Page 14 of Faking with Three

“Thanks,” I say, taking a mug from him. “I was just catching up with Olivia. I didn’t realize you had asked her to join us.”

“I know, isn’t it great? I thought she’d be perfect. Fresh perspective, solid background in game design. Plus, we could use a little star power.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, he’s already convinced she’s the missing piece to our sinking ship. I can see it in his face—the kind of reckless optimism that usually ends with us tangled in some mess.

“Here we go,” he says, setting the coffee down on the table. “Marcus, just how you like it. And Olivia, I’m guessing you’re a black coffee type?”

She smirks, taking a mug. “Good guess. I’ll take whatever’s the strongest.”

“See? Perfect fit already,” Ethan says, grinning as he settles back in his chair.

Ethan’s living room feels crowded, even though it’s just the three of us. I can’t shake the surprise of seeing Olivia Chase here, standing casually by the window, sipping her coffee like it’s no big deal. She looks over her mug, catching my eye with a small smile, and I quickly turn to Ethan, trying to focus on why I’m here.

I can’t deny the immediate pull of attraction I felt when she opened the door. It’s ridiculous, really—I was her mother’stherapist, for God’s sake. But Olivia’s no longer the shy girl who used to sit in the waiting room with her headphones on, avoiding eye contact.

I’m about to speak up when the door opens again, and in walks Jax.

He looks between the three of us, his brow furrowing just a little. “Hey, sorry I’m late,” he says, nodding at me before he spots Olivia. His eyes widen slightly, and he gives her a polite smile. “Uh, hi. I didn’t realize we had company.”

Ethan grins, leaning forward. “Jax, meet Olivia. She’s considering a little… involvement in our project.”

Jax steps forward, extending his hand. “Nice to meet you, Olivia. I’m Jax, by the way. Uh, welcome, I guess.”

Olivia blinks at me. “Hello? You seriously don’t recognize me?”

Jax’s smile drops a bit. “What?”

“I’m Heather’s best friend,” she says. “We met a couple of times before.”

“Olivia,” he says slowly, realization finally dawning on him. Jax can be a bit of a jock sometimes, a little full of himself. “You’re the one staying at the apartment.”

“Yep, that would be me,” she says.

“And what brings you here?”

“Well,” she says glancing around. “Ethan’s been talking up this whole Love Lab thing, trying to rope me in.”

“Right,” Jax says, still looking a little bewildered. He glances between me and Ethan as if he’s missed the punchline to a joke. “So… you’re in marketing, or something?”

She laughs, shaking her head. “Not quite. I run a video game company. Ethan thinks I might have some useful ideas for your channel.”

Jax raises his eyebrows, impressed. “A game company? That’s awesome. Guess we could use some pro input around here.”

“Maybe,” she says, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “But I haven’t decided yet if I’m up for it.

I shoot Ethan a look, suppressing a sigh. “It’s more that this is a… well, let’s just say it’s not exactly what you’d call a stable business model.”

“Aw, come on, Marcus,” Ethan says, grinning. “Where’s the faith? Olivia here’s got the brainpower to give us a boost.”

Jax clears his throat, catching Ethan’s eye. “I get the idea, but… are we really sure about this? No offense, Olivia,” he adds quickly, glancing at her, “it’s just that the Love Lab’s kind of… a lot to dive into.”

She laughs softly, lifting her mug. “Trust me, I’m getting that impression.”

Jax leans against the arm of the couch, studying Olivia with a thoughtful look. “So, you’re going to help us? How exactly does that work? Are you consulting, or…?”

Ethan jumps in before Olivia can answer. “I asked her to join the experiment itself.” He glances at me, clearly excited. “We need someone fresh on camera, and Olivia could be the perfect addition. Plus, she’s offering to help with funding ideas, so it’s a win-win.”

I blink, not bothering to hide my reaction. “Wait—no,she’s not doing that,” I say, a little more sharply than intended.

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