Page 56 of Official

“He saw the post.” I hop down from the counter. “So, I told him we eloped.”

He whirls around, more wide-eyed than the baby pig who barreled into his old room. “You did what?” He leans on the sink like his legs turned to jelly.

Rolling my eyes, I take the mug from him for fear he’ll drop and break it. “Relax,” I say over my shoulder and pop a K-cup into the Keurig. “I just explained the situation and that you’re helping me out. Which isn’t a lie.”

“He was still pissed, wasn’t he?” He curses under his breath and shakes his head. “We should’ve told him the plan before you posted, but now he’s blindsided. He’s going to use my body as a punching bag until I’m hanging there dead,” he rambles as the coffee drips into his mug.

He continues mumbling about all the ways he’s betrayed Teddy as I finish off my banana, no break in his rant to let me jump in until he finally stops to take a deep inhale.

“Are you done?” I quirk an eyebrow and set a steaming cup in front of him, then bring mine up to my lips to blow on it. “He was actually appreciative.”

“That’s what he said?” he asks with the gravity of confirming a volcanic eruption.

Why is he so freaked out? He knew the risks involved. He’s the one who told me to post our “relationship” last night.

I know we lied to my brother—and the world. It sucks, but technically, it’snota lie, since we did sleep together several times. If anything, he should be confused over the web of half-truths and ruses we’ve weaved like I am, but instead, he’s terrified.

“What’s going on?” I ask, studying him.

“Nothing.” He shrugs. “I’m just… surprised by his calm response, is all.”

“Right,” I draw out.

“I mean it.” His shoulders slump, and after a pause, his grim frown finally transforms into a grin as he reaches out to caress my forearm. “I’m also wondering what shirt to wear on our hike. Should I go with the whale tank that looks like it was meant for a toddler, or do I wear the shark shirt that has a fin sticking out of the back?”

Giggling, I nearly spill my hot drink. “It doesnothave a fin.”

“It doesn’t, but wouldn’t that be cool as fuck?” Amusement fills his expression, further replacing the fear from before, and it eases my nerves.

Besides, my brother’s reaction was—and is—something I’m scared of too, but we don’t have to worry about that any time soon.

Xander and I have a list to get through first.

“Go with the whale tank,” I say.

He claps and walks backward toward his room, his coffee forgotten on the counter. “I’ll do my best not to outshine you.”

When he disappears to change, I go into my own room to do the same, but first, I check my phone. I have hundreds of notifications, including some from friends in the industry. The newest message is from Kendall, a fellow influencer and friend from LA, expressing how cute Xander and I are together and that she’s happy for me. In the message above it, she says if I need anything to let her know.

She’s so kind. Her giving heart is what drew me to her in the first place. At the time, she was just starting her fitness journey, and I could tell after one workout that she had a lot of grit and light to share with the world.

After I respond to thank her for reaching out, I check some of the other notifications. There’s nothing new from Jason, thankfully, but many of the comments ask for the story of how Xander and I met.

Where he took me on our first date.

What my brother thinks.

They’re all questions I’ll need to figure out how to answer… eventually.

I’m about to click my phone off when it vibrates with an incoming call.

“You and Xander?” Val screeches the second I swipe to answer.

Clutching the phone to my ear, I ensure the door is closed and say, “It’s not what you think.”

“Pleasetell me what it is,” she begs. “And it better be good news because I’ve had a week from hell. Not that you would know since you haven’t called.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” I grab a shirt and pace by the bed.

---