Page 57 of Wild Promises

"I heard it's pretty magical. We'll have to check it out," Kylie said.

"I hope people are enjoying it," I said.

When a man approached Tyler to talk construction, Kylie whispered in my ear. "Enjoy your evening."

"Thanks, Kylie. You too." We drifted away, and when Tori's parents entered the room, she stiffened.

"Want to go talk to them?"

Tori steeled herself. "We should."

"It's weird pretending in front of your parents, ya know?”

Pretend.How could I keep forgetting that all of this was an act for Tori. "Just remember; it's for a good cause."

Tori smiled at me. "You're right. Of course."

I led the way to her parents because I wasn't hiding from anyone anymore. "Dr. and Mrs. Clark. How are you this evening?"

"We're good. How are you two? Having fun?" Dr. Clark asked.

"So far, it's a lot of small talk. But we're hoping to get on the dance floor soon," Tori said, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Despite that show of nerves, she was at ease in her role as my doting girlfriend.

I needed to protect my heart, or it was going to be broken.

16

TORI

Ifelt bad lying to my parents about what this thing was between me and Xander. But they were so happy that we were together. I could tell they were hopeful it was serious and that I'd stay in town. It wasn't enough that I said I wanted to. A local boyfriend, especially one that had been my best friend forever, was the perfect candidate in their mind. That's why we were doing this fake relationship to begin with.

We followed my parents to the bar to get a drink. I noticed that Xander drank water. He was nervous. He had been since I found him struggling with his tie. He'd suggested we kiss, and I thought it might relax him, but it only made him more tightly wound.

Was it so hard to pretend to be into me that he was worried he'd mess it up? I'd been so flustered after that kiss that I had to pretend it hadn't affected me at all, when in reality my heart was racing and my limbs were weak.

Who would have thought kissing your best friend would lead to feverish feelings? I ignored my attraction to him for so long that I didn't trust my judgment when it came to Xander.

I just had to get through tonight, and then I could hide in my room and pretend he hadn't altered my entire plan with thatkiss. I couldn't pretend any longer that I wasn't attracted to him. That kiss brought everything into clarity.

I was attracted to Xander, and he clearly was just doing this whole charade as a favor to me and a way to impress his brothers. It wasn't because he was secretly in love with me.

Xander leaned close, talking into my ear. "Is everything okay?"

I smiled to cover my turmoil. "Of course."

"We should dance," Xander said simply, the charm effortlessly falling from his tongue.

I didn't think that was a good idea. In fact, I thought it was dangerous. I couldn't be that close to him. My nerves were already firing from that kiss. I wanted him badly, and I was scared I wouldn't be able to hide it anymore.

"Good idea. We will too," Mom said.

We followed them onto the dance floor. Then Xander expertly guided me away from them. "I can't dance next to your parents. It feels wrong."

I understood what he was trying to say, but it felt like he was saying that he couldn't keep up the charade under their scrutiny which meant this wasn't real for him. I tried not to let the disappointment show on my face.

Xander touched my cheek. "You've been off tonight."

To anyone else watching us, they would assume it was a tender gesture, but I knew it was an act. "This whole thing is harder than I thought it would be."

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