Page 68 of Playing Pretend

“Rome isn’t convinced.”

“He’s being overprotective.” I drag my bent legs toward my chest, resting my chin on my knees. “You know how he gets.”

“I do. And this time he seems more intense than normal.”

“I know. It isn’t necessary though.” Rome needs to scour his own security. Julian is more likely to be hiding in his bushes than mine. “Trust that I can handle it.”

“You sure? I’ve already got some seedy acquaintances on standby ready to instigate some underhanded brutality. All I need is for you to say the word.”

I chuckle, well aware he’s joking. “I’m absolutely positive.”

“Fine. I believe you… Where are you anyway? Rome said he had the day to himself.”

“I’m on the beach, relaxing without him.” I dig my feet beneath the sand, wiggling the grit between my toes.

“I thought your preference was to spend every waking moment with your bestie.”

“Not when he’s trying to scam me out of the career I deserve. His tactics are below the bar to say the least.”

“Sounds like you’re the one scamming the challenge if you’re hiding from him.”

I scoff. “We both know this so-called challenge is a major red flag where HR is concerned. It’s been nothing but innuendo and sexual harassment. You’re lucky I’ve got a good sense of humor and aren’t inclined to sue your ass.”

“Andyou’relucky he’s pretending to be your boyfriend and not your boss. If I were the one testing how capable you are for this job it would be all business. I’d grill you on development contracts, zoning laws, and planning regulations. I’d expect you to know your shit on our current projects and come up with ideas for those in the future. Would you be ready for that? Would you prefer if I took over?”

I glower at the ocean.

He knows I’m not prepared for any of those things. How could I be with a week’s notice?

“Think yourself lucky,” he continues. “It sounds to me like Rome is more interested in getting you to loosen up. You’ve been high-strung for a while now.”

“High-strung?” I snip

“Retract the claws, sis. You know it’s true. He just wants you to have some fun.”

I squint harder at the horizon, hating that he’s right.

My relationship with Julian caused deeper fissures than I’d thought. I didn’t realize my issues were noticeable to those around me.

I turn my gaze to the beach as children run into the waves while their parents sunbathe. Nearby, teenage boys attempt to chat up three of their female counterparts. A man throws a ball to his dog. A toddler builds a sandcastle.

I want to be like them. Carefree. Happy. And not caught in a confusing web of sexuality that makes no sense at all.

Julian’s job as my boyfriend was to bolster my sexual confidence, not destroy it. And Rome is the last person who should be attempting to pick up the pieces.

Everything is backward. Nonsensical and stupid.

“You still there?” Rett asks.

“Yeah.” My attention catches on a sweat-slicked god jogging along the sand a few hundred yards away. He’s shirtless, his T-shirt tucked into his running shorts to dangle against his right thigh.I’d know those muscles anywhere. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll speak to you when I get home tomorrow.”

“But we—”

I disconnect the call, ignoring my brother’s protest, my focus not leaving Rome as he stares down the beach, entirely in the zone.

The teen girls pause their giggling to gawk at him. The sunbathing parents, too.

My pulse increases. My heart swells.

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