Page 65 of Perfectly Faked

I’m so lost in this moment that I barely register the first droplets of rain. His lips trail across the hollow of my cheek, kissing each drop away. Not until it falls faster, dampening my clothes, does it occur to me that we’re both getting soaked. He pulls back slightly, pressing his forehead to mine. “As much as I don’t want this to end, I think there’s a storm coming.”

I cup his face, palms wet, and leave two more kisses on his lips. “I don’t care if it’s storming. I want this—us—more.”

My fingers tangle in his damp hair, before I pull him back to me, kissing him with everything I’ve got.

“Vic,” he says weakly against my lips, his voice ragged, “we can’t stay here.”

A deep rumble echoes in the distance, closer now.

The rain pounds harder, plastering strands of hair to my skin. The storm is dangerously close, the lightning cutting through the sky like a warning, but I don’t want to move.

A bright flash illuminates the swelling ocean, followed by an earsplitting crack. “I don’t care if I get struck by lightning,” I say breathlessly. “I don’t want this moment to end.”

“Victoria,” he warns. “You might not care if you get struck by lightning, but I’m not losing you this way.” He picks me up in his arms and takes off for his car.

In return, I leave kisses on his rain-drenched cheeks, the line of his jaw—anything I can reach. The taco truck is long gone, the beach deserted—all that’s left is our reckless desire and a newfound joy I don’t want to end.

By the time we reach his car, we’re drenched to the bone. He sets me down gently, his hands lingering at my waist, and I can’t help but spin away, tilting my face to the sky.

“Seriously, Vic,” Leo says, his voice half-laughter, half-pleading. “Get in the car.”

“Not yet,” I say over my shoulder. I twirl in a circle, my arms stretched wide, the rain soaking me through, my smile so big it might split me wide open. Nobody told me there’s so much joy when you finally learn to let go.

Leo watches me, his lips curling in amusement. “You really don’t listen to anyone, do you?”

“Nope,” I say, happily. “And you love me, anyway.”

“You’re right, I do,” he mutters, shaking his head and laughing. “Are you going to make me haul you over my shoulder and put you in this car myself?”

I stop and look at him. “Dance with me, Leo, just this once.”

“You want me to dance...in the rain?” The lightning and thunder are nearly gone, the rain a gentle patter now, soft and alive. “You know I don’t...”

“Leo,” I cut him off. “No excuses this time.”

He looks at me, and his face breaks into a grin so achingly sweet, my heart feels like it could burst.

He turns on his car stereo and opens all the windows.

“Is that a yes, then?” I ask. “You’ll dance with me?”

“Wildest Dreams” soars through the parking lot as he pulls me close, whispering in my ear, “If this is what it takes to show you I’d do anything for you, then yes, my love—alwaysyes.”

TWENTY-SIX

leo

“Who’s here?” Victoria asks, squinting into the darkness when we arrive back at the house after our epic date.

A woman waits on the front steps, silhouetted by the porch light.

“I’ll take care of this,” I say, immediately getting out of my car. Tina’s been texting me a few times a month, and I’ve been avoiding her.

“Hey,” I say. “Thought I told you to text me before showing up.”

It doesn’t seem to matter where I move or what team I play for, she always finds me. And I can’t help but think it’s because she wants something from me.

Victoria steps beside me. “Do you want to come inside?”

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