Page 59 of The Dance Deception
Chapter 31
The apartment looks just as spectacular when I venture out of my bedroom the next morning. But despite the uber-stylish furnishings, it still feels homely. I try to imagine what it must be like to wake up here every morning. It’s a far cry from the shabby rugs and chipped work surfaces I’m used to.
Aleksis emerges from his room, stifling a yawn. He’s wearing nothing but jogging bottoms and I quickly look away before he catches me checking out his abs. Now that I think I might genuinely like him, it’s like I’ve finally given myself permission to find him attractive. But I don’t want him to know. It would only make things awkward.
I had wondered if he might feel uncomfortable with me being here, like I’m intruding on his personal space. But the fact that he’s wandering round half-dressed suggests he’s perfectly at ease with it, and I can’t help thinking his self-assurance makes him even more likeable.
‘Did you sleep all right?’ he asks.
‘Like a log,’ I nod. ‘Sorry, I just passed out as soon as I lay down. I only meant to rest for a few minutes.’
‘No problem, you obviously needed it.’
He lines up a box of eggs, some mushrooms, a pepper and some tomatoes on the counter. ‘Would you like an omelette?’
‘Ooh, yes please.’
All I’ve had since yesterday lunchtime is an energy bar and a bag of Maltesers, and now I’ve seen the food I realise I’m ravenous.
‘With all the trimmings?’ he asks.
‘Yes please,’ I say again, feeling nothing like his fake girlfriend as I watch him making us breakfast.
Once again I have to check myself, but at least it must mean our plan is working if in trying to convince everyone else of our story, I’ve started falling for it myself.
My stomach rumbles as soon as the smell of cooking fills the air and I’m not sure the omelette lasts more than sixty seconds on my plate, but I still feel like I could devour a three-course meal afterwards. Thankfully Aleksis is on the same page because he makes us toast as well, and follows it up with yoghurt and fruit salad. A breakfast designed for another busy day.
Before we head to the studio, Stella video calls us to get some quotes for her latest story. She peppers us with questions about the first time we met, when we realised we wanted to be more than dance partners and whether we were worried we’d moved in together too quickly.
‘It will seem quick to some people, but Kate was coming here most nights anyway, so it just felt like a natural step,’Aleksis fibs. ‘And this way I get to wake up to this gorgeous smile every morning.’
He winks at me, which makes my heart do a somersault. I try to convince myself it’s down to the nerves of doing this interview.
‘You’re making me blush,’ I tell him, one of the few things I say which is true. ‘But yeah, we were together almost twenty-four hours a day anyway, so it made sense. It already feels like home.’
Stella asks us if either of us have noticed any bad habits in each other around the house.
‘Leaving the loo seat up,’ I tell her, glancing at Aleksis again.
‘Filling the plughole with her hair,’ he adds, looking back at me with a challenge in his eyes.
‘Throwing his clothes at the laundry basket, not in the laundry basket,’ I fire at him with a grin.
‘She always burns the toast when she does the breakfast.’
‘I do not.’
‘Thank goodness for extractor fans, that’s all I’m saying.’
I shake my head in mock indignation.
‘Have you had any big rows about anything?’ Stella asks.
‘No,’ we both confirm.
‘We get on really well,’ Aleksis adds.
‘Not even about Merle? I’m sorry but I’ve got to ask, was there not even the tiniest cross word about the fact that Kate slept with your sister’s husband, Aleksis? Sorry,’ she apologises, visibly cringing.
