Page 14 of Fake It Til You Break It

Since subtlety hadn’t worked, I opted to take a page out of his book. “I’m kind of nervous. What if she doesn’t like me?”

“Of course she’ll like you,” he responded immediately. His eyes pinched at the corners, and worry lines marred his brow as he shifted in his seat to face me. “You are handsome and quite charming, and—”

“So, you think I’m charming?” I probably should have kept my stupid mouth shut, but I couldn’t resist the urge to ruffle those perfectly groomed feathers.

His reaction didn’t disappoint. His features turned slack as mild concern morphed into alarm, and he jerked his head around to face the front of the room. An enticing shade of pink crept into his cheeks, and his Adam’s apple bobbed along the column of his throat when he swallowed audibly.

“Yes, well, you have your moments.”

I slid my hand along the back of his chair and leaned closer. “And she’ll like me because I’m handsome and charming?”

“I’m sure it won’t hurt.” He still wouldn’t look at me.

“What about you, Jasper? Do you like that I’m handsome and charming?”

There was a heartbeat of silence, then Jasper practically launched out of his chair like it had been spring-loaded. “We should get in line. Kendall is probably worried that I didn’t come.”

I watched him stride swiftly but gracefully across the room to join the back of the group waiting to meet the author. Yes, I had been playing with fire, but I hadn’t expected him to ignite so quickly. A part of me felt bad for teasing him, but at the same time, I couldn’t be sorry for it.

If he had no interest, he would have simply ignored me. I might have received an eye roll or commentary about my inflated ego. If he felt nothing, he wouldn’t have run away.

Feeling pretty damn smug about this revelation, I took my time, smoothing the wrinkles from the hem of my shirt before crossing the room to join him. As soon as I stepped up behind him, he spun around and shoved a book at me, smacking me in the chest with it.

“I bought you a copy.” He held an identical one in his other hand, his knuckles white where he gripped the spine.

“Thank you.”

Our fingers brushed together when I took the paperback, and I waited, breath held, for him to pull away. Though he looked flustered by the contact, he didn’t jerk back like I had anticipated. Instead, he stood there, too still, eyes too wide, and just stared at me.

I couldn’t be sure if that meant progress, or if I had startled him into paralysis. Being an optimist, I chose to believe the former.

We didn’t speak after that, and while the silence between us was filled with tension, it didn’t feel uncomfortable. Just…heavy.

The line moved at a glacial pace, but eventually, we found ourselves standing across from Kendall Bauer herself. Fair-skinned, with a smattering of freckles and a pin-straight bob of fiery red tresses, she looked like a child. Which, to be fair, I tended to feel that way about anyone under the age of thirty these days.

Still, given her past—at least the bits I had been able to piece together from Jasper—I hadn’t expected such bubbly innocence.

As soon as her gaze landed on my date, her smile faded, and eyes the color of emeralds flared briefly. Moisture gathered along her lash line, and she blinked rapidly as her lips pressed together in a tight seam, causing her chin to dimple. Then, without a word, she rose from her chair and walked toward the end of the table.

Jasper stiffened, and his shoulders rounded as if they carried the weight of the world. Ducking his head, he exhaled softly, a sad little breath that broke my fucking heart. It killed me that he had already convinced himself he had done something wrong by simply existing.

Sensing his rising dread, I braced myself for the fight-or-flight to kick in, because with no one to fight, his only option was to flee. Standing slightly behind him, I reached forward and took his hand, using my body to block the move from curious onlookers. I didn’t force it, just pressed my palm against his, relieved when he immediately linked his fingers with mine and squeezed.

Feeling my own pulse slow, I leaned forward and lowered my voice so only he could hear me. “Look up.”

He obeyed at once, lifting his head just in time to catch Kendall as she practically flung herself at him.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” she said, her voice tight and shaky. “But I’m so glad you did.” She tightened her arms around his neck, clinging to him like a lifeline. “I just wanted a chance to thank you in person.”

When Jasper released my hand to return her embrace, I stepped away to give them a moment. I didn’t go far, just in case he needed me, but enough to offer the illusion of privacy.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for anything,” he told her, his tone gentle and comforting. “And you don’t need to thank me.”

Easing her back, he held her by the shoulders, much like my dad had done to me as a child. When he’d had something important to say that he wanted me to hear.

“This?” He lifted his head and glanced around the bookstore. “Youdid this.”

She chewed her bottom lip and nodded. Clearly, she had heard this speech before, and I turned my head to hide my grin.

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