Page 25 of Play Pretend

This was Gracie. She wouldn’t judge me. She wouldn’t hate me.

But what if she did?

The words tasted like ash as I forced them out. “I lied and told my dad I’m dating Ronan. That he’s been my boyfriend for the last year. Every time I was going to tell them we broke up, Vanessa did something else great, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

I wiped my face with my fingers as I pulled away, knowing she probably didn’t want to touch a dirty, rotten liar anymore.

When she said nothing, I risked a glance at her. She stared at me, her eyes searching mine. Gently, she wrapped her hand around mine and squeezed.

“It’ll be okay,” she said, sounding so sure of herself.

I chewed my lip as I shook my head. It wouldn’t be okay. I had to tell them the truth or tell them another lie, and hope Ronan was nowhere to be seen during their visit.

“What do I do?” I whispered desperately. Her thumb stroked over the back of my hand, her gaze holding me captive.

“You could tell them you broke up,” she said, and I nodded. Yeah, that would be the least likely thing to cause drama. “Or tell them the truth.”

I shook my head before the words were fully out of her mouth. “I can’t do that. I can’t—they can never find out about it. Vanessa would never let me live it down.”

Gracie turned her attention to the ocean in the distance, her eyes sharp as thoughts whirled in her head. I could see all the gears turning as she tried to figure out the best solution.

“What if you ask Ronan to pretend to be your boyfriend while they’re here?” Her voice was so soft it nearly blended in with the wind, but I’d heard it clearly.

“I can’t—” I cleared my still too-dry, too-tight throat. “That’s insane. He would think I’m insane, Gracie. I—I can’t.”

“He’s understanding and kind.” She turned toward me, a soft smile on her face. “I think he’d do it if you asked nicely.”

“If I asked nicely,” I echoed. “I just yelled at him the other day about his trash being on my side. I’m always yelling at him, and when I’m not, we’re too awkward to hold a regular conversation. He’dneveragree to it.”

“But he might.” She sounded so hopeful, so excited, it crushed me. “He’d totally do it. And I think he secretly likes you?—”

“Stop.” The words died on her lips, but the hope never guttered from her eyes.

“Those are your options.” She shrugged. “Tell your family another lie, tell them the truth, or ask Ronan to be your fake boyfriend for a few days.”

I nibbled my lip as I turned my attention to the expanse of blue in front of us. “How would I even ask him something like that?”

“Bring him a basket of all his favorite things,” she laughed. “That’ll be a good place to start.”

“You want me to bribe him with sweets?” I asked, turning a disbelieving look her way. “I can’t bribe the sheriff?—”

“You’re not bribing thesheriff,” she countered, grinning wickedly. “You’re bribing your future fake boyfriend.”

I wrungmy hands tightly together as I paced in my living room. The basket of baked goods sat on the coffee table, taunting me. They were the only reason I hadn’t disappeared to the lighthouse yet. But as soon as this conversation was over, that was where I would be. Maybe I could move in there and become a hermit.

It would be better thanthis.

I smoothed my hands over my cream-colored dress—it was the nicest dress I owned, and I’d spent the last two hours doing my hair and makeup to perfection. I knew he wouldn’t care about how I looked, but it somehow made me feel better.

My gaze flitted over my living room, catching on the open pantry door. I paused. I didn’t remember opening it.

Lights flooded my living room, pulling my attention, and my stomach dropped to the floor as I crept toward the window.

There he was.

He slid out of his truck, his work bag in hand. I glanced over my shoulder at the basket of desserts sitting on the coffee table. Maybe I should’ve made him dinner instead. It was the end of the day. He likely wanted something hearty, not a bunch of sweets.

I shook myself. It didn’t matter.

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