Page 77 of Things We Fake
“No one asked you for one.”
“I’m a kind soul,” she said philosophically. “I help when I can.”
Cam gave a cold, humorless laugh. “You’re many things, Britt. Kind isn’t one of them. And let me be clear—if you pull anything else, send anything to her house, post, call, so much as breathe in her direction, you and I are going to have a problem.”
“Oooh,” she cooed. “That sounds serious.”
“It’s going to be war.”
“Will there be any crossing swords?” she hissed playfully.
“I didn’t know that’s your thing now, but don’t count on me.”
There was a hostile silence. Then Brittany seemed to regroup. “If I have you, I don’t need any other… sword. You were always a one-man army in bed.”
Cam’s gaze met mine briefly, then we both looked away, twin shades of pink creeping up our faces.
“I’m only interested in my fiancée,” Cam said so convincingly I almost believed him.
“Fiancée?” Brittany laughed. “Oh, come off it, Cam. Are you really going to call my bluff and turn that article in the newspaper into some sort of twisted reality?”
“It’s not twisted, but it is a reality. I asked Susanne to marry me, and she said yes. I’m surprised you didn’t see our photos on social media. Her ring is almost as stunning as she is.”
I heard a thud, as though Britt had dropped her phone. Cam gave me a grin that radiated pure satisfaction. A few seconds went by, as though Britt wasscrolling through social media, searching for proof of our supposed engagement.
I knew exactly when she saw the ring—her gasp crackled through the speaker louder than a horror movie sound effect.
“You didn’t,” she whispered. “This is fake!”
“I sure as hell hope not. Tiffany’s don’t sell those things cheap.”
“You bought her a sapphire ring from Tiffany’s?” She sounded a lot more hurt about the ring than about losing the man.
“Yes, I did.” Cam’s tone was laced with pride. “We are engaged, officially. Everyone knows it. We’re getting ready to meet the parents and all that. Which is why I called. Leave Sue alone, or else. And trust me, Brittany, I’m not kidding around. You don’t want to face myor else.”
He ended the call before she could say another word.
We looked at each other. My mind still lingered on the one-army man in bed comment, but under Cam’s gaze I snapped to attention.
“You were right to suspect her,” he said. “I didn’t expect her to admit it, but I can see what she’s doing. She was trying to provoke me. I think she had a nasty surprise.”
“I can’t believe she didn’t know about the engagement. You said she might have eyes everywhere, that’s why we always hold hands and kiss and stuff…”
Cam jumped to his feet, ending my ruminations. “Have you had anything to eat yet? I’m starving.”
I stood, stretching a little. “I’m starving, too. Do you want to order something?”
He grinned. “I have a better idea. Howabout we go out?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cam
I sensed her silent protests as she imagined having to put on a dress, bra, makeup, nice shoes… I stopped her with a gesture.
“No fancy stuck-up restaurant. How about some burgers and fries, or maybe hot wings, and a drink? We’ll find a dive where the food is simple and delicious, and we can go in our sweat pants and no one will notice.”
Her eyes sparkled. “I know the perfect place.” Then she stopped dead in front of the massive sex swing box. “What do I do with this?”
