Page 29 of Faking Ever After

I thought about it.Lies, lies, and more lies. I was pretending to be someone I could never become. I hadn’t realized it would be this hard to act as if my life had some meaning. I hadn’t expected my heart to be so bruised by simply pretending that things were good.

Life was tough at the best of times. Mine especially and even more so after what little my family had owned went down the drain with a scheme that made other people rich.

What I daydreamed as I spoke to Emily were things anyone should have had; to wake up with a sense of hope that this day might bring something other than a gut punch, to walk out and have somewhere to be, not just to wander aimlessly until my days passed me by.

“I don’t know,” I replied somberly. “I have a lot of thinking to do.”

Emily put a hand on my forearm and held it firmly for a moment as if lending me the strength to do this thinking. “I like you, Finn,” she said. “I like you a lot.”

That sparked my naturally good mood back to life. “I like you, too. All of you.”

She smiled a curly, mischievous smile and nodded. “I hope we see a lot more of you around here.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” I lied like I was paid for it. “I don’t have any plans on leaving this slice of heaven.”

Emily licked her lips and hesitated, then narrowed her eyes as if to drive home the importance of her words. “Then make sure that’s what happens,” she said carefully. “I mean it. My brotheradoresyou.” She put an odd sort of emphasis on it. It was the kind of accent that made me feel like I’d swallowed a rock, although having cleared everything from my plate, however many times they added to it, it wasn’t a miracle. “And I think you feel the same.”

“Of course,” I said in a breathy voice, my cheeks growing warm like I’d been caught stealing hot cookies from a tray.

Emily didn’t miss a beat. “But he’s a clumsy idiot when it comes to people. He needs everything spelled out for him. And not many guys are willing to put in the work.”

I nodded. Lies filled my head.I have my ways, I might have said.That’s why we’re such a lovey-dovey match, I could have told her sweetly. But it was clear to me that Emily saw through our scheme as easily as if there was no veil of lies. To have my heart bared so easily by someone who always acted like it was all the same to her was uncanny.

I might have thanked her for the wise words or for the encouragement. I might have admitted to her that I had no hopes of catching Percy’s eye beyond playing my role faithfully. I might have told her she misunderstood her brother’s well-acted feelings. But Percy’s hand landed on my shoulder softly, givingme a squeeze, and I almost collapsed. I almost melted over that hand when I tipped my head to press my cheek against the back of it.

“What are you two conspiring about?” Percy asked, his hand warm. I felt its absence when I lifted my head back, but Percy, seemingly absent-minded, caressed my cheek with the back of his finger. “And why hasn’t anyone come to my rescue?”

“If you really need someone to rescue you from Aunt Judith’s matchmaking, I’m not sure you’re ready to face this big, mad world,” Emily said lovingly.

Percy hissed between his teeth. “Maybe you’re right.” He looked at me. “A penny for your thoughts?”

I shrugged. “I’ll take the penny. Later.”

Percy smiled, his blue gaze lingering on me for a little while longer. “I was thinking I could show you the old town. God knows I could use a walk to burn off the calories.”

“Run before Nektaria sees you,” Emily said. “Dinner’s only halfway done.”

I nodded before Percy needed to ask again. “Let’s sneak away then.”

“Great,” Percy said. “I have a…surprise for you.” He blurted the last bit a little awkwardly, smiled softly, and started for the exit.

As I got up, Emily followed me with her gaze. When we looked at each other, she nodded encouragingly and said, “Carpe diem.”

Seize the day.

I wondered if I should tell Percy his sister caught us red-handed and urged me to seduce him for real or if I should just follow her advice. The thought was so oddly shaped that I struggled to fit it into my head. Flirt with him for real? But as I examined the idea, I discovered that I had already accepted it from the very first day.

Percy was attractive. He was hot as hell when he showered and held back his moans. He was kind and funny and easily embarrassed, all qualities in which I loved in people. The only thing that stood between me and accepting that my feelings for him were not so platonic was the fact that we needed to keep a respectful distance, or this entire operation was doomed.

We walked out of the house quietly, letting nobody know where we went. It was a leisurely walk away from the house and through narrow alleys that were framed by low, white houses with distinct blue windows. “This island is so beautiful,” Percy said. “I want to show you more of it.”

“If it gets you away from your family and keeps you sane, I’m all for it,” I said.

Percy laughed softly and glanced at me with gratitude. “You handle them very well.”

“I like them,” I said.

“Even Aunt Judith, trying to steal me away from you?” Percy asked, incredulous.

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