Page 36 of The Invitation
“Not like that.”Probably like that, but I wouldn’t know.“I mean that when the cameras are on, she will play her role to aT. She’ll think in her pretty little head that she’s getting to meand making me fall for her. She’s just arrogant enough to believe that.”
“And you won’t be falling for her?”
I scoff at his question. “Are you serious?”
“I’m just saying that while I don’t know what all this entails, if the idea is seeing if two people will fall in love, then I imagine there will be some talking, touching—maybe a little kissing.”
My pulse quickens, but I ignore it. “Tate, I take offense to your suggestion that I would be weak enough to actually fall for her.”
“I apologize.”
“No, you don’t.”
He laughs. “Okay, so you’re impervious to her. You’re just arrogant enough to believe she’ll fall for you.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass, giving my words back to me.”
“Did I do that?” He plays oblivious. “I had no idea. I was calling it as I see it.”
I roll my eyes. “Listen, I don’t have a choice in this situation. I’ve given Jonah my word, and I will see that through. I might as well have some fun with it and establish the upper hand with Georgia once and for all.”
His chest shakes as he struggles not to laugh again.
“What?” I ask, sighing.
“I just hope you win.”
“Asshole.”
He glances at his phone. “I need to take this. I’ll be back.”
“Sure.”
As Tate leaves, Waffles wakes up and squirms out of my hands. He follows my brother out the door and down the hall.
My body vibrates with energy, still pumped with adrenaline from earlier. But unlike before, I’m finally starting to see things clearly. My emotions are falling by the wayside, and reality is easier to untangle.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and find Myla’s email with the filming schedule. We’re set to film our first date on Thursday night.
I slide out of my email and to my text app. Then I find Georgia’s name with the peach emoji beside it.
Me: First date is Thursday.
Georgia: I’ll file this under Texts I Never Thought I’d Get From Ripley.
Me: It’s a dream come true, isn’t it?
Georgia: Keep telling yourself that. Is there a point to this communication? I might have agreed to do Sutton a favor and pretend to date you, but I never agreed to random texts.
I roll my eyes.
Me: We need to lay out some ground rules.
Georgia: Do we, though?
Me: Think about it …
I stare at the screen for a minute and then two. Finally, her message pops up.
