Page 97 of Fake Dating My Best Friend

“Every single one.” I drop my voice lower, just for her. “Though I might have some suggestions for . . . amendments.”

I feel her tension. Her fingers give a tiny squeeze on my arm. “Stop looking so nervous, Peachie. Unless you’re having second thoughts?”

She straightens at the challenge in my voice. “About bingo? Please. I was born ready.”

I guide Isla toward the elevator, my hand firm against the small of her back. I’m ready to show her what we could be.

Don’t screw this up,Conner’s text echoes in my head.

Too late. I’m already in too deep.

Chapter 25

Isla

Asher.In a suit.

I will not spend the entire night staring at him. I will absolutely not think about how this feels like something straight out of my most indulgent dreams.

And I will definitely not keep obsessing over how the crisp navy suit fits him way too well, hugging his broad shoulders and tapering at the waist like it was personally tailored to ruin my life.

Or how the white dress shirt underneath is unbuttoned just enough to single-handedly wreck my ability to function.

That’s the thought. The single, all-consuming, brain-short-circuiting thought that has completely taken over my existence since the moment I saw him.

Technically, there are other thoughts. Like how he gave me the most beautiful necklace. Or how he called me agood girl, which felt like it was ripped straight from the pages of my favorite romance novels and now lives in my head rent-free.

But all of those aresecondarybecause I need to get my brain and heart in order.

It’s not like I’ve never seen him dressed up before. I have. Occasionally. But there’s something different about tonight.

Maybe it’s the fact that we’re dressed for each other.

I am one deep breath away from catastrophic system failure.

“Frosthaven’s hottest couple!”

Betty’s voice cuts through the chatter as she practically sprints toward us, her floral hat wobbling precariously. “Everyone’s been talking about you two!”

The moment Asher and I step into the Frosthaven community hall, I’m hit with a tidal wave of pink and red. Heart-shaped balloons bob lazily above tables dripping with glitter, and the air is thick with the scent of sugar cookies and excitement.

I feel my cheeks heat up faster than a microwave burrito. “Oh, we’re just—”

“What mygirlfriendmeans,” Asher cuts in smoothly, “is that we’re just trying to keep things low-key.” He winks at me, and the corner of his mouth lifts in that slow, devastating smile. The kind that could ruin lives and start wars.

My girlfriend.

The word echoes in my head like the world’s most addictive song. I could listen to him say it on repeat, maybe record it secretly, and set it as my morning alarm. Then I’d actually wake up on time.

“Low-key?” Mayor Parker laughs, her antennae bobbing wildly. “Asher Collymore, you’ve been in love with this girl since you were knee-high to a grasshopper! Tell us, how did you finally win her over?”

Oh no. We didn’t prepare for this question. We didn’t prepare for any questions.

“Actually,” Asher says, his words wrapping around me as warm and soft as my favorite blanket, “she won me over back when we were eleven. She stopped traffic to save a stray dog in the rain. The way she cares about everything and everyone—how could I not fall for that?”

He glances down at me, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch. “I just got lucky enough that she finally noticed me back.”

My heart stumbles, tripping over itself.

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