Page 89 of Loyally, Luke
She’d wilted beneath his stare, a victim of his deceit all over again.
Because not only had he betrayed her, but when she’d tried to break up with him, he’d spread horrible lies to anyone who would listen. And even continued to share private photos of them for the whole world to see.
Shame scorched her cheeks with such heat, her eyes began to water.
For months, she’d taken all the blame for his response, embracing what the media called her. Receiving her just deserts. After all, she’d chosen to be with him. She’d ignored the warnings of those closest to her, rebelled against the good and right.
She’d “earned” the soured reputation. The mishandling.
But with the love of her family and months of counseling, she’d begun to see how very wrong her thinking had become.
“His show’s ratings are down, so I imagine by somehow reconnecting our stories, he hopes to gain some views.” She looked over atLuke as a shiver climbed up her arms. “And likely intimidate me. He was always good at that.”
“Well, he’ll have to get through me to get to you.” Luke gestured with his chin to a man poised nearby. “And Cameron.”
Who seemed to recognize his name surfacing in the conversation, because he and Luke shared an understanding nod.
“Are the two of you friends now?”
Luke smirked. “I’m not saying we’re going to take up Xbox together, but I think we have a healthy respect for each other, especially when it comes to a certain princess we know.”
She readied her response when a movement to her right caught her attention. Maxim saw her... and was walking in her direction. All confidence fled her body as she kept a threadbare hold on her expression.
“Maybe you should pretend to be my date?”
Luke’s brows rose so high they hit the strands of hair that fell over his forehead. “I’m sorry? Did you just say pretend to be your date?”
Maxim was stopped by someone during his approach.
Ellie attempted to control the sudden quiver in her voice. “Maxim is on his way over here and I... I can’t let him think I’m alone, Luke. Not him.”
“You’re not alone. I’m right here with you.” He waved toward the crowd. “And there are a few dozen other people.”
“Luke.” She hated the pleading in her voice. “He’s the sort who won’t let it alone.”
“So... fake dating?” He pushed the trope out of his mouth like it hurt.
“Might as well stick to as many tropes as we can while we’re at it, right?” She pushed up a tense smile. “And it would only be for today. With him.”
He squinted down at her for a second and then grinned. “What if I want it to be real for one day?”
“We’ve already been over this.” She huffed. “How can it be real between the two of us when it’s so temporary?”
“Being temporary doesn’t make it less real.”
She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to ignore the pull of his gaze.
“How about it’s real for me but fake for you?”
She nearly laughed. “How can that even work?”
“I’ll just mean it and you won’t.”
She rolled her gaze heavenward, wrestling with her smile.
“If I do this”—he lowered his attention to her lips, his lashes sweeping low—“will the kisses be fake too?”
Heat exploded in her face. “Luke!”
