unwind a little. Like all it had needed to untangle was the right thread pulled, and Taylor’s words had done just that.

“Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Yeah, it is a little weird. Probably that I wanted you to, a little too much.”

“Should we—”

Rocco imagined that Taylor was going to suggest they quit this whole stupid charade, and maybe he was right, because itwasweird, but he didn’t think Taylor would then suggest they date for real. The alternative was that they’d go back to being merely friendly acquaintances, and that was terrible. So Rocco interrupted him. “No,” he said firmly. “I had a regular come back today.Andit’s a regular who I’m pretty sure is on the city council.”

“Oh yeah?” Taylor didn’t look disappointed by Rocco’s interruption. In fact, he looked relieved. Like he hadn’t evenwantedto suggest it, either.

That soothed the rest of Rocco’s ruffled feathers.

“Yeah,” Rocco said with an emphatic nod. “I poured him the best goddamn pumpkin spice latte I’ve ever made. Maybe I even told him your inherent Christmas spirit inspired me.”

“Thanks,” Taylor said with genuine gratitude.

“I should . . .” Rocco didn’t want to come clean, but heshouldtell the truth. Taylor deserved the truth. “I should be honest about something.”

Taylor raised an eyebrow.

“My cousin?” Rocco continued. “The one who had the fake relationship and uh . . .I told you that it really helped? Well, itreallyhelped. Better than either of them ever expected. They fell in love. They got together for real. They’restilltogether, for real.”

Taylor stared at him, and Rocco suddenly wished the floor would eat him up. Why had he brought this up? Andhere, of all places?

“You said it worked great,” Taylor said slowly.

“Well, itdid,” Rocco said. And then added hurriedly, “It sure got his mom off their backs. And if you ever meet Giana Moretti, you know that’s not an easy task. The rest of it was just . . .uh . . .coincidence. That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen with us.”

“You seem sure about that.” Taylor didn’t sound so sure himself—or that he liked it. That took Rocco’s ego down a peg. Maybe deservedly.

“You said you’re not looking for a relationship. Neither am I. That hasn’t changed. Sure, we had a great time the other night. But that doesn’t really change that.”

Taylor looked like he was five seconds away fromgoat cheese-ing out of this whole thing—the conversation, the Christmas ornament party, and maybe even their fake relationship—so Rocco forged ahead.

“Honestly, yes, maybe there’s a little attraction. On both our sides. But if we just acknowledge it, then that doesn’t mean it has to controlus. We controlit.”

Taylor looked dubious at this claim, and frankly even Rocco wasn’t that convinced. But the alternative was worse.

“I’m not sure that’s how it works,” he finally said.

“Sure it is,” Rocco said breezily. “We just need to promise to be honest. And in worst-case scenarios, there’s alwaysgoat cheese.”

Taylor laughed then, long and loud, like it had been completely startled out of him.

“Right. Of course. That’s true. I didn’t think about that.” He paused. “Well . . .uh . . .maybe we should take advantage of the fact we’re both here and I’m pretty sure at least half the room is staring at us.” Taylor’s voice had dropped even more, and to make sure Rocco had heard him, he’d stepped closer, and now he was practically murmuring into his ear.

Rocco swayed closer, felt his side brush up against Taylor’s.

It was funny, how everything—the doubts, the anxieties, the worries—seemed to quiet when he was with Taylor.

“I’m good with that,” Rocco said. “I can be spontaneous.”

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