Page 8 of The Heart Shot
“Generally, the definition of a stranger.”
“—doing a couples photoshoot where they have to pretend to be in love.”
I choked on a gulp of tea. “You want me to dowhat?” I coughed out.
Maya gave me an innocent smile. “It’ll be fun.”
“By whose definition?”
My mom cleared her throat, setting down her spoon. Her stew bowl was completely empty.
“Jamie, I think you should help Maya. Do the photoshoot.”
My eyes narrowed, catching my cousin’s glance at my mom. Usually, my mom stayed out of the scheming, but it almost looked like…was she in on it? What had Maya told her before I arrived?
“I can’t pretend to be in love with a stranger,” I said, rubbing at my temple where a headache was forming. “Especially not on camera.”
“Come on,” Maya begged. “It’ll be fun. Elsie is amazing and I know that—”
“Elsie? As in your best friend, Elsie?”
I had never met my cousin’s best friend, but Maya constantly talked about her, especially with my sister off at college. Her lips pressed together in a line as she nodded.
“No.”
Maya’s brow furrowed in outrage. “Come on, Jam-Jam. I already told her you had agreed.”
The bread I’d eaten turned to ash in my stomach. “Why would you tell her that?”
Maya ran a hand through her blonde hair. “Because there’s no one else I can ask to do this, and you’re perfect for each other, and I want you two to meet.”
At least she didn’t beat around the bush.
I groaned. “Not this again.” The last time she tried to set me up with someone—several years ago—the girl had been a psycho. When I tried to tell her I wasn’t interested, she went nuts.
Handcuffs were involved.
I rubbed my wrist at the memory. The girl had handcuffed us together so I couldn’t break things off with her.
After a single date.
There was no way to “optimist” my way out of that one.
I hadn’t really been interested in dating back then and had only agreed to it because my mom and Maya had wanted me to.
I shook my head. “Didn’t you learn your lesson last time?”
Maya winced. “Okay, I admit Freya wasn’t a good fit for you, and I’ve apologized a thousand times.” I couldn’t help but cringe at the mention of the girl’s name. “But that was four years ago. I’ve given you plenty of time to trust me again.” She gave me a closed lip smile as she slipped a spoonful of stew into her mouth.
“Or maybe you should just not try to set me up with anyone.” I narrowed my eyes. “Have you been talking to Emma about this?”
Her eyes widened and she batted her eyelashes. “Jam-Jam, whyever would I do that?”
I huffed out a laugh, somehow unsurprised that my sister and cousin were conspiring to get me back into dating.
“Jamie, be nice,” my mother scolded. “She’s only trying to help you.” Maya’s head bobbed up and down in violent agreement.
Great, Mom is in on it, too.
