Page 31 of Accidentally Falling for My Fake Wife

“It’s my sister Olivia. I’m getting together with her and my sister-in-law, Nicole, for a Zoom call later.”

Me:Yes and yes.

Me:Can’t talk, right now.

Liv:Yay!

Liv:Wait!

Liv:Why can’t you talk? Are you with a girl?

My heart hammers against my ribcage as Olivia questions me. I’m usually not so short.

“Sorry,” I mumble to Susie as I type. “Sometimes my sister can be a bit chatty.”

“Chatty?” Susie presses her lips together, and I suddenly want to pull the collar of my shirt from my neck.Is it hot in here?“Yeah, sometimes Josh can be chatty too.”

A nervous chuckle escapes me.

Me:No.Why would you ask that?

Liv:You are with a girl!

Liv:I have questions…

Me:Bye!

“Okay. All done. Sorry about that.” I groan internally for apologizing again.

“No worries. I understand,” I meet Susie’s eyes to see a gleam of humor, but also understanding. “Meeting up with your sister and sister-in-law sounds like fun. Do you do that often?”

I put my phone away and give her a timid grin.

“About once a month or so. We have a book club.” Susie’s mouth falls open and I laugh. I rub the back of my neck to relieve the tension I feel building there. I don’t usually talk to anyone about this. “It’s a way for us to spend time together. Liv and Nicole started it.”

“A book club, huh?” Susie has a cheeky grin and a gleam in her eyes. I feel like she knows exactly what author I’m reading. I rub my hands up and down my pants. “Which book are you reading?”

“The new J Anthony,” I spit out and watch Susie press her lips together.

“It was good,” she says with a smirk.

“You like to read horror?” I ask, surprised. Which is silly. I mean, who doesn’t like to read?

She nods her head and I see her shoulders shake. Is she trying not to laugh at me?

“Pleasant Hollow has a nice library,” I say because my mind is blank. I immediately regret how silly that sounds. “I stopped by to pick up the book we’re discussing tonight.”

“I saw you.” Her smile lights up, and she looks at me like she knows all my secrets. “I like to work here and at the library.”

I grab hold of that last statement in an attempt to change the subject. “You work here and in the library? What is it that you do?”

“Oh no you don’t.” She points a finger at me and lets out the laugh she’s been holding in. “We are talking about you Mr. Daniels.”

“What’s the big deal?” I raise my hands and try to play it cool. “I like to read and have a book club with my sister and sister-in-law.”

“You’re right. It’s not a big deal at all.” But she’s laughing as she says it. “Especiallyifyou read James Patterson.”

“Exactly.” I smile, heat spreading up my neck. I push back the chair and get up. “I’m gonna head out. I need to stop at the library and then grab dinner.”

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