Page 36 of Faking It with My Bossy Ex

She starts to make her getaway, her eyes darting toward the exit. Before she can bolt, I slip my arm around her shoulders and pull her against me. She stiffens for a second, then lets out a resigned sigh, like she’s accepting her fate for the morning.

Everyone here seems to be a couple, or at least most of them are. Some are probably staying in the cabins, but a lot of them are couples from town, which takes me by surprise.

“We can’t keep doing these competitions. It wouldn't be right if a different couple had a chance at winning a real prize and we deprived them of that.” Amy adjusts herself to try to put morespace between us while still staying under my arm, but she only manages to come closer.

“I know that there has been a lot of curiosity about what the first prize winners are going to get,” Mrs. Parker continues speaking, her gaze falling on us for half a second.

“Don’t you at least want to know what the prize is, dear?” I whisper in her ear with a naughty grin.

“Do we have to be like … so close?”

“Unless you’re okay with people thinking we’ve been faking it just to stay here and enter the Couple’s Contest.”

Maybe keeping up appearances is a small part of it, but I like having her so close. It feels right, like she fits up against me as if she never left in the first place.

She relaxes just a bit. It starts in her shoulders and works its way down the rest of her, and my smile grows.

“The winners of the whole competition will get an all-expenses paid trip on a Caribbean cruise. A very generous person who wants to help stoke the romance for a special couple has donated it.” Mrs. Parke beams.

I grin and Amy withers.

“A cruise?” she whispers. “We are not conning all of these poor people out of a cruise.” “We’re not about to take a cruise from a real couple.”

“It’s not like that.” I lead her over to the breakfast line and hand her a pre-warmed plate. “We are a couple, staying in a couple’s cabin. They just want people to enjoy the contest and the prize. You used to talk about a cruise as one of your big dreams. I think it was your five-year plan, wasn’t it?” I smile, hoping she remembers the way she used to share her dreams with me, back when I was part of them.

She doesn’t answer right away, but the way her eyes light up says it all. She wants this cruise. I can see it plain as day.

“Come on, Amy. Let’s really go for it. Where’s your competitive spirit?” I place a brownie on her plate, and a little smile tugs the corner of her mouth. I love her smile so much, and I wish I could be the reason she smiles like that.

“I don’t want to go on a cruise with you.”

Ouch. That hurts. Her words hit like a cold wind, but I cover the sting with a grin.

“Fine. If we win and you still can’t stand me, take someone else. Just don’t let the ticket go to waste.”

I would hate that, but if she doesn't change her mind about me at the end of our time together in Snowfall Springs, then I’m going to have to accept her decision.

“What’s in it for you, then?” Her green eyes study me curiously, as if looking for any sign that I'm trying to set her up for something.

“What’s in it for me is seeing you get something that you’ve always wanted.”

“So,” Mrs. Parker’s voice interrupts her answer. “Our next portion of the competition is a gingerbread house-making contest. Materials will be delivered to everyone’s table and you have one hour to put something together. There will be three small prizes, and the overall winners will get a point toward the final prize.”

Everyone cheers as Amy’s expression turns determined. “How good are you at making gingerbread houses?”

“Pretty handy, if I do say so myself. Let me take that plate for you.” I scoop her plate from her as she grabs two cups of orange juice.

“All right then. Let’s do this.” She giggles. I’ve won this round, and I can’t wait to see how far she’ll let this go. Being enemies has its fun moments, but I want more, something even better than that.

One hour, two trips to the buffet, and three buckets of frosting later, we’re standing up front on the stage along with five other couples waiting for final judgment. Amy’s cheeks are bright red, and she clasps her hands in anticipation. There’s the competitive side I was looking for.

I also think that our gingerbread house might win. It’s complete with a chimney, flower boxes with real candy flowers, and even a couple out front, made completely from gummies and licorice.

Mrs. Parker stops beside each little table, examining the houses. The two other judges she’s brought in take extra care, pointing out things they love and things they aren’t so sure about.

I feel optimistic when they spend twice as long looking at our house and are whispering among themselves. Even with my optimism, I am not expecting it when they pin a bright blue ribbon to the front of our gingerbread house.

“We won! Can you believe it? We won!” She stares at the blue ribbon in disbelief, then launches herself into my arms, her laugh ringing in my ears as she hugs me tight. I don’t think she even realizes what she’s doing. For a split second, I let myself pretend this is real, that she wants to be here with me, just as much as I want to be with her.

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