Page 99 of Fangirl Down

“Yup.”

Her parents gaped at them to the soundtrack of theTodayshow.

“Jim and Evelyn. It’s nice to finally meet you in person.” Wells sounded surprisingly calm for someone trying to hide morning wood. “I’ll just...”

“We’lljust...”

Josephine and Wells started an awkward backward shuffle toward her bedroom. Why Josephine felt it necessary to throw in a polite wave, she’d never know. “This is sort of like... a team-building exercise,” she called over her shoulder. “Like a trust fall, but we’re moving as one entity. In the interest of golfer-caddie bonding—”

“You’re fooling no one,” Wells interrupted.

“I can’tbelievethis is happening,” she whispered furiously. “And seriously? It hasn’t softenedat allyet?”

He winked at her. “That’s right, baby.”

Josephine gave him a disappointed look. Or she tried to, anyway. A smile threatened to ruin the reproof. They were in the hallway now—and out of sight—so they ceased their shuffling and entered the half-dark bedroom together with twin lunges, closing the door.

“Which part can’t you believe is happening?” Wells wanted to know. “Just out of curiosity.”

“My parents aren’t supposed to be aware I have sex!”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s... fucking ridiculous, Josephine.”

She waved her hands. “I mean, they probably know on some level, but I’m not supposed to just... rip off their blinders like that.”

Wells framed her jaw in his hand, tilting her face up. “Just to be clear, you’re upset that they caught you with a male houseguest. Period. Not that it’s... me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean...” He exhaled sharply. “We didn’t really have a chance to talk about this last night, since we were otherwise occupied. But my assumption is that you want to keep our relationship quiet.” Was it her imagination or did he look slightly worried. Exposed. “Does that mean from your parents, too?”

She was still stuck on the word he’d used previously. “Relationship?”

It took a full two seconds for his right eyebrow to reach its highest peak. “Was it not clear that we’re in a relationship?”

“I-I mean... not abundantly.”

His jawline ticked. “I don’tmisspeople to the point of torment, Josephine. And I don’t spend the night with women, waking up every couple of hours to convince myself they’re not a dream. I do both of those things with you like it’s myjob. And a lot of other annoying things I’m not willing to admit yet, but they involve planning trips to Bath and Body Works and wondering ifWellsophineis a viable ship name.” He slapped a hand down on the door above her head and leaned down until their noses were almost touching. “I was very happy being alone until you showed up. You’ve ruined me.”

Her heart galloped in her chest. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. I love being ruined by you. Bring it the fuck on.” Hekissed Josephine hard, slanting his mouth across hers and licking deep, his fingers sliding up into her hair and fisting. “We can be a secret for now. I understand your reasons. But don’t ask me if we’re in a relationship when I can barely think straight around you.”

“We’re in a relationship,” she whispered against his mouth. “Of course we are.”

He let out an uneven exhale into her hair. “Good girl. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to go spend some quality fucking time with my girlfriend’s parents. Sound good?”

Swallowing proved impossible.

Oh God. She’d already admitted to herself that she’d fallen for this man, but her feelings were veering closer and closer toward love.

Let yourself fall. Just let go and take the dive.

That’s what Josephine’s heart compelled her to do. So what was holding her back from plunging down without a harness into the wind? Nothing.

Except the not-so-distant future when she’d have to put Wells’s interests aside and focus on her own.

She trusted this man. More than she trusted anyone besides her parents and Tallulah. But she wasn’t sure she trusted him tolether go so easily.

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