Page 30 of Acting Merry
I have to hand it to Cole. He understood the assignment. My two minutes of pretending to be his girlfriend for Bree look like a kindergarten class’s attempt at performing Hamlet compared to what Cole’s managed here. In no world do we come away from tonight withanyone thinking he’s not into me and I’m not into him. It’s entirely possible that not even I will see through the acting.
His two-date limit has undoubtedly given him ample practice with a whole roster of women. Maybe Bree isn’t as crazy as I thought. Maybe she just got wrapped up in Cole’s impossible charm. She thought she had something, and then it was gone as soon as she got it.
I feel kind of bad for her.
Whatever happens after tonight, I’m not going to be the next Bree. I’m going to let Cole go like the free spirit he is.
Even the most hopeless of souls can’t resist the atmosphere of a dark room lit by the glow of a TV screen playing a heartwarming holiday movie, the twinkling lights of a fully decorated Christmas tree in the corner.
Cole’s arm is still around me, and even though part of me is whisperingtime to start pulling back, Reese, there are two counter-arguments to overpower it.
First, the show is not over—literally (becauseHome Alonejust started) or metaphorically. We came here with a purpose, and that purpose is ongoing. I need to see this through.
Second, I get another two hours of this fun with Cole. I’m not about to waste it. We’ll go home, and that’ll be the end of it, but for now, I’m going to let myself enjoy cuddling up to my fake boyfriend while we watch a classic Christmas movie.
I pull the blanket up a little higher and snuggle deeper into him.
He glances down at me, the light of the TV screen reflecting in his blue eyes as they search my face.
I smile, and he smiles back—like he always does—before resting his head against mine to watch the movie.
This. This is what’s missing from my favorite nook at home. It’s almostperfect in its coziness, but having someone to snuggle up to like this?
That would make it heaven.
I want that heaven.
Maybe someday I’ll get it, but for now, I’ll settle for the fake version. Even in the pretend version, there’s a sense of belonging.
When we get to the part where the family leaves for Paris, Cole shifts next to me. He does it again when Kevin comes down the stairs to an empty house. I’m probably giving him a dead arm or something with the way I’m sitting.
I look up at him to ask, but the words stick in my throat at the little shimmer in his eyes. I lean forward slightly to make sure I’m not imagining things.
He glances at me, then clears his throat. “You want some popcorn? I think I saw some in one of the grocery bags.”
“Um, yeah,” I say, moving to let him out. “Want me to help?”
“I’ve got it.” He winks at me, and I wonder if Iimagined it all. Cole Bradley’s eyes gleam with mischief, not tears.
I watch him get up and walk to the kitchen, and my body gives a little shiver without his warmth right beside me. I miss him already.
He makes four bowls of popcorn and takes them around to each couple, then rejoins me.
“What’d I miss?” He wraps his arm around me and pulls me against him.
There’s nothing fake about how much I like it. “Wet bandits did recon, now Kevin’s getting groceries.”
He picks up a piece of popcorn and puts it in my mouth. “The right answer wasyou. I missed you.”
I let out a distinctively forced laugh and let my eyes skip over my friends as I chew. No one’s watching us. They’re all wrist deep in popcorn buckets, eyes glued to the screen.
“You’re kind of obsessed with me,” I say.
“You’re tellin’me.” He kisses my temple.
It’s the most confusing thing he’s done yet.
It’s all part of the fun, Reese.
