Page 67 of Faking Romance

“Wow. Uh, nice shirt,” Carly says as she walks into my store. I’m wearing a shirt that says “Men suck. Except Book Boyfriends.” It was a silly gift from Isla when Richard and I broke up, but it seems appropriate today.

“Thanks,” I say dryly as I reach for my cup of coffee.

“So…” Carly begins as she leans against the desk. “Did you see Hutch is putting up a new motion camera? He somehow talked Bray into helping him. I sort of wish they’d just let it stay a mystery, you know?”

Shrugging, I set my mug down. “Why do they care so much, anyhow?”

“Hutch is just…well, frankly he’s obsessed with it. I think he’s using it as an escape from his reality. Poor guy has been through a lot these past few years with his injury, some girl troubles, and his mom was sick.”

I frown. Now I feel like a jerk. I had no idea Hutch had gone through so much.

“That’s too bad,” I state. “Hey, speaking of mysteries, has anyone talked to Kasen yet?”

She shakes her head. “No, but Al assured me again the other day that Kasen is fine. I still don’t get why he just doesn’t tell us what is going on, but he’s all quiet about it.” She rolls her eyes. “I sort of want to kick Kasen’s ass when he does come home. I worry about him. I know he’s this big old badass and all, but you can’t run from life forever.”

“I suppose,” I agree as I look past Carly and see Jocelyn talking to Hutch.

Carly follows my gaze. “What do you make of that?” she asks.

“Jocelyn’s a flirt. She flirts with, like, every guy that comes in here. I can’t get a read on whether she’s actually interested in any of them, or if that is just innately who she is,” I admit.

“I think they have a crush on each other,” Carly declares as she crosses her arms and continues to watch them. “I mean, look at that body language. He’s leaning down to talk to her. She’s leaning in toward him. It’s a total unequivocal sign of desire.”

I giggle. “I never say this to customers, but I think you might be reading too many romance novels.”

“Hell no! Drew just finished that one you recommended and I’m starting it tonight. I’m not swearing off them. Shit, it’s the only stress reliever I have right now.”

I smile at her. “Well then, let me introduce you to your next billionaire book boyfriend,” I offer as I point her in the direction of one of my favorite books in her favorite romance genre.

“Well, thanks for the book rec. I gotta go run an errand before I pick up Ava. I swear, I wish I had a billionaire for real so that I could send a driver to get her some days. I love my daughter, but doing this alone is…a lot sometimes,” she says with a sigh.

“I’m sure it is, but you do a great job,” I encourage as I walk her to the door.

“I don’t know. I hope I’m doing a good enough job. She’s a good kiddo, you know?”

I grin because I’m remembering Ava schooling Al on maraschino cherries the other night. Like what kid knows about that? “She’s the best. If I ever have a kid, I hope she’s half as cool as Ava.”

Carly laughs as she opens the door. “If your future kid is anything like you, she’ll be awesome. I mean, look around, how could she not be?”

I’m not sure why her words hit me hard, but damn, I can’t help but believe them as I look around at my store. She might be right.

“See ya,” she calls out as she leaves me looking at everything I created.

A moment later, the door opens and my head swivels to find Jocelyn standing there, staring at me.

“What?” I ask, looking down to see if I dribbled coffee on my new blue top.

“You look…happy? Proud? Don’t know, but I like it on you,” Jocelyn says with a wink as she walks over to the desk and sits down in front of a computer where she’s been ordering some books.

“Joc?” I start as I sit down next to her.

“Yep,” she replies without looking up at me.

“Did you, uh, tell Haven that Gray and I were fake dating?” I ask.

Jocelyn freezes. “Oh, fuck. I’m so sorry. I thought…since you all were, like, real dating…oh no, how bad is it?” she stammers as her head whips toward me.

“It’s alright. Gray was upset. I guess someone said something about it,” I explain.

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