Page 68 of Fake As Puck
Something that looks like he’s thinking the same dangerous thoughts I’ve been thinking.
For a moment, we just stare at each other’s reflection, and I can feel the tension crackling between us like a live wire.
Then he looks away, focusing on rinsing his own mouth, and the moment passes.
But the feeling doesn’t.
As I walk back to my room, I catch myself wondering how much longer we can keep this up.
This careful dance around each other. This pretending we don’t feel what we’re obviously feeling.
This is not sustainable.
18
I wake up on July fourth knowing today is going to be a problem.
Not because of the team barbecue or the boat ride or the fireworks show we’re all supposed to watch together.
Because of the way Liv looked at me in the bathroom mirror last night.
Because I’ve been walking around my own house for three days feeling like I’m about to crawl out of my skin every time she’s in the same room.
Because today we’re going to be in public together, playing couple, and I don’t know how much longer I can pretend this is all an act.
“You ready for this?” I ask when she comes down the hall in cutoff denim shorts and a red tank top.
“Ready for what?”
“The lake. The guys. The whole day.”
“Yes,” she questions.
“You should be. Things might get a little chaotic.”
She smiles. “I can handle chaotic.”
She’s pulling her hair up into a ponytail, and I try not to stare at the way the tank top rides up slightly when she raises her arms.
Try and fail.
“Good,” I say, grabbing our cooler from the counter. “That’s good.”
The drive to Lake Chelan takes two hours, and we caravan with Reed and Chelsea, Hurley and Colton, and a few other guys from the team. By the time we arrive at the rental house right on the water, the sun is already high and hot, and everyone’s ready to start drinking.
The house is exactly what you’d expect for a Fourth of July lake weekend. There’s a huge deck, private dock, boat tied up and ready to go. The owner already set up a volleyball net on the beach, and there’s a grill smoking on the deck.
“This is nice,” Liv says, looking out at the water.
“Wait until you see the sunset. It’s incredible from the deck.”
“Yeah?” she smiles. “I’m looking forward to it.”
She’s being casual, friendly, exactly what she should be. But there’s something in her voice that makes me think she’s working as hard as I am to keep things normal.
“West!” Hurley shouts from the deck. “Get your ass up here and help me with this grill!”
“Duty calls,” I tell Liv.
