“It is getting late.” Karen came over and gave each of them a hug. “See you tomorrow,” she said, smiling.
Kingston glanced at Olivia. She nodded, and he said to his mom, “See you then.”
They walked outside and headed to the car in silence. He opened the passenger door for her, and she started to step inside but hesitated. “Wait. I forgot my purse.”
“We’ve both been a little distracted. Want me to get it for you?”
“No, I know exactly where it is. Go ahead and start the car.” She hurried to the house and lifted her hand to knock, only to stop herself. Her purse was on the couch in the den. Maybe she could sneak in and get it without the other three knowing, avoiding any inevitable fawning over her and Kingston. She slowly opened the door and shut it quietly behind her, scurried to the empty den—thank theLord—grabbed her purse, and hurried back to the car. She got inside, shut the door, and fell back against the seat.
Kingston’s phone was pressed to his ear. “Are you sure that’s the only time you have available? Yeah, I want to have plenty of time to practice too. All right. I’ll meet you there. Bye.” He slid his thumb across the screen and looked at Olivia. “Mission accomplished?”
“Yes.” She could finally go home and process what had happened tonight, including their almost kiss. Now that she was away from his mother and their friends’ excitement, she could think clearly. Well, almost clearly. Her brain was still foggy, another rare occurrence.
Kingston set aside the phone, put the car in Drive, and exited the circular driveway. “That was Sunny. She’s the one who called earlier, so I called her back while you were inside. She wants to meet at the studio tomorrow after church to plan our spotlight dance. She says her schedule is completely booked for the next three weeks, and we do need the practice time.” He shifted in his seat and glanced at her. “Rain check on the swim lessons?”
“Yes.” A small thread of relief wound through her. Now she wouldn’t have to make a mad dash to the store to find a swimsuit that camouflaged her thighs—if she could even find one this late in the season. Although with Harper’s help, she was sure she could have managed something.
But another emotion overrode the relief and her logic. On a concrete level, Kingston’s work on the recital took priority over her swim lesson. She didn’t want him looking like a fool on the dance floor, although she doubted he evercould. And they weren’t really a couple, so he wasn’t canceling a date. Still, she felt cast aside. Again.
“Are you sure?” He sounded hesitant. “I can call her back—”
“Positive.” She shoved aside her ridiculous thoughts. “Go practice your tango.”
He didn’t respond, and they didn’t say anything else the rest of the way back to her house. When he pulled into her driveway, he put the car in Park. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.” She opened the door. “I’m fine.” She wasn’t, but she wasn’t mad at him either. Justconfused. Very, very confused. “We started the plan tonight, and that was the hard part. On Monday we put on another show.”
“Don’t forget Tuesday.”
Oh. She had forgotten he was coming to read to the school-age kids that afternoon. Drawing a blank on her schedule wasn’t normal for her either. She couldn’t wait until they ended this faux relationship. Then she wouldn’t be so out of sorts. No more deception or fake hand-holding or pretend infatuation. No more close dancingor near kisses...
“And I guess we should sit next to each other in church,” he pointed out. “If we don’t, Anita and Tanner will wonder why.”
“Right.” She was kicking herself for not anticipating the snarls. “See you tomorrow.”
“Can I pick you up?”
She almost nodded but stopped herself. This was getting complicated, and she hated complications. “I’ll meet you there. That way you can go straight to the studio after service.”
“Okay.”
Quickly, she closed the door and hurried to her small front porch, the Audi’s headlights illuminating her way. As she inserted her key into the lock, her phone started pinging. And pinging. And pinging.
Olivia stepped inside, shut the door, and fished in her purse for her phone while Kingston backed out of her driveway. She glanced at the screen. The group text she was in with Anita, Harper, and Riley was blowing up.
Harper:You and Kingston! Squee!
Riley:Congrats, Olivia. He’s a great guy.
Anita:Of course he is. He’s my brother.
Harper:When’s your first official date? We have to keep tradition alive and give you a makeover.
Olivia:I don’t need a makeover.
She started to text that she needed a swimsuit but held off. Although she’d said yes to his rain check, their fake relationship would end before that time would come, and after that there would be no reason for them to be together. They’d have to make it clear that the breakup was friendly, though. She didn’t want things to be awkward when she was around the Bedfords.
Anita:If I had to get a makeover, you have to get one.
