Page 84 of Things We Fake
Cam's brow furrowed slightly. “For what it’s worth, I think your mother should be proud of you, not pressuring you into some Instagram-perfect marriage. You’re smart, funny, successful, and…” His gaze lingered, warming like slow sunlight. “Kind of a badass.”
I couldn’t stop a grin. “That must be the whiskey talking. Brittany thinks I’m boring.”
It was his turn to stop smiling. “No one cares what Britt thinks.”
We ordered another round of drinks, and when they arrived I took a long sip.
“I can’t believe she basically admitted to sending that sex swing,” I said, only half-aware I’d spoken out loud. “She must want you back really badly.”
His face darkened, and I regretted opening that can of worms.
“You’re giving her too much credit.” His tone was cold as the ice in his glass. “She doesn’t want me. At the very least she wants money, and she wants to win. Everything with her was a power struggle.”
“Sounds exhausting.”
He sighed, his eyes unfocused as though looking back to some heavy memories. “It was. She needed constant attention.”
“Well, I hate to admit it but she is a very beautiful woman. I could see why a man would go to so much trouble for her.”
Cam smirked. “She’s nothing extraordinary. Once you peel off her clothes, jewelry and makeup, you’re not left with much. I fell in love with her when I didn’t care if my women were able to carry a conversation.”
“You require that now?”
“I do. I want a woman I can talk to for hours without ever getting bored. A woman who is as beautiful inside as she is outside.”
He stared at me so intently I felt my heartbeats drum faster in my ears. All my pulse spots were throbbing with a dull ache that could only be cured by him.
I moistened my dry lips. “I thought… I mean, I assumed that you still have a thing for her.”
Cam burst into laughter, genuine and heartfelt. “God, no. I’d have to be the world’s biggest masochist. Believe me, I like pleasure, not pain. To give and to receive. Britt is truly just a nasty spot from my past.”
“But… You said you were faking an engagement with me to get rid of her.”
He looked me straight in the eyes. “I lied.”
I swallowed with difficulty. “Why?”
“For the same reason that I’ve been thinking about you for years. For the same reason why I haven’t moved out of Sebastian’s apartment. For the same reason I want everyone to think that you’re mine.”
My mouth opened, but nothing came out. There was too much heat in his gaze, too much truth in his voice, and not nearly enough oxygen in the damn bar.
Some part of me wanted to joke, to deflect with sass, to break the moment like I always did.
But all I could do was sit there and try to remember how to breathe. Because in that moment, fake or not, Iwanted to be his.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sue
The spell was temporarily broken by the karaoke DJ’s, whose voice crackled loudly through the speakers.
“Alright, folks, it’s time for another round of drunken regrets and questionable talent. Up next, we have… Cam and Sue!”
I was only half listening, so when the names hit me I nearly choked on my drink.
“Excuse me?”
Cam grinned wolfishly and jumped to his feet, offering me his hand. “Surprise. I signed us up when I went to the bathroom.”
