Page 96 of Once Upon a Fake Date

Audrey shook her head. “What does this mean?”

“I didn’t realize Millie had seen me looking at it. I found it when I went home for break freshman year of college in some old stuff. And I don’t know… I just kept it with me after that. Keptyouwith me all this time, even when we didn’t talk.” I shrugged.

“Parker.” Her eyes were filled with tears. “This is so sweet. Damn you.”

I rubbed my thumb under her eyes. “I know now why there wasn’t anyone else, Audrey Rose. Why I never wanted to be with anyone else. Because all my life, it’s always been you. I was always waiting for you.” Tipping her chin up, I brought our lips together, repeatedly, until she opened for me, letting me slip my tongue inside. It was unhurried, like both of us knew we had all the time in the world to get lost in each other.

Even though it felt like our time was running out.

She hummed, her eyes already getting droopy once again. I knew she was exhausted, and we both needed our rest.

Resting my chin on her head, I tucked her into my body, the two of us falling asleep just like that. Like we were always meant to be right here, together.

Opening night.

What arush. It was strange to think that we were here.

I hadn’t seen Audrey in the last few hours, but I knew she’d been here early to help with hair and makeup. That was the thing about my girl—even after she did her own, she always helped the others who needed it, and every transformation was stunning. It somehow enhanced each person’s individual beauty instead of distracting from it or covering it up. Like she was a makeup fairy, flitting around and dusting her magic all over them.

The thought made me smile because that was just who she was. She didn’t even think about whether she should help others. She just did.

She was a star in every way, shape, and form. The brightest damn star in the sky. That was why she was my sunshine.

“Five minutes!” One of the tech crew called out.

“Be right there,” I responded, running my fingers through my hair one last time.

And then I grabbed my surprise, heading next door to set it up for later. Knocking on the door, I poked my head in to make sure everyone else had exited before sneaking into the women’s dressing room.

I found Audrey’s makeup kit and stuff in front of one of the mirrors, pulling a vase of pink roses out from behind my back and leaving them on the counter in front of the bright lights. Fluffing the flowers, I made sure to position it so the note with her name was in the front. Hopefully, no one else would mistake them as theirs.

Hurrying out and back to the theater, I found Audrey peeking out of the closed curtains.

“Do you see anyone?” I whispered.

She jumped back. “Oh. Parker.” A pretty pink blush formed on her cheeks. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear. Her act one costume was more woodland princess compared to her act two dress, but she looked stunning in both of them.

I resisted kissing her, though, because I didn’t want to mess up her stage makeup.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. You look very handsome yourself. My dashing prince.”

“Don’t forget your knight in shining armor,” I joked.

“Ah, yes. But you haven’t slayed the dragon yet, remember?”

I nodded at the curtain. “So, anyone we know?”

Audrey bit her lip. “I saw my parents. A ton of my sorority sisters. And…”

I raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“Maybe you should look yourself.”

I laughed. “Alright.”

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