Page 27 of The Perils of Pretending
I point to the restrooms. “I need to hit the bathroom. Will you text Brody and see where he is?”
He pulls his phone from his back pocket as we walk. “Sure.”
“Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
I use the facilities, taking time to check myphone to see if Mom texted saying where they went. I don’t have a message from her, but I do from Dani and Avery from my post about finding a boyfriend in our group chat.
Dani
If I knew the answer to that question, I definitely wouldn’t be single anymore…
Avery
That’s great, Sadie! But remember, relationships aren’t always worth the hassle.
First, I’m annoyed that they don’t have a way to help me. Second, my heart hurts for Avery. She dropped the news a few weeks ago that she and her fiancé broke up only a couple of months before the wedding. She claims she’s fine, but she’s not. I send her back an I love you and leave it at that.
I’ll have to figure out a way to find a man on my own.
How hard can it be?
Chapter 11
Max
AmIhoveringatthe gate to delay meeting with my grandparents? Yes, yes, I am. And honestly, I can’t fathom leaving Sadie to deal with Alice on her own. The woman’s a viper. I worry that if I’m not there, Alice will still force Sadie to give Dorian a chance. My protection of fake dating might not be enough. But I don’t know what else to do. Sadie’s not a damsel. She’s proven she has a backbone and will stand up to Alice, but it doesn’t mean I like that she has to.
The gate agent comes over the speaker, announcing they’ll start boarding soon for Homer.
I grab Sadie’s arm, pulling her off the side of the circle we’re all standing in. “Brody’s told me stories about your grandma, but he downplayed how awful she really is,” I whisper. “Are you going to be okay? Is there anything else I can do before you go?”
Sadie shrugs, looking over her shoulder at Michelle talking to Alice. “Just send good vibes our way.”
I nod. “Absolutely. How do we…” I point to her, then back to me. “Say goodbye?” My palms get sweaty like I’m a teenager trying to do the whole yawn and stretch thing at the movies.
“Oh.” She bites her lip. “Shoot. Yeah, I didn’t even think about that. Um. Should we hug and call it good?”
An awkward tension radiates between us. “That’s perfect. Do you want to do it now or wait?”
I feel like my students at the middle school—unsure and a blundering doofus.
“Now’s good since it looks like you pulled me over for a private goodbye. Then when you, or I, whoever goes first, leaves, we’ll wave.”
“Bear hug? Side hug?” Why am I overthinking this?
Sadie’s brows rise as she looks at me like I’m an idiot.
I feel like one. Rubbing the back of my neck, I chuckle. “I haven’t orchestrated a fake relationship before.”
“We’re doing a full-frontal hug. I’ll wrap my arms around your middle, yours will go around my shoulders.”
“All right. Are we counting to a certain number or pulling away when it feels long enough?"
Sadie laughs. “You’re way overthinking this.” Without hesitation, she throws her arms around me, burying her face in my neck. Her warm breath tickles my skin.
I wrap her up in my arms. The hint of ripe peaches reaches my nose. I inhale deeply, enjoying the essence. I don’t know that I’ll be able to smell the fruit without thinking of her from now on. My heart grows warm like the soft glow of a candle in the dark. I’m in no rush to let her go. I’m not paying attention to anyone or anything around us. We’re in a bubble, just me and Sadie, nothing else.
My arms squeeze her tighter because suddenly, I can’t get enough. I’m a starving man at a buffet. But Sadie’s the only thing quenching my hunger. And that’s when it clicks. I can’t feast on Sadie. I can be attracted to her and want to help her, but I can’t risk my friendship with Brody by acting on my feelings. To stop my body from getting hotter, I pull back.
