Page 21 of Faking Ever After

Be like Finn, I reminded myself.And stop acting like a horny teenager. It’s just a charade.

He twirled around with his clothes and returned a few minutes later. Sticking to the script, I waited for him to join me on our way to breakfast downstairs. He appeared wearing a sleeveless shirt with deep cutouts for arms that didn’t leave much to my imagination, the sides of his ribcage flashing whenever he moved his arms. His shorts went only as low as the middle of his thighs. His sandals were brown leather with straps around his ankles, making him look like an ancient Greek warrior.

“Ready?” I asked, my voice surprisingly dry.

“In a moment,” Finn replied. He closed his eyes and inhaled a deep breath of air. “Just getting into my character.” As he exhaled, he opened his eyes, and the look he gave me was warm and loving enough to foolme, and I was part of this foolish plan.

“Once more unto the breach,” I murmured.

As we stepped into the hallway, Finn’s arm slipped around my waist, making my pulse speed up.

Breakfast was served on the terrace in deep shade. The light from the southeast was only beginning to edge toward the gathered group. Dimitrios and Nektaria had piled the table with food and beverages and sat with my parents, Emily, and Aunt Judith as they always had. I noticed Finn spotting them at the table, the corners of his lips ticking up so fractionally I might have been mistaken.

“So, as I was saying, Benny is looking forward to meeting you all,” Aunt Judith said.

I feared that Benny was yet another eligible bachelor she wanted me to get together with. My muscles tensed as Finn and I approached the table and greeted everyone.

“Here are the sleepyheads,” Dad announced.

It was barely half past eight, but he and Mom were already put together nicely, lounging in the high-backed chairs like they were thrones. Mom popped a grape into Dad’s mouth and I clenched my teeth.

“We’re not late for anything, are we?” Finn asked.

Mom waved her hand as if to dismiss all concerns. “Oh, darling, don’t listen to him. You’re in paradise. There’s a ban on alarm clocks on this island.” She paused while Dad put a grape into her mouth this time around.

I busied myself by pulling out a chair for Finn and we both sat down.

“Besides, whatever kept you in the room this late must be a good thing,” she said matter-of-factly.

“And that’s me spontaneously combusting,” I grumbled.

“Why do you torture the boy, Alicia? You know how shy he is,” Dad singsonged to Mom.

I wanted to argue that I wasn’t shy at all, but that my parents implying I was having sex all morning was hardly a topic fit for a breakfast table. Emily merely snort-chuckled and spread butter over her toast. “I hear we’re having guests,” I said, turning to Aunt Judith. Perhaps a distraction concerning some twink Aunt Judith met at a gay club while searching for my soulmate would make my parents forget about my sex life.

“Indeed, we are,” Aunt Judith said. “You’re going to love Benny, my dear. A true gentleman. I met him at the Caribbean cruise this spring.”

“How wonderful,” I said. “I hope he knows I’m a taken man, Aunt Judith.”

“Nonsense, Percy,” Aunt Judith said, chin quivering. “Why on Earth would he know that?”

Emily laughed harder. “You missed the crucial part, Percy. This is one of the rare instances when the man isnotintendedfor you.” And as soon as I shot Emily a sympathetic look, she hurried to add, “He’s for Aunt Judith personally.”

Relief flooded through me and I laughed joyfully enough to sound crazy. “Now, that is truly wonderful, Aunt Judith,” I said. “When will he be here?”

“Perhaps as early as tomorrow,” Aunt Judith said. “You’ll see, my dear, he’s one of the rare examples of a man whose mother taught him some manners.”

Finn placed his hand over mine, chuckling softly. “How rare is that? I’d say Alicia and Lawrence did a wonderful job teaching Percy.”

Reminiscing about my childhood was the last thing I wanted before having my coffee. “Speaking of guests, I invited Richie,” I announced.

Six mouths released disappointed grunts and grumbles as soon as those words left my mouth. Finn was the only one who didn’t understand, so he kept quiet and listened intently, judging by the way his ears perked. I should have looped him in better. He would just have to improvise.

“Now, why would you do that?” Mom asked, flat-out disappointed.

Dad shook his head sadly. “Oh, Percy.”

Emily had muttered something under her breath and Aunt Judith shook her head. Dimitrios was pushing bits of cherry tomatoes around his plate. Nektaria threw her hands in the air. “Then I must buy the softener Mr. Richie likes and wash the linens again.”

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