“Westley?”
I pivot on the spot and lean into Westley’s side. His large, warm palm hooks around me, resting over my hip. This does not help with my efforts to avoid thinking about my neighbour in a sexual manner.
“Hey, Phoebe,” he says, his voice now cool, calm, and collected.
The woman, Phoebe, smiles at him. Her eyes search between us, and her expression falters for a second before she shakes it off. Clearly an ex.
“Hi, I’m Maevyn.” I step forward with my hand out in greeting.
Her blue eyes turn dim, the only part of her mask that slips as she steps forward, taking my hand in hers. “Nice to meet you,” she says.
Her brown hair is pulled back in a neat ponytail, and she wears a button-up blouse tucked into pristine blue jeans with shiny black loafers. There’s no judgement in her eyes as she takes me in, no doubt ticking off all the differences between us.
“It’s been a while, West. You look good.” Ohh dear, the longing in that confession definitely feels fresh, and something in my chest squeezes. Wonder what that’s about? “Anyway, I should get to my appointment.” She points to Parlour Tricks. Fantastic. That’s not going to be awkward at all. “I guess I’ll see you both at the wedding?”
Wedding?
“You bet,” Westley says, and a cold sweat rushes over my body.
The glass door closes behind her, my baffled expression reflecting back at me, before I spin on my heel. “I’m sorry, what wedding will she be seeingusat?” I ask.
Westley’s hand drops from my waist as he lets out an exasperated sigh. “Relax. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not wearing any.”
I watch his jaw clench, and his eyes seem to glaze over. Point one to Maevyn.
“A mutual friend is getting married. I already asked Liv to come as my date.”
“How is that gonna work when you just passed me off as your girlfriend?”
He shuts his eyes and squeezes behind his neck. “I don’t know.”
“I do. It was meant to be some little stunt in the moment, and now I have to go to a wedding.”
“I’ll figure something out.”
Discomfort and defeat loom over him, just as my phone buzzes in my hand. I can see the preview of a message on the screen.
PRESLEY:
Oh, I’m sorry. That question comes under the paid tier in the friendship subscription. Please provide ALL the fucking details to unlock the answer.
A thought crosses my mind. Aurora’s camp. My own predicament… Maybe this can benefit us both.
“Or maybe we can help each other out?” I say as if it’s not that big of a deal. I don’t want him thinking I need him more than he needs me.
“With?”
“There’s a camp at Aurora’s school, and they expect all the parents to be involved in some way. Apparently, I’m meant to bring a second person if I put my name down to volunteer, and I don’t have one.” My distaste for the whole situation grows with every word.
He steps into me, hand finding my waist again, and the roughness of his skin shouldn’t affect me the way it does. “Was someone mean to you?” he asks, the words low and measured, with an air of authority sending heat rushing through my entire body, along with this weird pull to lean into him.
“Just the perfect PTA mums lording their powers over the little guys,” I say with a shrug. “It’s fine. I’ve got it under control.”
His eyes narrow slightly as he reads my face. The silence is filled with all his unspoken thoughts, and they almost radiate… concern.For me?That can’t be right.
“Well, what do you say?” I demand, pushing the feelings down.All of them.
