Page 38 of Falling for your Fake Boyfriend

“Who?”

“Alexandria. She had years of professional voice lessons.” We turned down the hallway to the theater.

“I have no idea. I’m looking forward to hearing you though.”

“Well, set your sights and expectations lower there, darling. By the way, what did ya think of that one—darling?”

“Didn’t mind it. Especially when it was followed up by a kiss.” I glanced over to see her blush, and it didn’t disappoint.

“How was she at riding?” Isla asked as I held the theater door for her. “I mean, that’ll give me some indication about her singing talent. I assume she had years of equestrian training, too.”

“Probably, but I don’t think she rode any better than the rest of us. She just looks better doing it.”

“I imagine she looks better doing just about anything compared to the rest of us. She’s probably even gorgeous brushing her teeth.”

I took her hand before she could hurry over to the candy counter. She stared at our two clasped hands before lifting her blue gaze. There was that magnetic crash and pull. It caught me off guard every time. “Alex isn’t anything special. Really, Isla. I’m looking at the most unique, interesting, smartest person I’ve met in a long time. She’s here, standing right in front of me.” I chuckled. “And even as I’m saying this, she’s thinking about that Almond Joy bar. And I like her even more for it.”

Isla laughed. “Could you see that blue and white wrapper sparkling in my eyes?”

I circled around to the back of the candy counter.

“M&M’s too, please. I’ll see if I can find us two seats together.” She laughed as she wandered down the aisle to the front row.

“Do you want popcorn?” I called.

“What kind of glutton do you think I am?” She sat down, looked up at the screen and then hopped back up to try a different seat. “Actually, a small bucket maybe. It’ll be a nice contrast to the sweet candy.”

“One small bucket, coming up.” I walked over to the popcorn cart. “Butter?”

“Who do you think I am, a barbarian? Of course, butter. And salt.” She hopped into another seat, looked up at the screen and leaned the chair back. “Found our seats.”

Minutes later the entire theater was filled with the smell of popcorn. I walked to the control panel, did a search for the movie and grabbed the remote to take with me to our seats. I scooped some popcorn into a bucket, grabbed two water bottles from the cooler and joined Isla. The massive leather chair practically swallowed her up.

“Rachel, Bryan and I used to have a race to see who could hop over the seats from the top row to the bottom. Sometimes we spent more time playing in this room than watching movies. In fact, sitting in here brings up one significant childhood memory.”

We settled back comfortably. Isla’s head was resting back against the seat, but she was turned my direction, listening with interest.

“It was Rachel’s eighth birthday. There was a big birthday party, of course. My mom hired a bunch of people to run it, so all she did was stay tucked inside gossiping with her friends. I don’t even remember her stepping out for the candle blowing. After everyone left, Rachel decided to ride her new pony.”

“A new pony,” Isla said dreamily. “What little girl didn’t want a pony? Although I was more a bicycle type, but Layla begged for a pony every year.”

“Well, this pony was a stinker. He came with a big pedigree and famous parentage, but he was ornery as a bucking bronco.”

Isla sat up slightly. “Did she get thrown?”

I nodded. “I was hanging on the side of the arena watching. Rachel went straight up in the air and landed on her right arm.”

Isla flinched and even brought her right arm closer.

“She broke her arm in two places. That night, after the doctor left?—”

Isla sat up and turned toward me. “The doctor came to the house? You have got to be kidding me!”

“Sometimes I wish I were. After he left, my parents took off for a late-night dinner party. Rachel was so upset, and she was in pain, and frankly, she was shaken from the whole thing. I wasn’t entirely sure she’d get back on a horse again after that. Our nighttime nanny at that time was a grizzled, stern woman who didn’t have a sympathetic bone in her body. She gave Rachel a glass of milk and told her she’d feel better in the morning. I waited for the nanny to go to bed, and I collected all of Rachel’s favorite stuffed animals and blankets, and we snuck down here to the theater. We huddled together, eating as much candy as we could hold down and watching an all-night Disney movie marathon. Rachel fell asleep with her head on my shoulder and hugging her favorite stuffed unicorn with her good arm.”

“Oh my gosh, that story earns five gold stars for cuteness.” She rested back. “I’m glad you had each other.”

“Yeah, me too. Well, are we ready to fire up this classic?”

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