Page 17 of Faking with Three

“Perfect,” I say dryly. “Exactly what I need.”

“Good luck, Liv,” Heather says warmly. “And seriously—have fun with it. Who knows? This might be the best bad idea you’ve ever had.”

“Let’s hope so,” I mutter as I hang up, staring at the ceiling and wondering just what kind of mess I’ve gotten myself into.

The rooftop cafe is bathed in warm, golden light. It’s one of those unexpectedly perfect afternoons—clear blue skies, the kind that makes you forget your troubles for a moment. A light breeze sweeps through the space, rustling the potted plants and fluttering the white curtains that section off our little area. It’scute, I’ll give them that, arranged courtesy of Jax’s connections. We have this place for a few hours.

I’m already seated, nursing a sparkling water, trying not to chew off all my nails. The view of the city sprawls out below, but I’m too jittery to appreciate it. My eyes dart toward the entrance, where Ethan and Marcus are crouched a few feet away, fiddling with the camera equipment. They’re talking in hushed tones, discussing angles and logistics. Ethan flashes me a quick thumbs-up and a grin, while Marcus just stares. It’s disarming.

I hate that I agreed to this, but here I am—waiting to meet some stranger for the entertainment of a bunch of online viewers.Maybe this isn’t such a great idea,I think, tapping my fingers on the table.

And then Jax slides into the seat next to me, like he owns the place. He’s tall, with sun-kissed skin, the kind that speaks of long hours outdoors. His dark hair falls in tousled waves, and there’s a scruff on his jaw that looks like it was made to be stroked. He’s got this easy, laid-back confidence like a guy who’s never once doubted his appeal.

“Hey,” he says, giving me a lopsided grin that could melt the ice off a winter’s day. His eyes, a striking shade of hazel, crinkle at the corners when he smiles. “You look nervous. Don’t worry. The first date is always the hardest.”

I laugh, mostly at myself. “Oh yeah? Is that the title of today’s episode? Guy gets surprised by a big woman or something?” I throw it out casually, but I watch his reaction closely. This is usually the part where people get all flustered, stumbling over themselves with awkward, patronizing reassurances like,Oh, I don’t see size,or worse,You’re not that big.

But Jax doesn’t even flinch. He leans back in his chair, stretching out his long legs like he’s settling in for a chat. “Nah,” he says, his voice smooth and teasing. “If I were writing the episode title, it’d be something like, Guy gets outclassed bya gorgeous woman with Stunning Eyes and a Better Sense of Humor. But hey, that’s just me.”

I blink at him, caught off guard. That was... not the response I expected. I feel a smile tugging at the corner of my lips despite myself. “Smooth,” I say, arching an eyebrow. “I guess you’re good at these sorts of things.”

“I’d like to think so. But you’re not making it easy.”

“Well, you’re definitely better at this than most,” I admit, feeling a rush of unexpected warmth in my chest. It’s been a long time since someone has flirted with me without that hint of hesitation or pity. With Jax, it feels different—like he’s genuinely enjoying himself, like he actually sees me.

“Good to know,” Jax says, settling back in his seat with a satisfied grin. He folds his arms over his chest, and I can’t help but notice the definition in his biceps.

Ethan and Marcus are still fiddling with the equipment a few feet away, but I catch Marcus glancing over at us with a slightly bemused expression.

“So,” Jax says, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “How are you feeling about all this? Nervous about being on camera, or just nervous about the date part?”

I take a sip of my sparkling water, rolling the cool liquid over my tongue as I consider his question. “A little bit of both,” I admit. “I’m not really used to this whole... public dating thing.”

Jax tilts his head, studying me with a thoughtful expression. “Yeah, I get that,” he says. “It’s not exactly the easiest way to meet someone. But look on the bright side—you get a free coffee out of it. And if the guy’s a total loser, at least you’ve got me here to keep you company.”

I laugh, and the sound is surprising, even to me. “You’re really confident, aren’t you?”

He flashes me another one of those charming, lopsided grins. “I’m just trying to make sure you have a good time, Liv,” he says,and there’s something in the way he says my name—like he’s already decided we’re friends, or maybe something more.

“You know,” he says, lowering his voice like he’s letting me in on a secret, “if I’d known someone gorgeous like you was staying at my sister’s place, I would’ve found an excuse to drop by a whole lot sooner.”

I nearly choke on my sparkling water. Okay, yeah, this guy is definitely flirting with me. I raise an eyebrow, giving him a look that’s half-amused, half-skeptical. “You always talk like this to women you just met?” I ask, trying to sound casual, even though I can feel the warmth creeping up my neck.

Jax grins, leaning back in his chair with a lazy confidence. “Only the ones who look like they deserve a little extra attention,” he says, his gaze sweeping over me like he’s genuinely appreciating what he sees. And unlike most people, there’s no hesitation or discomfort when he looks at me. It’s like he’s just... enjoying himself.

I’m about to fire back with a snarky comment of my own when Marcus suddenly appears beside our table, his expression pinched with irritation. He looks between us, and I swear his gaze lingers a fraction longer on the space between me and Jax, like he’s reading the room and not liking what he sees.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Marcus says, his tone flat, clearly not in the mood for whatever vibe Jax and I have going on. “But I’ve got some bad news.”

Jax’s grin falters, and he sits up straighter. “What’s going on?” he asks, his flirty demeanor shifting into something more serious.

Marcus sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose before meeting my eyes. “The date we had lined up for you,” he says, his voice laced with frustration, “he canceled last minute. Apparently, he got cold feet.”

I blink, feeling a mix of disappointment and relief wash over me. “Cold feet?” I echo. “Did he realize he’d actually have to show up and, you know, have a conversation?”

“Seems like it,” Marcus mutters, casting a pointed look toward Ethan, who’s fiddling with the camera gear with a grim expression. “We’re trying to find a replacement, but it looks like we might be out of luck today.”

Jax leans back in his chair, casting me a sidelong glance. “Well, that’s a damn shame,” he says, his voice light, but there’s a glint of something more in his eyes. “Guess I’ll have to step in and save the day. Unless you’re too disappointed, Liv?”

---