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“To make the lie seem more true.”

“I told you, Elia, I don’t need to lie to my friends.”

“You’re lying to Lauren. And Rosie.” Elia stared at her directly. “And I don’t blame you for wanting to do it, either. Rosie is…” Elia paused, searching for the right word, “obnoxious.”

Kamryn snorted. “That’s the understatement of the century.”

“That’s yet to be proven. I imagine I know more about you than you about me.”

“Why would you say that?” Kamryn asked.

“Because I was your teacher. I know who your parents are, and I know about your brother and sister, and I know about some of your hobbies and interests growing up.”

“Oh really? Like what?” Kamryn finished off her drink quickly and leaned in, trying to test Elia. She wanted to know. “What are my hobbies?”

“You’re a book lover.”

Kamryn paused at that. She couldn’t remember the last time she picked up a book that didn’t have something to do with education or leadership. But Elia wasn’t wrong. She used to have her nose buried in a book for hours every night. It was to the point that her roommate would yell at her to turn the lights off, but sometime during college that had all ended. “I used to be, yeah.”

“Used to?” Elia seemed surprised by that.

“I haven’t read a fiction book for fun in a very long time.” Kamryn swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. “Do you read?”

“Classical literature and poetry.”

“Poetry?” Kamryn grinned at that. “You’ll have to share some with me. Do you write it, too?”

“No.” Elia’s voice sounded breathy. Had she attempted to write it at some point and then given up?

“Why don’t I believe you?” Kamryn teased.

“Not one single idea.” Elia gave her a full smile then. She was stunning, her lips curling upward, the crow’s-feet at the corners of her eyes, the fullness of her cheeks when she was truly happy. This was the Elia that Kamryn wanted to see every day, the one who was easy and relaxed, kind to herself.

“Well, I’m going to pry that answer out of you one day or another. Oh, I think I forgot to mention that there’s a brunch the day after the wedding. It’s for close friends and family, so we’ll be expected to be there.”

“We?” Elia pointed with two fingers and her thumb between them, moving her wrist back and forth. “They expect you, Kam. Not me.”

“But you’re mygirlfriend.So now you’re included in that.”

Elia’s cheeks reddened slightly. “Careful now or I might start believing that word. I did want to bring one thing up before we start this.”

“Start what?” Kamryn continued the tease, pushing into it.

Elia, rightfully, ignored her comment. “I want to keep our fake-dating and work as separate as possible. So I wanted to ask how connected Lauren is to the school.”

“Oh.” The mood sobered instantly, and Kamryn missed the gentle flirting they were both joining in on. “I agree about keeping this separate. There’s no reason for anyone here to know that we’re attending events together as friends. That’s not unusual. But as far as Lauren… she’s not that connected to the school. I stayed far more connected than she did.”

“She mentioned something about the reunion.”

“That was odd, because she’s never mentioned wanting to come before then.” Kamryn scratched the back of her head. “She came to our ten-year one but only because I made her come. And trust me, it wasn’t a pleasant night for either of us because of that.”

“All right.” Elia didn’t seem fully satisfied with that response, but she didn’t seem to want to push for a deeper answer, either.

“No one else from the school will be there. None of the rest our circle went to Windermere.”

“That makes me feel slightly better.” Elia seemed to perk up at that, and Kamryn was glad to see it. She wanted Elia to stay in this place, a place where she was happy and joyful, and probably more relaxed than Kamryn had ever seen her.

“Good. I’m looking forward to this…adventure.”