Page 19 of My Fake Lover

»And how about you two?« I asked quickly, trying to divert attention. Lizzy leaned against Ian’s broad shoulder, and as he looked at her, his gaze softened. I melted inside. I still had no idea why Max was against their relationship. The two were utterly smitten with each other. I hadn’t known them long, but they would be incredibly happy together.

Apparently, my distraction worked, as Ian and Lizzy told their story of meeting in line at Starbucks. Ian worked there as a barista, and Lizzy had a job at her parents‹ yoga studio around the corner. It was actually quite similar to Max and me, and I had to smile a little. As we moved from one topic to the next, enjoying the homemade vegetable casserole prepared by Lizzy’s mom, Max remained silent. But I hadn’t pictured him as the sociable type who would share one anecdote after another at the table. He could fill an entire room with his presence without saying a single word.

As the atmosphere at the table relaxed, I withdrew my fingers, feeling Max holding on to me for an extra second before finally letting go. It was utterly insane to pretend we were in a relationship, but somehow it didn’t feel as wrong as I had initially thought. Perhaps Low was right, and it would be a breeze to get through these days. As long as Max didn’t surprise me with a kiss like he did this afternoon, only to push me away afterward. And provided Ian would focus more on his wedding than on following us around. Something in his gaze told me he still couldn’t quite believe it.

After dinner, we said our goodbyes and walked down the terrace to our tent. Sleeping in it felt exciting, like a summer camp I would have loved to attend as a child. Ian had offered us to sleep in the house, but Max had actually declined. Even though I could imagine that he would have preferred it.

As was customary, Ian and Lizzy spent the night apart. Ian walked with us to his tent, while Lizzy’s parents stayed with her in the house.

The two brothers spoke softly, and I remained in the background after dinner. Max held my hand, and I gradually grew accustomed to his touches, which felt increasingly genuine. I definitely had to be careful not to get too carried away in this charade.

At a fork, Ian turned off, and Max and I entered our tent. He went to a corner and turned on a camping lamp, providing ample light. Somehow, both of us were uncertain about how this night should unfold. The bed was wide, but was it wide enough not to accidentally touch each other?

I grabbed my shorts and sleep shirt, as well as my toiletry bag, and met Max’s gaze. »I’m going to get ready quickly.«

»I’ll go with you.« As much as I was looking forward to this kind of camping, I was relieved that there was a proper washroom with toilets and showers. Dixie toilets or nighttime trips into the woods weren’t exactly my thing.

»Take this,« he said, handing me a flashlight that had been lying on the bed. From his unbelievably neatly folded suitcase, he grabbed some fresh clothes and a small bag.

We left the tent, and I breathed in the crisp air. Looking up, I saw numerous stars hanging over the makeshift campground. The night was warm and clear. It was beautiful.

We crossed the campsite and reached our destination. We said goodbye at the door before I turned towards the women’s area. Once inside, I tied my hair up, took a quick shower, dried off, changed, and brushed my teeth. I imagined Max doing the same next door. Mundane tasks that even a Maxwell Holmes had to do. Somehow, the thought of it made me grin.

I had somewhat misjudged the temperatures outside, as I shivered when I stepped out again. Max was already leaning against the outer wall, waiting for me. Of course, he wasn’t wearing sleepwear like me but was still dressed in jeans and a fresh shirt that accentuated his broad chest in a very special way. I wanted to bury my nose in the fabric and inhale his scent, feel his strong arms around my body, and his lips on mine. Images entered my mind that definitely didn’t belong there.

»Is everything alright?« he suddenly asked, and I cleared my throat.

»The shower was nice,« I said, and Max nodded. As we walked back to our tent, I had the urge to say something.

»For you, this is more of an obligatory visit, isn’t it?«

»You could say that.«

»What about this totally crazy idea that you could actually have fun here? Just hypothetically.« I suppressed a grin.

»Hypothetically,« he replied cautiously, offering me his hand so we could step over a tent line. One thing was for sure, I had never experienced a gentleman like him before. »What would this fun look like?«

»Oh, the usual wedding stuff.« He let go of my hand, and I wished we had to hold hands again just for the show. »We tease Lizzy’s aunts, get drunk, dance, and then fall into the cake. A completely normal wedding.«

»You don’t get invited to many weddings, do you?«

I laughed. »Maxie, that was a joke, right? I’m thrilled!« A tiny smile appeared on his lips, and I pointed to it. »Oh my God, was that a smile? The fun has begun!«

He rolled his eyes and sighed before holding open our tent for me to slip inside. He could claim whatever he wanted; this wasn’t just a business deal. He liked me, and in a crazy way, I liked him too.

I felt his body behind me. The warmth he radiated made me close my eyes. I imagined his hand stroking my shoulder and wrapping around my neck. God, why did my thoughts always run wild in his presence?

I quickly opened my eyes. »I’m relaxing one condition a bit.«

»Oh yeah?« I heard his voice and turned to face him. The tent was bigger than regular tents, but still quite cramped. The air seemed to shimmer around us.

»You can sleep in the bed with me. It should be wide enough.«

With a fluid motion, he removed his shirt, and I stared at his impressive chest muscles. Thinking became increasingly difficult as his long, slender fingers unbuttoned his jeans. »Should it be?« His voice had become a tiny bit rougher and darker. He was thinking the same thing as me.

I quickly turned away and moved to the left side of the bed. »It is, but I sleep here.«

»Fine by me,« he said, folding his jeans with unbelievable precision and placing them back in his suitcase next to the shirt. He was left wearing only black boxer briefs, and I could sense every muscle on his powerful thighs and arms.

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