Page 93 of Play Pretend

“What’s up?” He rolled his eyes. “I’m with Willow—you did what? Are you kidding?” A long, dramatic groan left him. “I can’t—she doesn’t want to meet Mom.”

“Me?” I sat up on my elbows. “You want me to meet your mom?”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Trinity?—”

“I’ll meet your mom,” I blurted. “You met mine today.”

He stared at me for a heartbeat, then sighed again, pinching between his eyes. “Fine. Tell her we’ll be there.” Without another word, he hung up and stared at me. “Do you know what you just agreed to?”

“To meet your mom?”

“She’s…a lot,” he warned hesitantly, like he was worried about my reaction. “She’s like Trinity, but has been able to really master her chaos.” My head fell back on my shoulders as I laughed.

“When are we going?”

“In a couple days. She found out you’re my—” He gave me a strange look. “Trinity told her about us, and she wants to meet you.”

“I can’t wait.” I grinned. Thankfully, the conversation we almost had disappeared as he helped me to my feet. He brushed the sand off my back and out of my hair, then wrapped his hand around mine.

An uneasy feeling washed through me, like I was being watched, and I looked around. But I didn’t see anyone. It was probably just pent up anxiety from last night.

As we walked to the truck, I realized that line was getting dangerously blurry between us, and I didn’t know what to do or think. If I would’ve had the chance to finish my sentence earlier, what would I have said?

Yes, probably. Because Ididwant to fuck Ronan. And that terrified me. I didn’t want to fall back into the person I used to be, letting men use and discard me for their own pleasure. I wanted to know that if I slept with him, that it meant something. That he would still be there in the morning.

The real truth of it was that if I slept with him, I wanted him to be more than a friend, more than my fake boyfriend. I wanted it to be real—I wantedusto be real. And that thought might’ve been the scariest of all.

willow

Music blared through The Taphouse, the neon lights flashing and a spotlight shining on the person on stage. It was an older woman singing some Shania Twain song, her gray hair wild and frizzy around her face.

Gracie leaned toward me, a drink in hand. “I think I’m looking at you in the future,” she shouted over the music. I laughed, nodding in agreement.

Trinity and Brynne danced together on the dance floor. A few men tried to get their attention, but they were too wrapped up in each other and having fun to even notice them. Benny and Ronan were in deep conversation next to me, their heads close as they shouted in each other’s ears.

Ronan looked like he was concentratingreallyhard on what Benny was telling him, but his hand rested on my thigh. My dress had ridden up earlier, but I didn’t move it. I liked the way it felt to have his bare skin touching mine, the way his finger tapped against my inner thigh.

“So.” Gracie nudged me with her elbow to get my attention. “How are things with…” She jerked her head toward Ronan, and I felt my face flame. “You look good together.”

My bottom lip slid between my teeth as I glanced at him. He was already staring at me, and when our eyes met, he winked. I nearly melted into the floor right then and there.

“Need another drink?” he asked, pointing at my empty glass.

“Please.”

I smiled as he squeezed my thigh before getting to his feet. He and Benny disappeared into the crowd of people, and I turned toward Gracie. I hadn’t been able to talk to her about everything that had happened, and I needed to get it out before I exploded.

“He kissed me,” I blurted, grabbing her arm. Her jaw hit the table.

“What?” she squealed, and excitedly clapped her hands together. “Seriously?”

“Yes!” I glanced over my shoulder, making sure he was still in line. Thankfully, it looked like he wasn’t coming back anytime soon. “He packed my bag, and then—I don’t know. It just happened. He said he wanted to kiss me, and I told him to do it, and…he did. And then earlier?—”

“Wait. You wanted him to kiss you too?” she asked, and I shrugged.

“I think I like him.”

“Oh my god, finally.” She let out a dramatic groan. “I’m pretty sure everyone on the freaking planet knows you’ve liked that man forever.”

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