Page 48 of Faking It

I cross my arms defiantly. “I’m not ruffled.”

“If you say so.”

“Why are you on my side of the trailer, anyway?”

His expression slowly settles as he swings a pointed thumb over his shoulder. “Pat wants us to regroup. Someone spotted a bunch of paparazzi nearby.”

“I thought this was a secret filming location.”

Apparently not,” he responds, his broad back rocking as he leads the way down the steps. “ANON made a post that hinted where we were.”

“How, when Cheryl made us all sign NDAs to keep that information from getting out there?”

Carter snorts. “Her intention was to add mystery to the filming, but money talks. It’s easy to get a crew member to open up in exchange for cash.”

“Which means there’s a rat among us,” I point out.

“True. Letting the location slip is not that serious, though.”

“And if it was, what then? What if they leaked information that’s actually classified?”

He pauses near the tent, turning to face me, searching my face. “I can’t imagine my aunt giving sensitive information to anyone she doesn’t trust.” Awareness seeps into his eyes. “Unless we’re not talking about my aunt.”

It’s my turn to snort. “Who else could we be talking about?”

The subtle lift of his shoulders precedes a soft reply. “You tell me, Ana.”

“I don’t have any classified information.”

A long, breath-pausing beat goes by as he stares intently at me as if he’s trying to read my mind. “But you’re worried about something,” he finally mumbles.”

My breath pauses again.

“Is it the whole name change? Are you concerned that people might find out you’re not really Ana Kent? You’re not the first to use a pseudonym. You know that, right?”

“Of course, I know.”

“Although, most people make that information public. It’s strange that you haven’t,” he adds.

Heat floods my face. My only reaction is to walk away. He catches up to me, holding my shoulder to stop me. As I shrug him off, a crew member steps out of the tent.

Summoning a smile, I stop resisting, allowing him to turn me around. He brushes the hair out of my face, cupping my cheeks, the action creating a war between my body and my mind. Desire and fear fight for supremacy, none backing down, both leaving me frustrated. Yet, I keep smiling. We stand frozen until the crew member moves a distance away, then he releases me.

“If my musings bothered you, I’m sorry,” he says. “That’s just me trying to understand who you are.”

Who I am? You already know that, Carter.I don’t understand why he keeps pretending. The mystery is what scares me more than anything.

“Look, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to keep certain information under wraps. Trust me, I know that.” He gives me an assuring smile. “Rest assured; your secret is safe with me.”

His expression seemed genuine. So are his words. Yet, I can’t relax. I return a forced smile and a nod before he turns to go.

“Carter,” I call after him.

About to throw open the tent, Carter pauses. Slowly, he turns as I approach.

“Why are you being nice to me?” I ask.After what you overheard that night.

His brows gently lift. “Do I have a reason not to be?”

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