Page 91 of Fake Dating My Best Friend

Elaine points to the clock.Two hours have passed.

Betrayal.

Asher chuckles. “Sure. Need me to come over and help you decide?”

“I guess . . . sure.”

“No!” Elaine and Roxanne shriek in perfect unison, so loudly that Mochi jolts awake and tumbles off his dress throne in pure panic.

“You can’t see her until she’s ready,” Elaine calls toward the phone. “It’s like a wedding!”

“This isnota wedding!” I buried my head under my palms.

“I’m here.” Asher’s voice comes through both the phone and my front door as he knocks.

“Just let yourself in,” I tell him, and hang up the phone.

He presses the password and opens my door. He walks into my bedroom wearing snug navy Henley and dark, perfectly fitted jeans that sit just right on his hips.

His lips twitch as he surveys the mountain of discarded dresses like a fashion crime scene. And then his eyes find me.

“Oh good, you haven’t changed yet,” he says, moving toward my closet. Mochi trots after him, tail wagging.

“What are you doing?”

Asher doesn’t answer. He just steps deeper into my closet, reaching for something in the back. His broad shoulders practically fill the doorway. And I get a side view of him, taking in just how solid he is. Not overly bulky, but strong in that effortless, could-probably-carry-me-with-one-arm kind of way.

Which is not something I should be thinking about right now. Or ever.

But every angle of him is just so unfairly perfect. I don’t think I’d ever get tired of watching him.

“Looking for—” his hand stops, “this.”

My breath catches as he pulls out the mint-colored dress I’d hidden away months ago. It’s simple but elegant, with a sweetheart neckline and flowing skirt that always made me feel like dancing.

“This is new,” I whisper, fingers reaching out to touch the soft fabric. “I bought it last year for—” I stop, the memory of Kyle’s dismissive look still stinging.

Mint green is so tacky, Isla. No one wears that color anymore.The dress had stayed in the back of my closet with the tags still on, never worn.

“Spring festival.” His deep voice rumbles through the space between us. The dress drapes over his well-defined arm as he examines the tag. “Still new.”

Elaine and Roxanne exchange a look and start sneaking out of my bedroom like cartoon villains in perfect synchronization. Even Mochi tiptoes after them, his little paws barely making a sound. Elaine blows me a kiss before leaving my bedroom.

I whip around and glare at them, giving them my best warning look. I am so getting new friends.

“You love this color.” His muscles flex as he props one shoulder against my closet door frame.

I swallow hard. “Yes.”

“You said you’d wear it every day when you bought it.”

“Okay, to be fair, I also once said I’d eat nothing but waffles for a year, and that lasted two days.”

A slow smile tugs at his lips. “Turned out you never wore it.”

“You remember?”

“I remember a lot of things.” His voice drops lower. “Including when you stopped choosing for yourself.”

---