Page 86 of Real Fake Husband

When we arrive at Mrs. Blanchie’s apartment, Kaylin surveys the place with a sad smile. “It’s been ages since I’ve been here,” she says as we make ourselves comfortable in the living room. “It looks exactly the same as when the Baroness lived here.”

“Yeah, she was pretty adamant that we couldn’t change anything,” I tell her, opening the pizza box, and she grabs the first steaming slice of cheese. “I think it’s because she wanted to force us to share a bed.”

“Speaking of which,” Kaylin says as I pour two glasses of wine, handing her one before taking my own. “All right, now that we’re alone, spill all the details. Don’t skimp!”

No need to tell me twice.

The longer I talk, the wider her eyes grow.

God, it feels good to talk about it.

To get it all out.

“Josie, honey.” Kaylin’s voice sounds low and soft once I finish my detailed retelling. “That’s…wow.”

“I know.”

“I mean, you make it sound so passionate.”

“It was, Kaylin. It really was. I…” Pausing, I take a second to gather my thoughts. “After all this time, I can’t believe that I’m drawn to Callum Ashford, of all people!”

People say there’s a fine line between love and hate.

And as much as Cal frustrates me, there’s so much about him that doesn’t. So much that proves what an amazing man he is. Hearing him talk about his relationship with his gran, the way his voice softens, or how his eyes light up when recalling something funny she did, like the time she chased him and Theo with her rolling pin because they accidentally parked their bikes on her newly planted roses. Or his relationship with Theo. Two best friends who have stuck with each other no matter what. Last but not least, the way he stands up for people like he did for me during the Osborn dinner. We were a team. United. That feeling was incredible and one I’ll cherish forever.

Oh, geez, I do like him.

But that’s the worst thing that could happen to me.

“I can’t stop thinking about last night, and how Cal was with me,”and in me. “So intense. Fiery. Hot. He was passionate, and more than generous. Nothing he did was half-hearted. It made me finally realize that hedoescare for me.”

At least on some level.

No man can look at a woman the way he looks at me if they don’t care about her.

“Well, from what you told me, you’ve had a rough start, but it looks like he’s redeemed himself. If you ask me, it was fate. A heavenly intervention.” She puts a hand on her heart and sighs. “It’s so romantic. It’s amazing how incomprehensible and unfathomable some paths are, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t expect to develop feelings for him,” I admit, taking a sip of wine. “But…here weare.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

Great question. “I havenoidea.”

We’re almost halfway through the month, and my last day in his apartment is two weeks on Sunday.

As far as my understanding goes, Cal is going to live here until he finds something more “bacheloresque” for himself. I’ll move back into my place until I find something bigger.

Kaylin gives me a sympathetic look and rubs my shoulder comfortingly. “I think you need to tell him. You’ll feel much better when you get it off your chest.”

“It’s easier to just keep it to myself. We’re going our separate ways at the end of the month, and we lead two very different lives. I can’t even properly articulate how I’m feeling. How on earth am I going to explain it to him when I can’t even fully explain it to myself? Trust me, he shouldn’t know.”

I clink my glass against hers.

We spend the next two hours eating, drinking, and talking. It’s been so long since we’ve hung out like this outside of work, it reminds me why I love her, and I’m glad she’s my best friend.

“I have some news,” Kaylin says at one point.

“Do tell.”

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