Page 49

I nod, my pulse still racing. I expect him to step back, put space between us.

He doesn’t.

He stays right there, hands still resting on my thighs, body still nestled between mine. He pulls his phone from his pocket with one hand and answers it without looking away from me.

“Yeah?”

His voice is clipped, distracted. His eyes are on my lips like he’s still thinking about kissing me.

And all I can think about is how badly I want him to do it again.

Eddie’s still standing between my legs, the heat of that kiss still lingering on my lips.

“Yeah. Reggie, now’s not—” His eyes flick to mine. “No, I didn’t forget… I’ve just been busy.”

I study his face as he listens. His expression tenses, jaw tight, lips pressed into a thin line. Whatever this call is, he doesn’t like it.

“Do I have to?” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “C’mon, there’s gotta be someone else who can represent—” He glances at me again, softer this time, but still clearly irritated. “Yeah. I get it. Fine. I’ll be there.”

There’s a beat of silence. He’s still watching me, eyes a little unreadable now. “Yeah. I’ll bring her.”

He hangs up, and I tilt my head. “Everything okay?”

He exhales through his nose, slipping the phone into his pocket. “I’ve got to go to this gala thing Saturday night. Some fancy label event.”

I nod slowly. “Doesn’t sound like you’re thrilled about it.”

His mouth pulls into a half-smile, all frustration and reluctance. “I’m not. But they want to meet my girlfriend.”

I blink, confused for a second. “Your—”

And then it hits me.

He means me.

Right.

Fake girlfriend.

A tiny sting flickers beneath my ribs, and I nod, plastering on a casual smile I don’t feel. “Yeah, sure. I can go with you. That’s… what I’m here for.”

I slip off the counter, needing to put space between us, needing to breathe. I feel stupid. For a second—just a second—I thought that kiss meant something more. That maybe this wasn’t fake anymore.

His hand finds my stomach, gentle but firm, stopping me in my tracks. He pulls me gently back into him, chest against my back, his head dropping to rest on my shoulder.

“Laney,” he murmurs. “What just happened?”

“Nothing,” I say quietly, keeping my tone light, pretending my heart isn’t cracking a little. I try to ease out of his hold, but he tightens his grip, wrapping both arms around me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear.

“Laney,” he growls again, voice low and rough.

I swallow hard, but say nothing. I don’t trust my voice.

Then his lips brush against the shell of my ear. “That kiss… it wasn’t fake.” His breath is warm, and the truth in his voice roots me to the floor. “I don’t know when the lines blurred, but they did. This feels real to me now.”

I turn in his arms, slowly, needing to see his face. His eyes are open, vulnerable in a way I’ve never seen before.

“It does to me too,” I admit. “But you’re going on tour. How would this even work?”