Page 61 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
Darius exits the bathroom. “Whoa, calm down. What are you doing?”
“Making the bed look sex-worn and like I had the wildest night of my life with you. I’m going full steam ahead with your plan. Make yourself look irresistible today. No suit and tie. Get your muscles out and make Adrian jealous.”
ChapterTwenty-One
“You had sex with Adrian?” Zac asks, lounging in his bungalow’s hot tub with a cocktail. It’s nine a.m. and he’s already drinking alcohol. This can’t be good. “I thought you hated the guy?”
“Oh, no,” Darius answers for me with a cocky grin, arms spread wide over the backrest of a couch on the deck. “Quite the opposite. Verena likes Adrian so much that she’s using me to make him jealous and confess his feelings. I am going to have so much fun with this.”
“And I thoughtIneeded therapy.”
“Okay, just shut up, both of you.” I take a seat on the ledge of the hot tub, dangling my legs in the water. “Zac, how are you and Penny settling into the resort?”
“It’s beautiful here,” he says. “Thank you for bringing us to this island. I owe you one.”
“No, you don’t. I’m happy to help. Speaking of Penny, where is she?”
“Right here.” Penny steps out of the bungalow in a yellow bikini, her blond hair piled high on her head, and with a foul look on her face that always seems to be present.
“I’m so glad you came to Australia.” I smile at Penny even though all I get from her is bad vibes. “You’re about to join Zac in the hot tub? Darius and I should give you two some privacy.”
“No, I’m heading to the beach,” Penny says.
Zac stands from the tub. Water trickles down his firm abs as he wraps a towel around his waist. “That sounds nice. I’ll join you, sweetheart.” He places a hand on Penny’s lower back and leans down to kiss her lips, but her head turns away from him at the last moment. Poor guy. You can’t say he isn’t trying.
“Don’t bother coming to the beach,” she tells him. “Your friends are here.”
“They’re about to leave for the bridal fittings.”
“Yeah, I know. I overheard your whole conversation from inside. Ugh, Verena, you are living every girl’s dream right now. Fake dating your enemy. Incredible sex. Can we please trade places?”
“Wow.” Zac’s voice drops. “Really, Penny?”
“It was a joke. Mostly. Stop taking everything to heart.”
I can detect a hundred retorts brewing on Zac’s lips, but he buries them deep down and smiles at her—a smile that sends every girl lightheaded when they see him sing on Broadway or the big screen. Every girl except Penny. “I was thinking we could go to the day spa and get a couples massage.”
“That sounds amazing,” I say, trying to help Zac out. “Soromantic. I’m sure you two will love it.”
“Actually,” Penny says, “I want to go snorkeling.”
“Very romantic, too,” I add. “Adrian and I had such a nice time together out on the reef. We were hugging in the water and held hands while swimming. I’m sure you two will love it.”
Penny sends me a sly look. “This Adrian guy sounds hot.”
“Jesus Christ, Penny,” Zac scoffs.
“What?” That one word out of Penny’s mouth is all tones of vicious. “You’re the only man I’m allowed to find attractive? I’m sure you think tons of women are beautiful. What about Verena, I’m meant to believe you think she is ugly?”
Whoa. How did I end up in the middle of this? “Uh… I’m really not comfortable with getting involved—”
“You’re missing the point,” Zac tells Penny. “Look, can we please not do this in front of an audience.”
She throws her hands up in the air. “Oh, so now you don’t want to talk about our issues.Iam making an effort to discuss our marriage. What areyoudoing other than throwing rose-colored glasses on and bringing us to Australia for some happy little vacation when we’re not happy at all?”
Darius and I swap awkward looks, uncertain of whether we should sneak out of the bungalow or stay to support Zac.
“We’re here because we need an escape from the media,” Zac tells her, and even though he is clearly frustrated, he somehow manages to keep a level tone while being yelled at.
