Page 83 of Only Between Us

The image of her in Huskies maroon floods my mind. “Because I no longer give a fuck about pretending, that’s why.”

Siena draws back to look at me. A quiet look, like I’ve just confirmed something she’s long suspected.

That I’d spend every day playing cribbage with her mom if she asked me to. That picking her up in the mornings is the best part of my day, and dropping her off at night is the worst, because it means another twelve hours without her.

Good. I hope she knows.

I’d tell her if she ever gave me a sign that she wanted me back.

Annie claps her hands together, drawing our attention. “Let’s get started. We’re going for a cozy night in, so just get comfortable, focus on each other, and let us do the rest.”

We face each other, grinning almost awkwardly. Like we haven’t done this before, smiled for the cameras.

“What trouble did you three get up to today?” I speak just loud enough for her to hear.

Siena tucks her hair behind her ear. “Oh, you know. We talked about books. The sad dating pool in Oakwood. You.”

“Covered a lot of ground.” I run lines along her hip with my thumb. “You know I’d tell you anything you wanted to know, right? You only have to ask.”

A camera flashes nearby, but it’s all I register of the crew now that I’m sitting so close to Siena. I’m drenched in her sunny scent, the smile coming from those almond-shaped eyes.

“Really? You’d have voluntarily told me about the time on spring break when you got so drunk on piña coladas you disappeared for hours, then showed up wearing one of those puffy sumo suits with no idea how you got it?”

Fuck, Summer went deep into the vault with that one.

“I’ll do you one better, Pip. I’ll admit to you, and only you, that I know exactly how I ended up in that sumo suit.”

Her eyes go wide, so sweetly excited. “You remember?”

“?’Course I do. I just didn’t want those jackasses to hold it over my head for the rest of my life. I’ll tell you as long as it stays between us.”

“Only between us.” She smiles. “I like having secrets with you.”

“I like it, too.”

We exchange a look loaded with conspiracy. Pretend-dating, in-game injuries, and cliffside confessions will do that to you. I couldn’t have hoped for a better partner in crime.

“All right, I was nineteen and out of my mind off piña coladas.” I adjust her anchor charm where it sits over my old Rebels jersey. “And let’s take a minute to appreciate how much rum must have been in those things. Because I’ve always been a big guy. So, it takes quite a bit just to get me buzzed.”

She nods briskly. “Noted. Appreciated. Do go on.”

“Somehow, I ended up at a neighboring resort during one of those performances they put on for their guests—well,backstageat one of those performances. Which that night happened to be… let’s just call it a Magic Mike retelling. Really charming stuff.”

“Oh my God.” Siena nearly doubles over in a laugh. “Please tell me this is going where I think it is.”

“Of course it is. One second I’m backstage, wondering where the hell I am. The next second someone shoves meonstage, to wondering where the hell I am and also why about two hundred people are looking at me expectantly.Cheeringexpectantly.”

“Brooks.” Siena’s face falls into her palms, shoulders shuddering in a laugh. Someone behind the cameratutstheir disapproval. Gently, I pry away her hands and lace our fingers together.

“Yeah, so, obviously I start stripping.”

“The logical thing to do.”

I flick a strand of hair off her cheek with our intertwined hands. “You’re trying to tell me you wouldn’t have played into it?”

She licks her lips, and I can tell she’s delighted that I have her so pegged. “I definitely would have stripped.”

“Exactly. So, I get down to my underwear, tossing my clothes into the crowd, reallyfeelingit, you know. All that cheering as you get naked does wonders for your self-esteem.”

---