Page 15 of Not Fooling Anyone

“Put other numbers too. It needs to be realistic. No one’s perfect.”

“My Pookie Bear is.”

I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He’s one of those people who loves riling others up. I just have to not react. “Hurry up so we can get out of here. I need to read the first hundred pages of a book before class tomorrow.”

“What book?”

“War and Peace.”

“Oh, God. That one’s so long.”

I set my pen down, staring at him. “Have you read it?” There’s no way. It’s too dense.Ican barely get through it.

“Uh…” He scratches at the back of his neck. “I watched the movie.”

Yeah, that sounds more his speed.

Justin approaches us, holding a digital camera. “You guys almost finished? I have to take your pictures. And if you have any water, I’d start chugging it now because I need a urine sample from both of you later.”

Um, what now?

“Why do you need our pee?” Ethan asks him. God, does he have to be so crass?

“We’re getting a baseline of your neurotransmitter levels.”

I exchange a glance with Ethan, who shrugs. “Okay.” To be honest, I’m not completely sure what neurotransmitters are. Something about chemicals in the brain?

We finish up and turn in our questionnaires, then stand against a white backdrop as Justin takes our pictures individually.

As he leads us through our next tasks, I see why he needed the pictures. We’re outfitted with special goggles that track our eye movements as images of strangers interspersed with our partner come in rapid succession, the muscles in my upper back tense as I search for Ethan’s image. Am I seeking him out fast enough? Would a person in love be able to recognize their partner quicker? I only met him two days ago. I don’t have his features memorized yet.

Oh, God. We’re going to fail this.

I roll out my shoulders when the test is finally over, but I don’t have much of a break before there’s a second eye test, this time measuring the size of our pupils as we’re shown different images. This one has the picture lingering for longer, and as Ethan pops up on the screen, I concentrate on his face.

The dark slash of his brows, the straight nose, the strong jaw lurking underneath his carefully groomed beard. And looking closer, there’s a flicker of laughter in those striking green eyes. A hint of mischief in his smirk.

He really is… handsome.

Objectively, obviously.

“How’d you like looking at my face all those times?” he asks when we’re finished. “Sick of me yet?”

He’s grinning, laugh lines prominent around the corners of his eyes. The sudden urge to trace them strikes me, my hand almost reaching up before I remember myself.

What the hell am I thinking? He doesn’t need his ego fed any.

“They could have at least used a few different pictures to make it more interesting,” I tell him.

Somehow, his grin spreads even wider. “I mean, if you want pictures, I’ll send you pictures.”

I tilt my head. “And what kind would those be?”

Devilry curves over his lips. “Whatever kind you want.”

“You’re incorrigible. Don’t you take anything seriously?”

“Not if I can help it.”

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