Page 18 of Fake It Till We Fall
She blinked slowly. It was my last chance to take it back. To stop this madness before it went too far. But that wasn’t going to happen. I’d been waiting half my life to be this close to her again. If this were the only way, I’d take it.
Consequences be dammed.
“Okay,” I said again, firmer this time. “We’ll do this. For Willa.”
“For Grandma.” Harper nodded automatically. “But only until the holidays are over. I’m not going to make you… Well, you won’t have to pretend forever.”
“The holidays? What happens then?” I was pretty sure I already knew the answer, and I didn’t want to hear it.
She tugged on her knit cap that covered her dark hair, pulling it lower over her forehead. “I’m leaving after New Year’s,” she said. “I’m only here to get things sorted out for Grandma and the restaurant and make sure…well, make sure her health is okay.”
It felt as if she’d just punched me in the gut, which was ridiculous because up until a few days ago, I’d hardly even thought about Harper—liar.It shouldn’t matter whether she was in town for one day or one year. The two of us and my feelings for her were ancient history—liar!
I worked hard to keep my face neutral. “Okay. Just for the holidays, then,” I said. “After that, we’ll sort out some kind of believable breakup and you’ll go…wherever you’re going to go and I’ll…” I swallowed hard. “I guess I’ll stay here.”
Just like last time.
Relief washed over her features, softening the tight lines around her mouth. She nodded quickly and reached for my hand. “Thank you, Gray.”
When she squeezed my hand, shock waves crashed through my body, and I knew, just like when we were kids, I’d do anything for her.
Anything.
“There’s just one thing,” I said. “If we’re going to do this, it has to look real to everyone else.”
Her brow furrowed. “Everyone else? Shouldn’t it look real to everyone?”
“My brothers need to know the truth.” I saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes, but it was a nonnegotiable. “Reid tried to pull this with Avery,” I told her.
“Tried?”
“I knew right away,” I said. “And he will, too.”
“Twin thing?” Her lips twitched up into a smile.
“Twin thing.” I laughed. “Only it pissed me off, and it all nearly blew up in his face. I’m not doing that. They need to know the truth. But the rest of the town? They’ll believe every second of it.”
Something flickered in her eyes, and she blew out a breath.
“Okay, your brothers can know. But no one else.”
I nodded.
“So.” I blew out a breath and let myself smile fully. “I guess we start right now.”
“Now?”
“No time like the present, right?” Before I could stop myself, I stepped toward her and brushed my lips against her cheek. I barely touched her, but it didn’t matter; it was enough to send a shock through me.
Harper froze, then blinked and looked up at me with parted lips. “That felt…” She shook her head quickly, as if she were afraid to say what she was thinking.
And what I was feeling too.
“Like a good start,” I finished for her. “Let’s go out tonight?”
“Tonight?”
“Why not? I mean, if you’re only here for the holidays, we should probably get started.” I took a step back, forcing a little bit of space between us. I shoved my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her again.
