Page 21 of False Start, Real Passion

“Alright, lovebirds!” The retreat facilitator, a peppy blonde with a megawatt smile, claps her hands. “Time for our first exercise. Who’s willing to go first?”

I weigh my options. A) Stand here looking like a chicken in heels while Jaxon and the team judge me, or B) Prove I’m not fazed by his games and my own mixed signals.

I choose option B. “I’m in,” I say, stepping forward and praying my legs don’t betray me.

“Awesome!” The retreat facilitator claps his hands. “I want you to stand facing your partner, about arm’s length apart.”

I turn to Jaxon, my stomach flipping as he winks at me. We take our positions, the dew-damp grass tickling my ankles.

“Now, one of you is going to fall backwards, and the other is going to catch them. This exercise is all about trust, vulnerability, and letting go of control. Who wants to fall first?”

I raise my hand, determined to get this over with. “I will.”

“She’s really good at letting go,” Jaxon says, directing the comment—and his signature smirk—my way.

“You wish.”

Jaxon’s eyebrows lift in surprise, but he nods, bracing himself. “I’ve got you, Tori. Just let go.”

I take a deep breath, turn with my back facing him. I close my eyes. Every instinct screams at me not to do this, to stay in control, to keep my guard up. But if I’m going to make this fake relationship believable, I have to start trusting Jaxon...even if it’s just for show.

I let myself fall, the world tilting dizzyingly. For a heart-stopping moment, I’m sure I’m going to hit the ground. But then, strong arms wrap around me, catching me securely against a solid chest.

Jaxon’s voice is a low rumble in my ear. “I’ve got you babe,”

His eyes are a startling blue this close, his lips curled in a soft smile. The heat of his body seeps into mine, and for a moment, I forget that we’re surrounded by people, that this is all just an act.

And just like that, my last thread of sanity unravels.

For a moment, it feels real.

He helps me to my feet, his hands lingering on my waist a beat too long. I step back, my heart pounding, my skin tingling where he touched me.

“Good job, you two!” The facilitator beams at us. “You can really feel the trust between you. Keep up the great work!”

As she moves on to the next couple, Jaxon leans in close, his breath warm on my neck. “Guess we’re pretty convincing after all, huh?”

I nod, not trusting my voice. Because the truth is, I’m not sure what’s real and what’s fake anymore. And that scares me more than anything.

“Who’s next?” Jaxon calls, unbothered.

A flurry of volunteers rushes forward. Jaxon is swept up with the group, leaving me to collect myself and make a quick retreat. A massive tent set up for lunch provides cover, but not nearly enough time to stop the static in my head. I down a bottle of water, tell myself it’s refreshing, tell myself I’m overreacting.

But I can’t deny that something shifted. And I hate how it makes me feel—exposed, vulnerable, giddy. I scan the tables for the nearest exit plan. No luck. They’re all reserved for staff and significant others. I am, apparently, the latter.

It’s an hour before I see Jaxon again, just enough time for my mind to stop running laps and start assembling excuses. I find him leaning against a stack of canoes, laughing with teammates who throw me knowing glances as they pass. He’s dry. That doesn’t last.

“You’re late,” he says when I approach, eyebrows wagging like I’ve already confirmed all his suspicions.

“I’m busy,” I shoot back. “Trust-building.”

“Still at it, huh?”

The warmth in his voice has nothing to do with the bright autumn sun. I don’t know if it’s reassuring or terrifying that he noticed me disappear.

“We’re supposed to be partners,” he says, motioning to a bright yellow canoe. The one with the most chance of visibility. Of course. “But if you’d rather bail, I can team up with someone else.”

My jaw sets. “We’ve got this,” I say, less sure of myself than I should be. “It’s just paddling. How hard can it be?”

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