Page 71 of Loving You

She’ll leave and not think twice about it. I’ll still be here listening to everyone in town talk about that one time I pretended to date the pretty traveler girl.

Who, as it turns out, is a lot more than just the traveler girl.

It’s just easier if I keep her that way in my head.

I glance over at the rest of our hiking crew. Andy and Sully are stretching as if the leisure hike we are about to take is going to be a sprint. Their other blonde friend didn’t want to come, and Cherry is playing on her phone while Danny ties his shoes. The two of them are sharing a rock as a chair, so that’s a start, right?

Maybe this is a sign I need to take a breath and just go with the flow.

Then again, a better sign would be if they were talking.

God, I can't believe I'm doing this.

How am I not learning that my choices have consequences?

One day I’m working in the shop with a schedule that won’t quit and a quiet life, and now I'm fake dating a travel influencer and trying to set the woman who is obsessed with me up with another man.

What the fuck happened to me?

“Are you growling?” Quinn asks with wide eyes.

“No.”

“It sure sounded like it.”

“I didn’t growl. I’m annoyed.”

“You’re always annoyed. What’s a girl got to do to make you smile?”

My mouth opens to reply, but she holds a finger up, pressing it to my lips. I know it shouldn’t, but the gentle pressure sends my mind racing over how gentle she’d be in other … actions.

“Don’t answer that.”

I chuckle as her lips tug to a smile.

I’m annoyed that I enjoy the banter Quinn and I have witheach other. She’s quick with her comebacks, and I like it. Maybe a little too much, and I don’t want to like it.

Don’t even get me started on my brother mentioning kissing last week.

I panicked so fast. My only other option was for them to see how much I did want it.

Ever since she stood in my living room and glanced at my lips, I’ve thought about it.

I know Quinn well enough that it wouldn't be weird, but I don’t know her well enough to be thinking about her lips obsessively.

Which is what I’ve been doing. How naturally dark pink they are. How plump they are. How smooth they look.

Oh, hell.

Luckily, the two of us have been doing our best to just work and lay low. Until now, we haven't put ourselves in another position to touch or pretend we don’t want to kiss. Or at least, pretend I don’t. Does she?

Why am I thinking about this right now?

I should be thinking about work or, better yet, at work. But fuck, she’s got that so organized that taking this afternoon off didn’t even seem like it would affect anything.

She’s been helping me in so many ways, I should just man up and help her right now.

I’m starting to think that admitting the truth, although it might have sucked at first, would have been a lot easier to deal with.

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