Page 26 of Faking It with My Bossy Ex

I should stop thinking about what it would feel like to rest my head on his chest or how he used to kiss my cheek to say goodbye.

It’s so physically hard to not allow myself to give in to what my body wants. It feels so natural, so right …

But I've been here before, haven't I? Wanting something, believing in someone. Dad's empty promises. Teddy's fake smiles. And Dylan … The memory still stings, sharp and cold. I was so sure he'd never abandon me. Foolish. So foolish.

“You could try to look a little less repulsed by me,” Dylan whispers in my ear.Does he sound hurt by my reaction?

“I’m not repulsed. I just hate lying to everyone.” I manage to mumble my response as we reach Mrs. Parker. She has a cardboard box with our name scribbled across the top.

“Inside each box are mystery items I’ve picked out myself. It’s your responsibility to make these items into a unique decoration for one of the trees out here. Everything you need is either in the box or in the pile of materials there by the lobby. You have half an hour before the end of the competition.”

“What’s the prize?” A young woman toward the back asks.

“The top three couples will each get a free couple’s spa day at Megan’s Spa and Boutique in town.” Mrs. Parker beams as if it is the golden ticket, and my stomach sinks. We need to lose this competition, because there is no way I’m going to Megan’s Spa and Boutique of all places and having a spa day with Dylan.

“Couple’s massage, anyone?” he asks me before scooping up our box.

“No, thank you.” I follow him to a smaller tree near the lobby of the inn. “Let’s hope we got something ugly to decorate with.”

“You never struck me as a quitter, Ames. This is an artistic task. It’s perfect for you.”

“I don't want to win a spa day with you.” I cross my arms as he opens the box and starts taking out plastic balls, a string of lights, tinsel, and some random ornaments.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” He pulls out a pocketknife. He always carried one back in the day, not a habit I still expected of him. The way it flicks open so effortlessly suits him, just like that winter trench coat with the collar turned up around his jaw. The dark boots and that coat pull it all together, making him look rugged and annoyingly put-together.

His hands are steady as he starts making holes in the plastic balls. “Let’s pop one of these lights into these.”

I swallow, trying not to watch his hands too closely. He looks up and catches me staring, and a tiny smirk curves at the edge of his mouth.

My cheeks heat up, and I quickly look away, pretending to inspect the tinsel, like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.

He finds a little cat ornament in the box. He reaches up and hangs it on one of the upper branches. It’s only been there for a moment when it falls to the ground. Two tries later, and he grumbles in frustration.

“I think this ornament has a grudge against me,” he complains, his eyebrows scrunching together as he tries again.

“Maybe it doesn’t like your charming personality.” I roll my eyes and move the string of lights, trying to make them look crooked. It’s looking so much better than I would have liked.

“You seem to like my personality, all right.” He grins.

“I put up with you because the community center and a good night’s sleep depend on it.”

Someone nearby finishes their tree. The young woman lets out a little victory cry and she hugs the man beside her. He pushes the hair out of her face and kisses her, taking his time before spinning around.

The second couple finishes and performs a similar ritual, and they're kissingtoo. Every couple is hugging and kissing when they finish. Some are short and some are long.

My stomach does a little flip, and I quickly look away. Victory kisses? Oh no. Does that mean …

I meet Dylan’s gaze to find him watching me with a smug look on his face.

“Hurry up, Ames. Almost done here.” He hands me another ornament and I freeze for a moment.

“What are we going to do?” I ask.

“About what?”

“The victory kisses,” I hiss.

“Stop acting like it’s the end of the world.” He chuckles. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

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