Page 25 of Silver Fake

"You're unbelievable," she murmurs, but I can see the glimmer of amusement in her eyes.

* * *

The busy food court at Barton Beach mall bustles with the sounds of chattering people and the aroma of fresh pizza and Chinese food. Lisa and I sit at a small table by the window, munching on pizza.

As Lisa takes another bite, a drop of sauce get smeared on the side of her mouth.

Noticing my fixed gaze, she looks at me with an arched eyebrow, her mouth full of pizza. "What?" she mumbles, obviously confused.

Grinning, I reach out across the table, gently wiping the sauce off her cheek with my thumb. "Just a little pizza sauce," I explain, my smile softening as I meet her eyes.

Lisa blushes, hastily clearing her throat. "I think we need to lay down some ground rules for this... this fake relationship of ours, before things go any further."

Amused, I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. "Alright. What are the rules?"

Her face serious, Lisa starts, "Rule number one, no pictures. The firm would lose their minds if they ever found out about this."

I can't help but agree. I can already imagine my Mom sharing pictures of Lisa and me at the wedding on her Facebook, garnishing hundreds of likes and comments from our relatives, her friends, and even some of my colleagues. God knows she loves a good gossip piece, and this would be prime content. The firm would find out in no time, turning our harmless deception into a scandal.

I nod in agreement, "Fair enough, no pictures."

"Rule number two, we don't sleep in the same bed." Lisa continues.

I blink at her, my slight disappointment a bit more palpable than I would like to admit. I know we talked about it last night, but a part of me, a tiny, hopeful part, was actually hoping Lisa would cave on this point. Not for any inappropriate reasons, of course, but because the couch in my suite is about as comfortable as a bed of nails.

After a long day of playing pretend, it would've been nice to be able to actually get a good night's sleep. But I can't tell her that, can I? I keep my expression neutral as I agree. "Noted."

"Rule number three," Lisa swallows, looking slightly uncomfortable. "No... no kissing."

The words are tumbling out of my mouth faster than I can stop them. "We're supposed to be dating, aren't we? It's going to seem weird if I don't kiss you."

Lisa raises an eyebrow at me, her lips pursing in a tight line. "John, we're going to a wedding. The bride and the groom are the ones who are supposed to be kissing. No one is even going to be paying attention to us. Besides," she continues, "there are plenty of couples who don't kiss, especially in public."

I snort. "What couples do you know who don't kiss? That's ridiculous. If I'm with a woman you can best believe I'm kissing the shit out of her every chance I get."

As the words leave my lips, I suddenly catch sight of Lisa fiddling with the hem of her top, her gaze dropping downwards like she's embarrassed.

I quirk an eyebrow at her, a thought crossing my mind unbidden. When was the last time Lisa had been kissed? She's been divorced for a while, but surely she must go on dates?

Instantly, I feel a pang of remorse. I may have pushed her a bit too hard and, I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable. So, I reach out, covering her hands gently with mine and offer her a reassuring smile.

" I was just kidding about the kissing," I say gently, trying to lighten the mood. "If you're not comfortable with it, we won't do it. It's as simple as that."

Her eyes flick up to meet mine, and I give her a comforting squeeze. But then I lean in, my tone dropping a bit as I add, "Just so we're clear, though, that's your rule, not mine."

A flush creeps up Lisa's cheeks as she clears her throat, her fingers absently tracing the condensation on her water glass. "I...uh...I have one more rule," she starts, her voice barely above a whisper. It's almost as if she's hesitant, uncertain about voicing her thoughts. Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, there's a vulnerability in her gaze that tugs at my heart.

"What's that?" I ask.

"This ends after the wedding. No exceptions," she says.

The thought of this ending after the wedding stirs a strange, unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I lean back in my chair, my mind flooded with a torrent of emotions. After just one day of pretending to be Lisa's boyfriend, I already find myself wanting more. But I know I have to keep these feelings under check.

So, I mask my emotions, forcing a nonchalant look on my face as I agree to her terms.

"Fine," I reply.

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