Page 81 of Faking Ties

“Not sure, but I miss him,” I slur, laying my head on Nina’s shoulder. “I can’t see him until next week.”

“That’s bullshit,” Nina says. “What’s the point in having access to a private plane if you can’t use it to visit him?”

“Wait. That’s a great idea,” Aria says, lying on the couch with her arms in the air. She says it’s the best way to make the room stop spinning.

“You think?” I ask.

“Definitely,” they say in unison.

“Just one problem,” I say, “I don’t know how to book my own plane.”

Nina giggles and Aria says, “That’s an easy fix; we’ll take my plane instead.”

She holds her phone up in the air, squinting at it and typing at the same time. After a minute she pops to her feet. “Let’s roll, ladies. We’ve got a boyfriend to surprise.”

The two-and-a-half-hour plane ride passes in a blink. Another blink and we’re in a car with Brian.When did Brian appear? Was he here the whole time?I giggle and blink again, and suddenly I’m outside Hunter’s house. I stumble to the front door and laugh as I crash into it and press the doorbell.

Glancing back at Aria and Nina, they give me a thumbs-up from the car. They insisted on making sure I arrive okay and then they’re going to find a bar to continue the party and a hotel to crash at.

I press the doorbell again and lay my head against the doorjamb.Is he not home?I take out my phone to message him when he appears in front of me.

“Ella? What are you doing here?” He takes a step toward me as Aria and Nina whistle and wave goodbye before driving off.

“Surprising you?” I say, hugging him tightly. “I missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” He lifts me up into his arms and carries me inside. “Where are Nina and Aria going?”

“To party some more and then stay at a hotel.”

“There aren’t many nice hotels nearby. Maybe they should stay with Jake?”

“Ohhh, good idea.” I close my eyes and yawn, nuzzling the spot between his jaw and shoulder, the one I fit perfectly in. “I think Nina would get along with him.”

Hunter sets me down on the couch. “Let me take care of your friends first. Is it okay if I use your phone to call them?”

I hand it to him, and the merry-go-round I’ve been on is no longer fun. I try Aria’s way of lying down with my hands in the air to get the room to stop spinning. And…nothing happens.

“What are you doing?” Hunter chuckles when he comes back to the room to find me with my arms still in the air.

“Trying out something new?” I giggle. “Aria said it’d work, but it doesn’t. That liar.”

“Did you have fun tonight?” He brushes my hair off my face.

“I did. But there’s something I have to tell you.”

“What?” he asks.

“That… Your eyes are so beautiful.”

He grins. “Why do I have a feeling you meant to say something else?”

“Because Stella told me we could all end up in jail if our switch is discovered and you’re also at risk.”

Hunter stares at me for a few beats before nodding. “So no ripping up the contracts, then?”

“No.”

“Fine,” he says, “as long as you understand this isn’t fake.”

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