Page 42 of Under Pressure

He props a fist under his chin. “We both know Havoc fans frequent this place now. If we need to only be together here, they’ll still be able to see.”

“We can keep the majority of it to ourselves. You can come earlier in the morning. That’s when Ruthie’s here, anyway.”

“And what, Quinny?”

“What do you mean?”

“What is it you want me to do when I’m here?” he asks, voice dipping low enough I feel it like a soft stroke up my inner thigh.

“I . . . We’ll hold hands. Hug.”

He chuckles, giving his head a slow shake. “She’s old, not blind.”

“Fine. What are your ideas?”

“For starters, what about your sister and Elliot?”

“Elliot?” I choke.

“Is his name not Elliot?”

“No. At least, I don’t think so. He’s just Eli.”

“Fine, Eli, then. Will they know the truth or fall victim to the act we’re putting on?”

My gut churns at the idea of lying to my sister. “She’ll know the truth. I doubt she’d believe this lie, anyway.”

“She knows you that well?” he asks, genuinely curious.

“We’re best friends. Even though she’s a few years younger, we’ve always been close. And she won’t tell Ruthie anything.”

“What about Eli? Would she tell him?”

I squint a bit, instantly picking up on the false innocence in the question. “Do you know something?”

“Nope.”

“Because if you did, you’d tell me, right? Especially considering you’re my boyfriend now,” I push.

His tongue travels across the length of his lip. “Fake, remember?”

“Beck.”

“Yeah, baby?”

I let it go despite my better judgment. Today has been too long as it is.

“I’ll give Callie a heads-up. Eli can think what he wants.”

“Alright. Then we’ll move on to the next order of business. Come here.”

My brows jump. “Uh, no?”

He laughs, pushing his chair back from the table. I watch him move, tracking the way his eyes cling to me, even when he drops his hands and pats his thighs.

“Nobody is going to believe a thing if we don’t give them a reason to. And something tells me that Ruthie is already doubtful after our terrible display the other day.”

“That doesn’t explain why I need to go over there.”