Page 98 of Once Upon a Fake Date

She gave me a huge smile as we pulled apart. “I know most people can’t imagine doing college with their siblings, but I’m so glad I have you. That we’ve gotten to take classes together and experience everything at CU together.”

I shoved her arm. “Don’t get all sappy with me now. You can’t make me cry before I have to go back on.”

She let out a little giggle. “Did you see Cam is out there with our parents? He insisted on coming even though I’m not actuallyinthe musical.”

“Yeah.” I re-pinned a few of my curls. “Of course he is. You could walk him like a dog, babe.”

My twin chuckled, and I bit my lip, looking at her through the lit up mirror.

“Ella…” I dropped my head onto her shoulder, letting out a deep sigh. “How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That Cam was the one.” Biting my lip, I looked up at her. “That you loved him.”

“For a while, I didn’t. But it was in every action of his. The way he took care of me. The way he was so patient with me, loving me while he waited for me to catch up. I pushed him away because I was scared, but when I stepped back, I realized that he’d been there for me all along. He understands me in a way I’m not even sure I understand myself. And he loves me even with all of my flaws. Maybe even more so because of them. So I guess I just… knew.” She cocked her head. “Is this about Parker?”

“How’d you guess?” I said, a watery laugh coming from me. But I wasn’t going to cry.I wasn’t.“But we’re not like you and Cam. Parker and I are best friends. And…” I lowered my voice. “It was all fake.”

“Was it?” My twin asked, raising an eyebrow.

I ran my hands over my bare arms, hugging myself. “Yeah. At least… I thought it was. And then it stopped feeling fake, and it felt so…real.”

“And what do you want now?” Ella asked. “Because if you want him, if you love him, you need to tell him, Audrey.”

I nodded. “I?—”

“Hey, Audrey,” a girl in the ensemble came over, holding a vase with pink roses in them. “I think someone left these for you. They were on your station with all of your makeup, but I know you haven’t gotten over there yet.”

I’d been so busy talking to Ella that I hadn’t even noticed.

“Oh.” I ran my fingers over the flowers. “They’re beautiful.”

My sister squeezed my shoulder. “Tell him,” she insisted.

“I will,” I promised. After the show.

When we were alone—that was when I’d tell him how I felt. That I wanted more. That I wanted everything.

Including him.

The lift was flawless.And the kiss? Perfect.

The curtain closed after we took our final bows, the entire crowd—a completely packed theater—cheering for us.

Opening night was done.

“We did it!” someone cried, and everyone cheered. Hugs and laughter filled the stage before everyone headed back to the dressing rooms to get out of their costumes, hanging them up so they’d be ready for the next performance.

And there he was. Parker. My boyfriend. The fact that it was supposed to be fake was something I was trying really hard to remind myself of.

He opened his arms like he knew exactly where I wanted to be.

Running, I threw myself into them. He caught me, spinning me around as I looped my arms around his neck.

“You were amazing, baby.”

I blushed. “Thank you. Not so bad yourself, Parker Phillip.”

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