Page 66 of The Holiday Fakers
Marv whoops, “Super viral!”
Brody’s looking at me.
Please don’t ask if I’ve got a Google Alert set up with your name on it.
My stomach twists with anxiety, and I’m also frustrated because I don’t know how to take his hand again without it being a thing. So instead, I smile at the barista. “A Lord Byron, please.”
Mom chuckles. “Always with the cinnamon!”
“I’ll have the same,” Brody says.
Everyone orders, and Marv adds a selection of pastries.
Cara passes her phone to Brody. “I’ve chosen some images. You can edit as you like and then add the caption.”
Brody holds it so we both can see and flicks through the pictures. There’s one of him with one of the clitoris ornaments, an eyebrow raised, while I’m laughing in the background. There’s one of him in the middle of a group of women as he takes a selfie of them all, one of the two of us revealing today’s date, one of him, Lola, and me, Brody holding a very happy-lookingClitopatra, and one of the two of us standing together as we chat with people. We look like a power couple on the campaign trail.
And there’s one more that Cara selected, the one I would do anything for it to be real.
In the picture, I’m chatting with Mom, and Brody’s gazing at me like I hung the moon. He looks content. Happy. Like a man in love. His finger moves away from the screen as we stare at the image.
“Are they okay?” Cara asks.
Brody starts as if woken from a dream. “Yeah, perfect,” he says, his voice gravelly, then goes back to write a caption.
I know I should look away, give him some privacy. But I can’t.
Cara has already tagged The Perfect Package, Mia, and Hideaway Harbor in the post, so Brody writes, “Not gonna lie, I had no idea what I was holding in pic one until about ten seconds later. Learned a lot today … Huge thanks to The Perfect Package (yes, that’s really the name) for letting me crash their big reveal for Hideaway’s Christmas Countdown. Special shout out to Lola, the amazing crew, and the ladies who made me feel so welcome. Best part? I got to do it all with my girl by my side, laughing at me, mostly. Now taking refuge at Love at First Sip, ordering her favorite: a cinnamon latte called the “Lord Byron.” Guess I’ll be learning poetry next. #SheWalksInBeauty #HideawayHarbor #ThePerfectPackage.”
“You okay with that?” Brody asks softly.
The feel of his breath on my cheek makes me shiver, and I nod, words escaping me.
Brody hands the phone to Cara, who reads what he’s written, a smile breaking out. “That’s fantastic!”
“Lemme see,” Marv barks and she passes it to him. He makes a grunt of satisfaction, then stabs at the screen with a finger. “Done! Nice work.”
Eileen arrives with our order, and I know I’m in heaven. Sitting next to Brody, pretending to be his girlfriend with a cinnamon latte in my hands, everything is right with the world. Christmas music is playing, and my mom and best friend are along for the ride.
“So, what’s next, Erica?” Marv asks.
Mom places her drink down and raises her hands like she’s about to conduct a choir. “Well, the Santa Fun Run starts in forty-five minutes on Main Street, and John is making a speech, so you don’t want to miss it. The run is only five kilometers, so it’s over in less than an hour, and then there’s the prize ceremony. Amanda Willis is handing them out this year!”
Marv grunts his annoyance, as if Brody should be up there instead.
“There’s also ice carving up at the Locke Reserve, then caroling in the town square at four. It’s so pretty, and we always try to break our own record for the most people caroling wearing Santa hats. Do you and Cara have any?”
Marv shakes his head.
“Don’t worry, I have lots to spare.” Mom types a quick message on her phone. “I’ve asked Harper to bring more when she meets us at the start of the fun run in a bit. After that, it’s the caroling, then back to our place for dinner.”
“Looking forward to it, Erica.”
“Absolutely! It will be our pleasure!”
Kindness runs through my mom to the marrow, but even though my dad has a soft heart, I’m not sure what he’s going to make of Marv. And if Ethan’s there? I have a horrible suspicion he’s going to start asking awkward questions about why I agreed to promote our “relationship” in such a shameless fashion.Ugh.
“And tomorrow it’s the woolen sock-running championships around the Locke Reserve,” Mom continues. “And I’ve had a wonderful idea for a photo opportunity!”
