Page 49 of Confessions of a Smutty Romance Author

Birdie: Do you think he meant he wants sex with you to mean something? That’s what it sounds like to me.

I didn’t know how to feel about the swoop that went through my stomach at that idea.

Henrietta: That makes sense to me. In my LIMITED experience.

Mara: What would he want it to mean?

Birdie: Something real.

Mara: But this is all fake so I can help his mom. It’ll be over as soon as the movie premieres.

Henrietta: Do you want it to be over?

I let out a sigh and put my phone back on the ground.

A knock sounded on the door, and I jumped, sending water over the edges of the tub. I hurriedly grabbed my phone, drying it on the towel, and said, “Sorry, do you need the bathroom?”

“No, I’m going to a cake tasting with Tess and Derek, and I was wondering if you wanted to come along?”

I scrunched my eyebrows together. He wanted me to come with him and spend time with his sister after everything that happened the night before? That didn’t make sense. “Hold on,” I said.

I hurriedly picked up my phone and texted the girls.

Mara: HE WANTS ME TO GO TO A CAKE TASTING WITH HIM FOR HIS SISTER’S WEDDING. WHAT DO I DO?!?!

Come on. Reply. Please.

Birdie: GO WITH HIM!

I stepped out of the tub and wrapped one of his big bath towels around my body. I tried not to think about how much I liked the fact that all his towels matched and that they were big enough to fit me. It was almost like he’d been planning to have someone like me here before he even knew me.

I reached the door and took a deep breath, steeling myself to see him. But when I opened the door, nothing could have prepared me for how good he looked, freshly showered, in dark jeans and a light blue button-up shirt that brought out the tan in his skin.

He seemed surprised by me too, but I pushed out the words because I had to.

“I’m sorry about last night,” I said quickly. “I’m so embarrassed, and I never should have put you in that situation.”

“No worries.” He gave me a gracious smile. “Tequila’s trouble.”

He had just brushed off the whole encounter so easily, but my cheeks were still hot. “Well, um, thank you. It won’t happen again,” I promised.

He seemed uncomfortable, but he quickly regrouped. “Did you want to go to the tasting with me? I know you’re the ice cream connoisseur, but I assume that also translates to cakes.”

I laughed. “I do have a great judgement for buttercream frosting.”

His smile came easily. “So you’ll come with? I always feel like such a third wheel at these things.”

“I’m impressed you’re going,” I said.

He scratched his neck, looking down at the floor. “I’m helping them pay for the wedding, so they want me to be there.”

If I didn’t need to hold up my towel, my hand would be over my heart. That was so sweet of him, to give to his sister, and then to be shy about taking credit... “How much time do I have to get ready?”

He glanced at his watch. “Thirty minutes.” When he looked back up at me, he said, “What?”

I nodded toward his silver accessory. “Who still wears watches? Everyone can see the time on their phone.”

Giving me an exasperated smile, he said, “Get ready.”

---