Page 47 of Bottle Shock
“If you stayed here, you wouldn’t have that issue with your neck.”
That earns me an eye roll.
I huff out a laugh. “Being stubborn won’t make your neck feel better.”
Her lips lift into a devious grin, eyes bright. “Maybe not, but it keeps my pride intact.”
She turns to leave, offering me a wave without bothering to look back. “We’ll talktomorrow.”
She’s halfway to the driver’s side when she stops and spins back around, finger lifted like she just remembered something important.
“Wait—if we’re supposed to be a couple, we need nicknames. Cute ones. Something believable.”
I cock my head and pretend to ponder it. “Funny you should say that. I was actually thinking about that earlier.”
Her eyes narrow, suspicious. “You already have one. Don’t you?”
“Maybe.” I let the corner of my mouth tilt up.
She crosses her arms. “Care to share with the class?”
“It’s cheesy,” I warn. “Like incredibly cheesy.”
“Gavin.” She says my name like a threat and a dare.
“Starlet,” I say. “Since you’re an actress. It’s a little different than the basic sweethearts and honeys.”
She blinks at me like she’s not sure what to make of it.
“Well, I don’t hate it,” she concedes. “Which is honestly a miracle. I just really appreciate that it’s not something cringey like ‘kitten.’”
I school my face into disappointment. “Damn. That was my second choice.”
She makes the most dramatic gagging noise I’ve ever heard. “Okay, well, good to know. I would’ve annulled our fake marriage immediately.”
I laugh—and then I ask, “Alright, your turn. What are you calling me?”
She taps her chin, pretending to think. “Hmm. Let’s see. I could go with something suave. Something rugged.” She pauses, eyes sparkling. “But I’m feeling…Daddy.”
I choke—very attractively, I assume. “Absolutely not. My daughter used to call me that. I can’t—no.”
She completely loses it—full head thrown back, laughing. “I was kidding. I could never say it with a straight face. Even I’m not that good of an actress.”
I give her a flat look. “At least we can agree on that.”
She tries to sober up, pressing her lips together to stop smiling. “Alright, alright. How about Gav? And sometimes your last name since I already do that anyway?”
“Works for me,” I say. Because I’m pretty sure I’d let her call me whatever she wants.
Even Daddy.
Not that I’m ever saying that out loud.
She steps back, giving a little mock-curtsy. “Starlet and Gav it is.”
CHAPTER 13
Scottie
