Page 32 of Pretend To Be Mine

“I know,” I said miserably. “I’m trying.”

“Are you though?” He studied me with those same dark eyes he shared with Adrian, but his held mischief where Adrian’s held intensity. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re thinking too much. Modeling isn’t about thinking. It’s about feeling.”

“That’s very Zen of you.”

“I’m a man of many depths.” He grinned. “Come on, let’s try something. Natasha, Simone, help me out here.”

The models returned, and suddenly I was in the middle of an impromptu dance party. Sebastian cranked up the music, and all three of them started moving, not posed or practiced, just having fun.

“Come on,” Natasha urged, taking my hands. “Just move. Don’t think about it.”

I looked over to where Adrian had been standing, but he was gone.

He was frustrated with me. I didn’t blame him. I was frustrating myself.

“He’s not mad at you,” Sebastian said, noticing where I was looking.

“Yes, he is.”

“He’s mad at the situation. There’s a difference.” Sebastian gestured to the runway. “Come on, let’s try again while he’s gone. No pressure.”

Without Adrian watching, I felt like I could breathe again. The vise around my chest loosened.

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s try.”

This time, when Natasha demonstrated a pose, I didn’t overthink it. I just copied what she did. When Simone showed me how to walk, I didn’t worry about getting it perfect. I just walked.

“Better!” Sebastian called out. “See? You can do this.”

We ran through different scenarios. Without Adrian’s intense gaze on me, it started to feel almost… fun? The models were encouraging, Sebastian was making jokes, and slowly, I stopped feeling like an alien in a human suit.

“Now we’re talking,” Natasha said, snapping photos on her phone. “Look at you go!”

I did a spin, arms outstretched, and for the first time all day, it felt natural. Felt right.

“Okay, Elizabeth,” Sebastian said with a cocky grin. “What is the deal? You’re clearly a natural at this. So why did you look like you were facing a firing squad earlier?”

I hesitated, not wanting to admit it.

“It’s Adrian,” I said quietly.

“What about him?”

“I get starstruck. Around him. It’s never happened to me before, but when he’s in the room, I can’t think straight. I can barely breathe.”

Sebastian’s eyebrows shot up. Then a slow grin spread across his face. “Oh, this is interesting.”

“Don’t,” I warned. “Don’t you dare tell him.”

“Tell him what? That you’re terrified of him?”

“I’m not terrified. I’m just… intimidated. He’s Adrian Blackwell. He’s—” I gestured vaguely, trying to encompass everything Adrian was. “He’s everything. And I’m nobody.”

“You’re not nobody,” Simone said firmly. “You’re his fiancée.”

Sebastian nodded like he got it. “Ladies, I think our friend Elizabeth needs a confidence boost. What do you say we show her what she’s capable of?”

What followed was the most surreal hour of my life. The three of them treated me like I was already one of them—a professional, someone who belonged in this world. They taught me tricks of the trade, how to find my light, how to make subtle adjustments that looked natural on camera.