Page 38 of Fa-La-La-La Faking It
She shrugged and still didn’t fully meet his gaze. Her attention seemed to be fixed someplace on his forehead. “Like I told you, my brother’s wedding is that night, and I’m sure you don’t want to be stuck with me on Christmas Day.”
Oof.
“That would be the worst,” he deadpanned.
Her gaze narrowed. Surely she didn’t believe him. “Wouldn’t you rather spend that day with family?”
That most likely meant Gus and whatever Christmas dinner the senior center had planned, since the odds of getting his uncle to a church, restaurant or even back to the house for the day were slim to none.
“Midnight on Christmas Eve works for me,” he said, evading her question. “What’s rule number two?”
“As little involvement in each other’s family lives as possible. This isn’t going to end well if my gram falls in love with you. Maybe you can turn down the charm a notch or three when you’re around her.”
Jace felt himself smile. “You find me charming?”
“I didn’t say that. I said Gram might think you’re charming.” Adaline squared her shoulders. “Until quite recently I thought you were still an obnoxious fifth grader, remember?”
“Got it. As little family involvement as possible.” Jace’s temples were starting to ache. “Go ahead and hit me with rule number three while my ego is still somewhat intact.”
“No more terms of endearment when we’re alone together.” Fuzzy started squirming as if he had his own problems with these silly rules. She let him down and he made himself scarce to lick an invisible crumb off the floor by the pink Christmas tree. “You can’t call me sweetheart. It’s...”
“Nice?” Jace suggested.
He’d been trying to help her feel better about lying to her family. He’d been trying to make things better, not worse.
Adaline glared at him.“Confusing.”
“Good to know. Shall I go back to Ada-lame, then?” Jace shot back.
Was she intentionally trying to start an argument because things were feeling a little too real between them?
Washe?
Adaline quivered with indignation. “I see fifth grade is finally starting to come back to you in crystal clear focus.”
“What else? Surely, there are more rules.” He had a full-blown headache now. How had things devolved this far?
Look around, genius. She’s scared.Jace ran a hand through his hair, tugging hard at the ends.You are too. You’re just better at hiding it.
“Just one more.” Adaline held up a finger. “No PDA unless other people are watching.”
“That’s literally the definition of PDA.” Jace formed air quotes, because evidently this conversation had set him back years on the maturity scale. “‘Public display of affection.’ Get it?”
“You know what I mean. No hand holding, no canoodling and no kissing unless it’s for the benefit of an audience,” she said primly.
Canoodling?Who even said that?
Jace regarded her while she stood there blushing so red she could guide Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. “The kiss rattled you that much, did it?”
“You’re impossible,” she said, but it came out too breathy. Too loaded with the memory of his lips on hers. They both knew it.
“So I’ve heard.”
The romantic tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. For a second, Jace wasn’t sure if she was going to throw herself in his arms and kiss him or if he was about to take a pie to the face. Neither would’ve surprised him a bit.
He nudged a nearby pie pan out of her reach. “That kiss was your idea, but rest assured, it won’t happen again unless you initiate it. Regardless of who’s watching.”
A flash of...something...glittered in her eyes, as blue as the bluest of Christmases. “Good. So we’re on the same page.”
