Page 61 of The Perils of Pretending
“Are we ready for pictures?” I say way too brightly, failing to hide my nerves as I walk down the stairs of our cabin. I’m wearing a long floral sundress with my denim jacket, white shoes, and all the jewelry Poppy sent with me. More than ever, I need her and the help she sent along.
“Yeah, let’s get this over with.” Brody tugs on his button-down shirt. He looks handsome with his dark hair and blue shirt.
Max comes down the stairs in jeans and a white henley tee.
I swallow hard.
Nothing about these clothes explains why my pulse is jittering like popcorn in a hot pan, but the way Max wears it? The way the fabric clings to his muscles? Yeah, I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes to myself.
“Whose phone are we using?” Mom asks, applying soft pink lipstick.
I point to Brody. “I think you have the newest phone with the best camera.”
Max raises his hand. “I’m happy to be the photographer. I don’t need to be in any pictures.”
Brody shakes his head. “That’s where you’re wrong, man. We want you in them.”
“You and I should take a few shots together to keep up appearances.” Will we look as good as we did when we fell asleep on the plane together? Why is my stomach quivering with anticipation?
“Yeah, no problem,” Max says.
“I’m starving.” Because of the berry debacle, I didn’t eat much today and I’m famished. “Let’s hurry so we’re not late to dinner.” Where I will do everything in my power to avoid Grandma and Dorian.
We take the paved path to the lodge instead of walking along the rocky shoreline to save Mom’s ankles from the torturous terrain. We walk out to the end of the twenty-foot wooden dock. Off in the distance is a blue mountain range with snowcapped mountains. The bay is bright blue. We turn our backs to the scenery, facing the lodge.
Max holds Brody’s phone, the lenses pointed at me, Brody, and Mom. Brody and I are on each side of Mom, our arms around one another’s backs. Despite the craziness of the last week, I’m smiling wide. Mainly because of the nature around me and the two people I’m standing by, but also because of the handsome hunk behind the camera. And I don’t even care that I’m swooning over him like some drama teen in a YA novel. I’m taking my time to keep getting to know Max and decide if I want our relationship to be real or not before spiraling too much into my anxiety over his job.
“Let’s do one with just the girls, then the boys,” Mom says, pushing Brody to go stand by Max. “Get some with my phone too,” she adds and hands her phone to Max.
Mom and I are the same height. We put our heads together and smile. After a few different poses, we switch places with Brody and Max. We’ve exhausted every possible pose, even attempting (and failing) a good selfie with all four of us.
Mom takes her phone from Max. “Okay, Max and Sadie, your turn.”
My palms sweat and my cheeks burn.This is Max. Snarky, annoying Max. Not the man who kissed you an hour ago.
“How do you want to pose?” Max asks.
I don’t even get a chance to respond. Mom beats me to it. “If you want to give her another kiss, it’ll make a great shot!” Mom laughs.
Who is this woman and what has she done with my mother? I stare at Mom, perplexed that she’s so giddy about me and Max. She gave me quite the stink about the perils of pretending to date Max when I called her at the airport and told her our plans five days ago. Then, barely an hour ago, she told me to take my time with Max, and now she’s pushing us to kiss? “I think you’ve seen enough of that already.” And it’s making her crazy.
Brody tucks in his chin. “When and why did you two kiss?”
I gesture for Max to explain that one. It was his idea, after all (albeit a good one at the time).
Max clears his throat, scratching the back of his hairline. “There was a situation that happened earlier today that necessitated for Sadie and I to convince Dorian and Alice to leave us alone.”
“It may have been decades since I’ve been in the dating game, but those two?” Mom fans her face. “They have chemistry.”
“Okay!” I clap my hands once. “We’re done discussing this. Mom, will you get a few shots of us so we can all go eat?”
“Squeeze in nice and close.”
Max and I stand side to side, putting our arms around each other’s waists. Max’s palm is hot against my hip. My skin breaks out in goosebumps from his touch that mere hours ago was one more of comfort than elation. Oh man. I don’t know how I’m going to get through another week of fake dating Max when it’s like a faucet was turned on full blast and I’m being drenched with feelings and emotions. It’s a lot to process and deal with.
Max turns his head, whispering in my ear. “Are you okay? You seem squirmy.”
More goosebumps break out down my neck from his breath on my skin. “Just nervous about my grandma and Dorian,” I lie.
