Page 119 of Cover Story

It was strange, auditioning for a role he so badly wanted, trying to communicate passion in a way that would make her think: woah, maybe I’d like to do this for pleasure as well as business. Connor thought he’d go all in, give it his best shot. He feigned confidence he didn’t have in response to her nervousness and just kissed her like she’d asked him to do it for real.

And, oh God, of course it was shockingly perfect: compatibility and chemistry and the sweet softness of her. It felt like confessing everything, non-verbally.

He could see the surprise on her face afterwards that surely he wasn’tthatgood an actor. It somehow affected his vocal chords when he tried to speak to her. She saidare they looking over?and Connor was momentarily completely unable to wrench himself out of the fantasy and simply said:I don’t know. He could’ve just as easily said, ‘I don’t care’, and in a way he wished he had and then it would be done, dealt with, out there.

Although unfair on her, given they still had to share a bed.

Connor tried to detect if they’d shifted gears, yet Bel seemed more insouciant than ever. As soon as they were back in the room, kicking her heels off, puttingPoint Breakon.

Bel was still in the floofy feminine dress, like a bedraggled Tinkerbell. Something about the layers of froth in her hitched-up skirts, her bare legs stretched out beneath, made Connor think unclean thoughts. He could grab her waist, pull her down the bed towards him …

She began joking about paying him gigolo cash and once again Connor thought: are you hinting that you’re authentically enjoying this, or are you reminding me it’s pragmatism?

Either way, he wasn’t going to say no, taking his own shoes off and pulling himself up next to her. She leaned back on his chest, and Connor did what felt natural and put his arm round her.

Bel vaguely chattered about what was happening on screen and he wondered if she, like him, could only think about the way it felt, wrapped around each other. It was difficult to care about Johnny Utah infiltrating the coastline community.

‘If it’s useful information, you kiss really well, by the way,’ Bel said. Connor twinged with pleasure and held her tighter.

‘Thanks, so do you.’

‘You have to say that.’

‘I probably would have to say that, but it’s true anyway.’

She turned her head as if to say something, he turned to listen, their lips right by each other. Like it wasn’t a big deal, as if what he’d said was an invitation, as if it was the natural thing to do, Bel kissed him. Reality raced ahead, Connor’s executive function in breathless pursuit as he kissed her back.

Bel pulled her dress down, a black lace bra underneath, and plonked his hand onto the pale skin of her right breast, her hand clasped over his. Connor couldn’t move, frozen in a virginal fright. His brain played him a supercut of all the times he’d been interested in Bel’s chest and in lofty denial of the fact. Now he was being asked to reveal that enthusiasm and he was in terror at finally making his feelings known. His mind left his body as they carried on kissing and he watched himself from the outside. This was his dearest wish, wasn’t it? But whatwasthis? Apart from what it was, obviously.

Bel started fumbling with his fly and his stomach flipped. There was no more messing around, Connor had to decide. He’d have no willpower to call a halt if she got any further.

‘Bel,’ Connor blurted, his hand over hers to stop her, ‘I’ve really liked fake dating you. You’ve been the greatest girlfriend I’ve never had. But I draw the line at fake sleeping with you.’

Bel looked justifiably confused.

‘Given no one knows, I was thinking that we were real sleeping with each other?’

Connor let go and pulled back a little. How did he navigate this, stand her down without saying why?

‘But we’re only here …’ he gestured at their surrounds, ‘because of all the pretending today. I don’t think it’s enough reason to trash a great friendship with a one-night stand.’

Connor wished he’d anticipatedBel initiates sex– he might be handling this better. You didn’t tend to disaster plan for best-case scenarios.

This is the part where you reassure me it doesn’t need to be a one-night stand.

He knew this wasn’t going to happen; of course it was a one-night stand. That’s why she’d launched it when they had one night left.

‘Would it ruin it?’ Bel said.

‘Are you in touch with any of your past one-night stands?’

Connor wouldn’t have said this if he’d thought it through. Apart from anything else, he was jealous enough that he didn’t want to know.

‘Honestly, I’ve never actually had one before. Unless you count …thatincident, which I don’t. Are there rules?’

‘Not exactly … but weren’t we staying friends?’

‘Friends can’t ever have done this?’

---