Page 73 of Fake As Puck
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The drive home is quiet in the best possible way.
Not the loaded, tension-filled quiet we’ve been navigating all week, but the comfortable silence of two people who are sun-tired and slightly buzzed and content to just exist in the same space.
West has the windows down, and the night air is warm against my face. I’m still wearing his sweatshirt.When did I put on his sweatshirt?And it smells like him and lake water and summer.
“Good day,” I say, letting my head fall back against the headrest.
“Yeah. Really good day.”
“Your friends are the best. I can see why you love them.”
“They love you too.”
I smile. “How can you tell?”
“Hurley asked if you had a sister.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh god.”
“When I told him you were an only child, he looked genuinely disappointed.”
“Poor Hurley.”
“He’ll survive.”
I close my eyes and let myself relive the day. The boat ride, the way West’s arm felt around me during the fireworks, the moment when he called me beautiful, and I forgot how to breathe.
It was perfect. Too perfect.
When we get back to his house, I kick off my sandals and immediately head upstairs to pack for tomorrow’s wedding. We’re driving down to the coast in the morning, staying overnight, and coming back Sunday. Which means I need to pack smart. Wedding clothes, post-wedding clothes, sleepwear, daily outfits, and enough options to cover any scenario.
I’m pulling things out of my closet when West appears in the doorway.
“Need help?” he asks.
“Sure. You can fold things while I decide what to bring.”
He settles on the bed next to my open suitcase, and I hand him the dress I wore when I landed. I watch him attempt to fold it and immediately start laughing.
“What?” he asks.
“That’s not how you fold a dress.”
“How do you fold a dress?”
“Not like that. Here.”
I take the dress from him and demonstrate the proper technique, laying it flat, folding the sleeves in, rolling instead of creasing.
“See? It takes up less space and won’t wrinkle.”
“Where did you learn that?” he jokes.
“YouTube.”
He smiles. “YouTube?”
