Page 28 of Making It While Faking It
I grin at my own joke. I mean, that was funny, but he’s frowning at me again.
“Why do you look at me that way?” I blurt.
He’s still doing it when he asks, “Look at you in what way?”
“Like you’re going to take an axe to my head. I mean, should I be worried?”
His frown intensifies. “Worried about what?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I mean, you keep a writing pen in a fish tank, and you display body parts around your house.”
I didn’t know his frown could turn more severe than it already was, but it does somehow. His lips part as if he wants to address what I said but can’t find the words.
I close my eyes to shake my head. What’s wrong with me? I pretty much called him a weirdo to his face. I squish my facial features together as more embarrassment blushes through me. “I’m sorry. And I’m also sorry about that kiss.”
Thankfully, his expression changes. The frown is gone, but he’s still staring at me as if he’s lost for words.
Finally, he clears his throat and says, “It’s okay. The kiss. I know why you did it.”
My eyebrows flash up. “You do?” I ask in a high-pitched tone.
“You were proving to your friends that we’re a real couple.” He looks at the smashed tip of his cigarette like he wishes he hadn’t ended its life. “It seems we have a huge problem convincing others that we’re together.”
I grunt facetiously as I mutter, “I wonder why?”
His head flicks slightly to one side. He’s thinking something about me. “I’m sorry for calling you a debutante. I don’t remember saying it, but if you do, then I’m sorry. You’re obviously not a debutante.”
That’s interesting. “Obviously?” My curious tone begs him to elaborate.
Finally, I get a real, robust grin out of Achilles Lord. “You’re…” he starts but then swallows.
Very quickly, his smile fades, and I wait for him to finish whatever he was going to say as kinetic energy swirls around us, lassoing us together.
“There’s someone we should talk to… a therapist,” he says, sounding strained.
“Talk to a therapist about what?”
“Us—doing a better job presenting as a couple. We have to make it believable.” His pause hangs. “If it’s going to work.”
I can’t take my eyes off his lips. They’re mesmerizing. They felt so soft against mine. Our kiss was as light as air. It was so sensual, easy, natural.
Oh no… I turn my head. Attraction forces me to look away from him and set my focus solely on the garden. It’s an English garden, and the fireflies are kindling around the flowers and the tall grasses. They’re always so happy around the peonies and dahlias. They also love hovering above the tranquil pond which is encircled by more flowers.
“Fireflies,” Achilles says.
I take a glance at him and then back at the pond. I love that his gaze has followed mine. Watching fireflies glow is steadily quelling the desire in my body. As usual, they’ve stolen my attention. I miss them. “Yeah,” I say with a sigh.
Loud chiming erupts, forcing me to look at the face of my cell phone. It’s my mom. I knew she’d call sooner rather than later. I have to go inside, but still, there’s something about this moment Achilles and I are sharing that’s signaling some sort of change. Being in his presence is finally easy, but then, it’s more than that. It’s as if standing next to him, watching the fireflies in silence, is something I could do all night long.
Families Dinner
TREASURE GROVE
Achilles stayed behind. He said he needed to make a phone call. But I think he wanted space to reset after the strange and stimulating moment we shared. My head felt like it was dancing in the clouds when I made it to the dining room, hugged my grandmother, and kissed my parents, then Xan and Heartly, and then my brother. Max doesn’t do hugs, but he and the storm cloud that he rode in on are present too. However, Achilles isn’t the only surprise guest. The older gentleman sitting next to my grandmother must be his grandfather. I don’t know his name, but Paisley does. He’s very handsome. If he’s any indication of how well the Lord brothers will age, then they have a lot to look forward to.
Then there’s a woman, who certainly is the Lord brothers’ mother. I remember her name is Marigold. She’s close to my parents’ age and is pretty, having a regal quality that people who have known no other lifestyle but money and privilege have. She’s already appraising me when I look at her. It’s as if she’s trying to see if I’m good enough for her favorite son or something.
As far as the mood, it’s odd. It feels like a shaky ceasefire hangs in the air. My grandmother and Achilles’s grandfather appear too syrupy. My dad looks as if he’s about to have a conniption. Xan has that faraway look in his eyes, as if he’d rather be anywhere else but here. My brother and Max are barely in their seats. I have a feeling they’re going to flee this scene at any moment. And then there’s Orion—he’s staring at me as if he’s a werewolf and I’m a fresh piece of meat. Although I missed the big announcement, I’m certain that Orion could give a damn about it. He likes to keep himself unburdened by commitment, work, and I’m certain family affairs too.
