Page 20 of Faking the Face Off

“Good,” I say as I straighten up, feeling a bit more confident now that we have a plan. “And then there’s the mayor’s ball in a few weeks. That should be the pinnacle.”

“Why, are you going to pretend you’re Cinderella and run away from me?” he teases.

“Won’t work because I’m not the kind of girl who leaves evidence behind,” I manage with a straight face while Ollielaughs. “By then we’ll have had a few weeks of our believable friends-to-more romance to have played out for the local press and fans. Photos, sneaky social media posts, the whole nine yards. By then, you should be well on your way to being the golden boy of River City and Jimmy will have no choice but to leave you alone.”

“And after that?” he asks, his voice softer now.

I inhale sharply, my gaze flicking to the record player as Miles Davis hits another smooth, mournful note. “After that, we can call it quits. Break up.” The words taste bitter, but I push through. Why should they? Since we’re a couple of buddies helping each other out, that part should be the easiest when it comes time. “We’ll make it look like it just didn’t work out. No hard feelings, no drama. We go back to normal.”

His eyes search mine for a long moment, and I can’t quite read the expression there. “You make it sound so simple.”

I force a smile, hoping it masks the unease twisting in my stomach. “It should be.”

Ollie doesn’t say anything right away, but the subtle tension in his jaw tells me he isn’t as convinced as I’m pretending to be. The jazz record crackles again, filling the silence, and I find myself clinging to the sound like a lifeline.

“This is really the best way to help your dad, isn’t it?” he asks finally.

“It is,” I say, my voice quieter now. “Plus, we take the pressure off of you.”

Ollie nods, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table, mirroring my posture. “Then we’ll make it work.”

The conviction in his voice settles something inside me, and for the first time all night, while discussing this murky topic, I allow myself a small, genuine smile. “Thanks, Ollie.”

He shrugs like it’s nothing, but the look in his eyes says otherwise. In fact, there is something about the way he looks atme now that makes it hard for me to divert my attention from him. Like there’s more he wants to say, but he’s not. With all of this talk and focus around fake-dating, it could also be in my head.

Miles Davis carries us through the quiet again, and I find myself wondering—not for the first time—if playing with fire might actually be worth the risk.

The sound of the front door opening makes us both jump.

“I’m back,” Dixon shouts, a little too loudly. “Is it safe?”

“In the living room,” Ollie calls out as he closes his eyes. “Living with women is so much easier. Some days, I miss having three sisters around.”

“They didn’t bother you?” I ask as I check the time on my watch.

“Of course, but they were a little quieter and a lot neater,” he says before Dixon enters the room.

“I know you’re talking about me.” Dixon points at Ollie as I stand to go.

“I need to get back to the hospital so I can hang with Dad a little more.” I look at Ollie as I walk toward the front entrance. “Walk me out?”

Ollie pushes up from the couch, his movements unhurried but purposeful. “Of course.”

Dixon raises a hand in mock surrender. “Don’t mind me.”

“We won’t,” Ollie says over his shoulder, earning a muffled groan from Dixon as we step into the hallway.

The cool air from outside seeps in as I pull the front door open, and for a moment, I hesitate on the threshold. Ollie stops a step behind me, his presence steady and grounding. There’s the softest touch on both of my shoulders as he stops me.

“Wait a sec,” he mumbles as he turns me around. I spin in a circle and find him holding his phone. “I’ll take a quick selfie of us.”

“Would that be considered an us-ie?” I lamely attempt a joke, but Ollie doesn’t let me down when he chuckles at the corniness.

“Technically, yes.” He stands directly behind me and pulls my back so it’s firmly against his chest. His very hard chest, which kind of surprises me…I mean, of course Ollie grew up. We’re both adults now, but Ollie…has a hard chest?

He angles his head so it’s on the other side of mine, almost looking like conjoined twins with his chin resting on my shoulder. One of his arms is stretched out in front of us, hoisting his phone in the air.

“Our first pic as the newest River City power couple.” His other hand sneaks around my waist, sending a thrill through my system I was not expecting as he pulls me in even tighter.

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