Page 22 of Flynn

Aunt Carol and Uncle Trevor tried to get the earlier air of celebration and frivolity back, but there was no escaping the awkwardness that now sat among the guests, and after dessert, everyone dispersed quickly.

I made my way over to Sofia and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m so sorry, Sophe. If having Flynn here is too much, he can leave. It’s no problem.”

Sofia squeezed me tighter and pulled away. “No, don’t be silly. Flynn is my friend too and I want him here. Ellis just has a hard time letting things go where Flynn is concerned. I’m not quite sure what’s up between those two, but it’s always been this way.”

I frowned. “I don’t know what their issue is either, but I’m going to find out.”

Sofia squeezed me tight again. “I’m just happy you’re happy. It’s about time.”

Guilt stabbed at me again, but I hugged her and tried to justify my lying in my head. It would all be over soon; I just hoped things didn’t blow up before then.

We said goodnight to everyone else, and before long, Flynn and I were back in the elevator headed for our room.

Instead of heading for our room, I led us down the long corridor to the terrace that ran along the west side of the building. The air between us was tense, and the fact that Flynn followed me in silence told me he knew I was mad at him.

The minute I reached the banister, I turned to face him, my mouth open and ready to tear into him.

“I know what you’re going to say, and I’m sorry.”

Blinking, I frowned, and he stepped closer, his face full of contrition.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen, for everything to come out like that. I was mad at Ellis. He has a way of getting under my skin. I just wanted to wipe that cocky fucking grin off his face,” hecontinued, a growl of discontent accompanying his words.

“You were purposely needling him, Flynn. I saw your face and that smirk when you saw you had one over him. Youwantedto one-up him, and you didn’t even take a second to consider Sofia in all thisorme. Just as long as you made Ellis angry, it was worth it to you.”

To my surprise, he didn’t even bother to deny it. I watched him take a deep breath and nod. “You’re right. I’m sorry, but you’re right. Ellis and I… we’ve never been close. He’s always been a dick to me, and I don’t think I’ve ever left him hanging when he’s come after me looking for a fight. I don’t know how to back off, and I make sure to get under his skin to even the playing field. But you’re right. I didn’t consider Sophe or you. I just wanted to piss him off.”

Well…

I sighed and shook my head. “I thought having you here would create some waves, yes, but I thought we had a story to stick by. I didn’t think you’d start trouble.”

“I wasn’t going to, I swear,” he assured, stepping close to grip my upper arms. His green eyes were full of earnest pleading. “I want to help you pull this off. I promise I’ll be better. I won’t let Ellis work me up again.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Flynn.”

He sighed. “Okay, I promise totry. Will you take that?”

Watching him carefully, I slowly nodded. “I’m going to need you on your best behavior, Flynn. I mean it. If Sofia feels like her needs and her celebration are coming second to the news of you and I, then this pretend dating thing ends immediately. I don’t want her to feel like second place on her wedding weekend. Tonight is the first and last time that happens.”

“Understood,” he hurried to say.

“And if you feel yourself getting furious with Ellis, let’s have a code word. You say it, or I say it if I feel like you’re getting tooworked up and you find an excuse to leave, or we both do.”

“A safe word?” he asked, raising an eyebrow before that cocky smirk curved his lips and his eyes brightened with mischief. “Kinky. I like it.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t pull away, determined to make sure he understood. “You get it, though, right? I appreciate you being here for me and helping me to pull off this charade. But I already feel guilty enough that we’re lying about being together, that I was desperate enough to make up this farce. But if us fake-dating only brings about more drama this weekend or makes Sofia feel like crap again, I’m pulling the plug and coming clean.”

Flynn smiled softly. “Ara, I get it. I promise you, nothing like tonight will happen again. Not on purpose, anyway. I’ll do what I can to defuse situations, or I’ll walk away when I can’t.”

I stared up at him for a long moment, desperately hoping to see truth in his eyes. When I was sure I wasn’t just seeing what I wanted to see, I nodded and let out a long breath.

“Okay,” I whispered, a small smile on my lips.

His eyes dipped down to my mouth and I realized how secluded we were, how close we were. We were on a dark balcony, alone, with me pressed against the banister and Flynn standing so close I could feel the heat coming off his body. I watched in fascination as his lids turned heavy and his lips parted. I could have sworn he was leaning closer, but I couldn’t much tell over the headrush I was feeling—

“So…”

At the sound of a new voice, Flynn and I jolted apart, and I stepped away from him to see Kate standing in the doorway, her long red hair loose, her eyes wide and unblinking.

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