Page 60 of Fauxmance in the City

But before we can say anything else, there’s a banging on the bedroom door, and I pull my straps into place, covering my breast.

“You get it,” Sam says, his back to the door.

I take a steadying breath and yank the door open. Karen stands on the other side, a phone held between her ear and shoulder, tapping into her iPad.

“We’re wrapped for the night. Call time is six tomorrow.” She glances over my shoulder, spotting Sam. “Ms. Kennedy wants to speak to you both before you leave.”

I close the door and rest my back against it.

“Gillian’s like a dog with a bone,” Sam says, pushing off the window. “What a fucking mess.”

“Say yes to the magazine but no to the reality show. I’ll tell her no myself.” I chew my lip, my thoughts on the moment before Karen knocked.

“Gillian won’t accept that.”

“I’ll figure it out.” I blow air out my lips. Whatever caring animal awakened in Sam before we were interrupted has gone back into hibernation. “I’ll get us out of it.”

“Forget it. Every time you try to help, you make it worse.” Sam walks past me to the door and opens it a crack, knocking me forward.

“I’ll fix it.” I shove my shoulders back, regrouping. “You won’t—”

“Shut up and listen to me, Catie,” Sam growls, frustrated. “Don’t do anything. You were right before. I’m the idiot who volunteered to be a part of this clusterfuck. I’ll find a way to sort it out. Without you. And once I do, then we can finally put an end to”—he bats his hand between our chests—“this. Whatever this messed up thing is between us.”

I’m about to respond when Max steps into the hallway on his phone. He catches my eye through the open door.

“Hey, guys.” He walks toward us.

“Hi, Max,” I say, welcoming the interruption.

“I’m going to head back to the city.” He pockets his phone. “Do you guys want to share a ride?”

“Sure.” I push past Sam and smile widely at Max. “But first Gillian wants to speak to us.”

“She just left,” Max says. “There was some emergency about tomorrow. A last-minute change.”

“Oh.” I glance at Sam, who’s brooding behind me. We’ve been given a short reprieve with Gillian, but I don’t know how that will help the situation.

Outside, the Lyft is waiting, but there are already two passengers in the back seat.

“I think I accidentally ordered a carpool ride. Why don’t you guys order another car.” Max slides into the backseat. “Sorry.”

“I’ll go with you,” I say on impulse and slip into the front. I tell the driver to go before Sam can protest. We lurch forward, and my phone beeps before we get to the end of the street.

WTF? Sam texts.

“Everything okay with you two?” Max asks from behind me.

“Just the usual.” I sing-song to cover up the pain twisting my organs. I had to get away from Sam, from the ache that’s eating my soul.

Don’t do anything stupid. Sam texts before I respond.

I’m a grown-ass woman. I can do whatever I want.

I cross my arms and stare out the window, watching the twinkling lights of the city pass by but feeling none of the magic.

sixteen

A pang squeezes my chest. I ignore it, Just like I ignored the crushing ache all through the night, barely sleeping. I went straight to my apartment and crashed after I ditched Sam at the townhouse last night.

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