Page 21 of A Follow-Through in Faking
A text lights up my phone.
Santi: I’m here. The concert starts soon. We don’t have time for you to make me wait just to annoy me.
Me: But I love annoying you. It gives me great pleasure.
I finally smile as I pick up my purse, but it’s an evil smile. Definitely not an “I enjoy talking to Santi smile.”
Santi: How about I give you a different form of pleasure in exchange for not making me wait?
Me: I’d rather get a full-body wax after getting sunburned.
Santiago is smiling brilliantly as I make my way toward his brand-new car. He told me he picked it up yesterday, but he didn’t tell me it’d be a Spark Lightning Bolt in a muddy gray that shouldn’t look as good as it does. It’s a sports car, similar to my Velocità Rossa, but it’s sleeker. Sexier.
When his eyes catch me, they soften, and his attention lingers on the rainbow painted across my shirt, along with the words written underneath it.
“I love that shirt,” he says as I slip into the passenger seat. “Much better than the one you wore yesterday at training.” I almost snort at the reminder.
For our training session yesterday, I wore a shirt that said, “Eyes off my tits” on the front and “Eyes off my ass” on my lower back.
“You mean the shirt you completely ignored while doing both of the things it told you not to do?” I ask, raising both brows in challenge. Santi gives me a cocky smile.
“You’ve got a body to die for, Cata. I try to keep my eyes off you, but they always drift back anyway,” he says, making my heart tumble all over itself.
“Shut up, Santi,” I say, my cheeks heating. Turning my head away, I break eye contact and focus on slowing my nervous heartbeat.
“Sure, but then you’re in charge of the music because I can’t sit in silence.”
He told me it’s because he starts overthinking in silence, so he’d rather distract his brain. It’s a habit he’s had since he was diagnosed with depression as a kid. From what he’s told me, he’s found coping mechanisms so his symptoms have become more manageable over time—we may hate each other, but I do care about his mental well-being.
“What do you want to listen to?” I ask as I pick up his phone, studying the picture of his parents that he made his background.
My chest warms at the sight.
“Whatever you want.”
I’ll use any excuse not to talk to Santi before I risk feeling things I shouldn’t.
Things I’ve been suppressing since we were kids.
Chapter 10
Santiago
I’mnervous.Thisisthe first time Cata and I are going out, and the fact it’s for a fake date makes me want to run and hide forever. Usually, I’d be excited to go out and find a nice, beautiful person to lose myself in.
I won’t be losing myself in Cata tonight or… ever.
“Let’s get this torturous night over with,” Cata says, forcing reality back into my thoughts.
“With that pessimistic attitude, of course it’s going to be torture. But if you allow for the possibility of tonight to be fun, it could be!” I say, packing as much cheer into my tone as I can. Cata, my little rain cloud, frowns at me. “Fine, it’s going to be hell, but at least we’ll get to see Isabella Ada.”
That almost makes her smile.
“Thanks for making this our first date,cabrón,” she says and punches my shoulder. It’s too hard to be considered playful, butit doesn’t hurt either, so I’m too busy hyperfixating on the fact that she chose to put her hand on me. No matter how briefly.
“You can’t call me that tonight,” I remind her.
“Then let me get them all out now.cabrón,cabrón,cabrón. Okay, I’m good.” I burst into laughter, but Catalina opens her door and gets out of the car, leaving me to stare after her for a moment.
