Page 39 of Play Fake
“Thanks for the help,” she says, bumping her shoulder gently against mine.
“Least I can do,” I answer.
When the last pan is drying, I glance at my phone. The clock reads later than I thought. My stomach knots—not nerves exactly, but anticipation.
Caroline notices. Of course she does. “What’s the rush?” she teases, drying her hands on a towel. “You usually stay until the kids are in bed.”
I hesitate, slipping the phone back into my pocket. “I’ve got to go. Meeting someone to study.”
Her brows lift, amusement soft in her eyes. “A girl?”
“No,” I say quickly, maybe too quickly. “Just…a study date.”
Before she can respond, strong arms wrap around her waist from behind. Dad presses a kiss to her temple, his voice low but teasing. “It’s definitely a girl.”
Caroline laughs, leaning into him, but her gaze flicks back to me, sharp enough to catch the way my ears heat.
I shake my head, muttering as I grab my jacket from the chair. “It’s not like that.”
But the way they’re both smiling makes me wonder if maybe they see something I don’t.
The drive back to campus feels longer than it should. By the time I pull into the lot behind my place, the sun is already sliding low, painting the sky in streaks of gold and pink. I cut the engine, leaning back in the seat for a moment.
That’s when it hits me.
We never actually set a place to study.
And I don’t have her number.
I huff out a quiet laugh, dragging a hand over my jaw. For someone who usually plans three steps ahead, I really dropped the ball on this one.
Inside the house, I grab my backpack, stuff in my psych notes, and sling it over my shoulder. I’m halfway down the front walk, debating between the library or the student center, when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Unknown number.
I hesitate, then swipe to answer. “Hello?”
“Um—hi. It’s Sophie.”
Her voice is soft, a little rushed, and something in me eases instantly.
“Didn’t recognize the number,” I say. “Guess that’s my fault.”
She laughs under her breath. “I just realized we never decided where to meet, and…I figured wandering the whole campus would be a waste.”
I shake my head, already smiling. “So, youdoknow how to use my number.”
There’s a pause, like she doesn’t know whether to be offended or amused. “I was going to,” she says quickly. “Eventually.”
“Sure you were,” I murmur, and the smile lingers longer than I expect.
Silence stretches for a beat, not awkward—just easy.
“The library?” she suggests finally.
“Library works,” I agree. “I’ll head that way now.”
“Okay.”
