Page 60 of The Fine Art of Faking It
“You go first,” she insisted. “I like to sit on the aisle.”
Everything was a power play with Eden, but Davis considered her agreeing to watch a movie alone in the dark with him a bigger victory.
Ever since she’d kissed him that first time at Peace of Pizza he’d been able to think of little else. She’d caught him by surprise as had the kiss itself. That supposed fake lip lock had unlocked a very real hunger in him. And blown every teenage fantasy he’d ever had out of the water.
Davis waited until Eden settled in next to him before sliding his arm around her shoulders. She tensed against him. “There’s no one here,” she pointed out.
Yep. And he was going to take advantage of that fact.Davis was pretty damn sure one of his more colorful Eden-centered fantasies in high school had involved an empty movie theater.
“Someone could walk in late. This way we make sure they get the happy couple picture,” he told her.
“Hmm.” She remained unconvinced, but Davis was feeling particularly persuasive today.
With what he took as reluctance, Eden offered him her popcorn bag.
He took a handful and lazily stroked his free hand over the softness of her sweater sleeve.
“Have a good day?” Davis asked.
“Uh. Yeah,” she said, giving him the side-eye.
“What? You don’t want to make small talk?” he teased. “Just pretend I’m one of your guests.”
Eden cleared her throat. “I’m not actually used to talking to someone every day. This whole ‘dating’ thing is kind of weird. I mean, we talked yesterday when we went for custard and checked out the high school art show. And the day before that was our dinner date. More talking.”
“You can’t bethatrusty at dating,” Davis pressed.
She crinkled her nose. “It’s been a while since I’ve dated anyone seriously… or fakely. What about you? Were you Mr. Monogamous Relationships before you moved back?”
It was his turn to clear his throat. “I dated. Had a handful of long-termish relationships, but nothing that ever felt serious.”
“What about since you moved back?” Eden wasn’t pretending to look at the blank screen anymore. She was staring right at him.
“You mean before you swept me off my feet?”
“Har. Har.”
He grinned at her. “Dating in Blue Moon is… difficult,” Davis decided.
“It totally is,” she agreed. Davis felt like he’d won big on a scratch-off. Theyagreedon something. “I’ve actually never dated anyone from town since high school. Everyone’s always—”
“Watching,” he filled in.
“Yeah. It’s hard to focus on being funny and smart and charming and girl-next-door-y when an entire town is watching your every move, waiting for you to get your feelings hurt and damage some personal property again.”
He shifted in his seat. “I hope you don’t feel that people are still judging you on that.”
“My mug shot ran inThe Monthly Moon. Your parents still call me Vandalism Moody every time they see me. And rumor has it that same mug shot hangs in your tasting room so your employees know not to serve me.”
Davis shook his head. “I took it down my first day back. And my parents are professional grudge-holders. You can’t take it personally. Someday, I’ll tell you the story of the Cleary department store clerk who dared to refuse my mother’s expired coupon.”
Eden smiled wryly and he knew there was more to her feelings than what she’d grudgingly shared.
He leaned in just a little closer. “You know what I just realized?”
She ran her tongue over her lower lip. “What?” she asked softly.
“You’re literally the girl next-door. I’m living every guy’s fantasy right now.”
