Page 52 of Of Pranks and Passion

A quick glance showed the table was already full. The only empty chairs were obviously designated for the birthday girl or had coats over them. Probably for the parents. They never intended to let Gary join them. Assholes.

“Doesn’t look like there’s enough room. That’s okay, though. We’ll just take an empty table.” I led Gary to the table next to our friends, pulling out his chair like a polite boyfriend. When I took my own seat, I enjoyed watching his sister flounder for a while before sulking back to her seat with a pout.

When I subtly tugged at the collar of the stupid suit I borrowed from Jayden, Gary leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. “You look like you’re about to break out in hives. I told you that you didn’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. I like you the way you are.”

I tipped my head toward the party table. “She would’ve sneered and kept screwing with you if I showed up in my normal clothes. Look at her now.”

Gary glanced over his shoulder and when his sister noticed him, her pout morphed into a dirty look. Someone wasn’t happy.

Gary turned back around with a frown. “Not sure it’s having the effect you want. She glares at me like that all the time. But it’s too late to turn back now, I guess.”

He couldn’t see what I could see, but I wasn’t going to argue with him here. Instead, I played the doting boyfriend, kissing his hand and holding it over the table, ordering him expensive wine, and making him blush every few minutes. At least that part was fun. The rest of it, I could throw out the window. Gary was right. This suit made me feel like I was going to break out in hives.

After dinner, the group spread out a little. I think it was to give Gary’s sister an excuse to get closer to me, but that was fine. I wanted her to want what she couldn’t have. It’d make this game easier.

At one point, I let Gary walk away from me to talk with our friends. It gave him time to calm down. He was practically vibrating with anxiety. And it gave the sister a chance to approach me without him. She sauntered up with a sway in herhips, her face practically predatory. I sipped at the god awful wine and forced a small smile when she approached.

“Having a good birthday?”

“I am now,” she breathed, batting her eyelashes. It took serious work to keep my expression neutral. She looked like she had something stuck in her eye.

“That’s good. Gary hasn’t told me much about his family. Are you two close?”

It was a test, and she failed immediately. “Gary is such a good brother. He loves to spoil me. He always has. When we were younger, he wouldn’t hesitate to give up something of his if he thought I might want it. He loves me like that.”

That was a fucking blatant hint. And damn, she moved fast. I thought we’d have to dance around it for a while.

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“So many things,” she purred, trailing her hand down her chest to draw attention to her cleavage. If I threw up on her, would it have the same effect?

“He even backed out when someone I liked asked him out in high school because he knew how I felt about the guy. I tried telling him he didn't have to, but he insisted.”

My grip on my wine glass was too tight listening to her lies, and it shattered, spilling wine and glass shards all over the floor. Gary rushed over immediately, completely disregarding the mess as he grabbed my hand and checked it for cuts.

“Are you okay?”

The smile I gave him was genuine. Fake relationship or not, he cared more about me than spilled wine or our cover story.

“Let me see,” his sister demanded, hip checking Gary out of the way. She didn’t have a chance to grab my hand because I reached for him instead, pulling him against my side.

“Don’t slip, sweetheart,” I murmured, pulling him farther away from the mess. A server hurried over, grimacing as shetook a berating from the parents for shoddy glassware. I made a mental note to give her a heavy tip before we left.

The sister looked a little shell-shocked that I’d gone to Gary first instead of letting her touch me. Whoops. That went against the plan. I was supposed to make her feel like she had a shot.

Clearing my throat, I gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I don’t know my own strength. I spend most mornings in the gym.”

It drew her focus to my body, which gave me a chance to check on Gary. He looked confused on why I was talking to his sister like that and a little wary. Which made me feel like a dick. I really should’ve told him the plan first. This happened before, where someone acted like they wanted him only to go after his sister. If he could just hang on another hour or so, it’d all make sense.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

GARY

Easton was acting weird.And not his normal weirdness. I liked that, when he got into wrestling matches with his friends or made random commentary under his breath during class about how the professors were so boring he could die. I wasn’t sure what he was doing right now. At first, it’d been kind of fun. Pretending we were on a date in the middle of my sister’s party. I could practically feel her glaring at us from her table through the entire meal. Easton played it up, kissing my hand and flirting with me. I would’ve been happy if he did that all night. It’d be a great revenge prank.

But then, when my back was turned, Brienna went after him. I knew she would the minute he walked in the door dressed like that. Brienna was a grade-A gold digger and only ever talked about wanting rich men who could spoil her. I thought Easton would rebuff her, but he stayed and talked to her, their voices low so no one could overhear them. I even saw Brienna playing with the neckline of her dress, like she was ready to flash her boobs at Easton to get what she wanted.

I’ll admit, it hurt. I knew this was all fake, but I didn't think it’d go sideways like this. I thought Easton would be the one person who’d be immune to her fake side. I guess even perfect guys like him were easily distracted by a set of boobs. Easton never said he was gay. He could go both ways.

---