Page 53 of How Jenna Became My Dilemma

He’s flirty today.

I’m filing that information in the back of my mind to remind myself in case things start to go bad during the interview—and by things, I mean rogue feelings coming to the surface.

There’s an undeniable push and pull between us that I wish didn’t exist. My heart is constantly living in a tug-of-war game between enemies and something more, wondering which one will win out.

Filming last night was hard. It’s the touching that gets me.

Every. Single. Time.

Cody’s body is a conductor, transferring electric charges into me with the slightest finger brush or hand hold. When the garden scene was over, I was like one of those mad scientists with my hair sticking straight up and smoke drifting away from my head.

I barely made it out alive.

How am I supposed to survive a filmed interview as his fake girlfriend? Talk about a baptism by fire on your first day on the job.

“Listen, I understand if it’s too hard for you to fake feelings for me. I can take the lead on this one.”

I pause, thinking over his words for a second. They weren’t meant to be patronizing, but when combined with my nerves and my lack of confidence, they rub me the wrong way.

I double-step to catch up to him. “You don’t think I can do it?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just saying I know that I’m not your favorite person, so conjuring up feelings of love might be difficult. If you want to take a backseat on this one, I’ll drive.”

There isn’t any smugness behind his eyes or in his expression, but I’m still bugged.

“I don’t need to conjure up feelings for you. I’m an actor, and this is part of my job. I’m prepared to deliver the most lovey-dovey couple the media has ever seen.”

I’m taking Trey’s advice and acting, playing the part of a bold, confident woman.

Cody’s dark brows cinch together, contradicting the slight smile on his lips. “The most lovey-dovey couple the media has ever seen? Is that what you want people to think about us?”

“Why not?” I lift my chin, my confidence on a roll. “If we’re doing this, we might as well do it right.”

“Okay, if that’s what you want.” There’s humor behind his voice, but I don’t glance over at him, just keep walking full steam ahead. I’m surprised he can even keep up.

“So, should we talk strategy real quick?”

“Strategy?” The cameras and lighting are ahead, with a crew from Celebrity Today checking everything. A couch and a single chair are set up for the interview. In the background, the giant manor we’ve been filming at stands tall with a clear blue sky and green fields surrounding it. I keep walking, just wanting to get this interview over with as fast as I can.

“Yeah, a strategy. Like, what’s our dating story?”

Our dating story is that I’m completely attracted to you for all the wrong reasons, but you absolutely can’t know that, and I am absolutely not falling for you, even if it means I make myself crazy denying it.

It’s very complex.

I turn to him with a tight smile. “Let’s just keep things simple.”

“Okay, what’s simple?”

Oh, now he wants to play twenty questions.

“You know, stay as close to the facts as we can. We met on set, and things progressed while filming.”

“And what level of touching and flirting are we doing during the interview?”

My feet trip up, one over the other.

Cody grabs my shoulders before I faceplant, and as soon as I’m stable enough to stand on my own, I wiggle out of his arms. It’s the mention of his touch that put me here in the first place. I pass off my stumble by immediately turning over my shoulder and looking at the ground where I just stepped.

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