Page 31 of Faking Romance

I look over at him and glare.

He puts his hands up in the air. “Sorry. My bad. It’s just…you let Al set you up. That was your first mistake. He’s like the fairy godfather that no one wants. His heart's in the right place, but…” I level a harder stare at him, and he trails off.

“So he says a woman will meet me at the post-filming party. And Roxy shows up. She’s as shocked as I am. But agrees to do it. I think she thinks that I won’t bitch about noise if we’re fake dating,” I say with a bitter laugh because that’s never happening.

“Anyhow, we’ve agreed to fake date for the purposes of me keeping this contract with Pierce for the film’s score.”

I look back at Bray.

“So, what’s the problem?” he asks.

I put my hands over my face and drag them down my skin. “I think I fucking like her, like,likelike her. When we were upstairs a bit ago, I swear we almost kissed when she leaned in toward me.”

He shrugs. “What’s the big deal? I mean, if you can fake date, why can’t you real date?”

“No, we’re neighbors. It’d mess up everything. And honestly, I’m not looking for a girlfriend.” I give him a pointed look. He knows about my ex and how this last year has been tough for me.

He nods and frowns. He’s silent for a long beat as though thinking that statement through. “I see your point,” he mumbles. “OK, so keep it professional. Draw some boundaries. Like you’ll only hug or cheek kiss in front of Pierce, and otherwise, no touching.”

I consider what he’s saying. I mean, it’s not that different from what Roxy and I have already discussed. But it’s not that easy. I haven’t been attracted to someone in a long time. Even with Lydia in the last year of our relationship, I can’t say I was still attracted to her. I spent nearly eleven of those twelve months completely checked out from anything between us. A twinge of guilt seeps into my veins. While what she did was unforgivable, I’m not blameless in the demise of our relationship.

There’s a knock at the door and we both freeze and then look at each other.

Bray walks over and opens the door.

It’s Hutch.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Bray and Gray. What’s up, gentlemen?” he asks as he walks in and sits on the sofa.

“Uh, not much. What’s up?” Bray asks. I can tell he’s already annoyed because he hates that our nicknames rhyme, and if it was anyone other than Hutch, he’d probably point that out. Hutch is just too nice to yell at about trivial things.

“Who’s up for a stakeout?” he asks.

“What?” Bray replies looking from him to me.

“Hutch, who cares about the flowers? Let’s just let it stay a mystery, man,” I state.

“I need to know,” he says, looking defeated.

“Why?” Bray and I say in unison.

“Don’t you guys ever just want answers?” Hutch asks and I feel like his question is so much deeper than just about flowers. I know Hutch is still messed up from the accident that ended his football career. He never talks about it. He’s always putting on a brave face and being kind and funny, but every once in a while, I see through his façade, and I just know he’s thinking about it.

“Nope,” Brayden says.

“I mean, not really. Isn’t it sort of fun just to have it as a mystery?” I ask.

Hutch shrugs and then glances over at me. “Why are you up here?”

Brayden gives me a look as if to ask if Hutch is allowed to know. Screw it. Everyone is likely to know eventually anyhow. Sighing, I nod.

“Gray’s fake dating Roxy,” he says to Hutch.

Hutch’s eyes widen. “Wait, what? Why fake dating?”

I lean back again with my head staring up at the ceiling and tell him the entire story. When I finish, I put my head down and rest my elbows on my knees as I look at him.

“I mean. Roxy is hot. If you aren’t serious with her, I’d ask her out,” he says.

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