Page 8

Rules. Despite what Felix said and my past history, I still believed we needed them . Th e whole fake dating thing could go completely off the rails if not . Take that kiss, for example. Totally inappropriate.

And amazing.

I shut down the voice inside my head and turned back to the list on my phone.

Pros of Kissing Felix

1) Releases stress.

2) Natural source of serotonin.

3) He smells amazing.

4) The best distraction.

5) It feels good.

Too good.

Shaking that off, I refocused on the task at hand. There wasn't anything under Cons of Kissing Felix yet. Something about that bothered me. I quickly added "Feels too good." I knew there had to be more, several reasons why our mouths touching was a bad idea—which was why I was seriously considering if No Kissing should be our first rule—but before I could come up with anything, the band finished their encore and began bustling around backstage.

HERS's second show went even better than the first.

And it wasn't just because my mind was too full of a certain someone to get anxious.

Or because my lips were still tingling from Felix's kiss.

Though they definitely were.

Or because every time I looked at him, a little jolt ran through me . Like now. When I glanced over my shoulder, he was putting away his bass guitar. I got lost, watching the way his hands ran along the instrument, unable to forget how he held me earlier . M y fingertips went to my mouth at the memory, and suddenly, Felix paused. Wondering what caused the disruption, m y eyes moved up…only to find him staring right at me.

Felix's gaze was piercing—and perceptive.

He couldn't possibly know what I was thinking, right?

His lips tipped up, and I blushed, looking away.

Note to self: my fake boyfriend may or may not be a mind reader . Must keep thoughts of him to a minimum.

I studiously avoided looking at him again, tuning in to the band's conversation instead.

"Man, the fans were loving us tonight," Hayden said.

"They love me and my triangle," Santino corrected.

I swallowed a laugh while Hayden shook his head.

"You think everyone loves you," the guitarist said.

"Because 99 percent do."

My curiosity got the better of me, and I asked, "What about the other one percent?"

Santino threw me a glance and grinned. "Well, I haven't met everyone yet, Aurora. And there 's like a handful of people who simply have no taste."

Another laugh bubbled up, this one I couldn't fight back. But Santino's grin widened, so I knew he didn't take offense. Elliot joined us with a quiet scoff.

"San, you're good," he said as he handed off his microphone to one of the crew members, "but you can't possibly think that's all for you."

"Why not?" Santino gestured to himself. "Look at me."

He shot me a wink, and I felt it, the magnetic pull he so easily exuded. People around the world would fall at his feet; men and women didn't stand a chance when faced with that much charisma. But…though objectively , I recognized how attractive Santino was, his good looks and charm did nothing for me. I couldn't help but compare his over-the-top personality with Felix's laidback, sometimes surly attitude . S antino's grin with Felix's smile—which I rarely saw, but it made an appearance tonight . My cheeks heated as I remembered him throwing me that small smile more than once during the concert, how it made the organ in my chest stutter every time.

Ryker stepped up next to Santino. "I agree. They're going crazy over something else."

The crowd was still roaring. The band stepped off stage minutes ago, and yeah. I t was clear from the volume HERS had a dedicated following.

"And I think we all know what that is," Hayden added.

When I straightened after packing my violin, they were all looking at me.

"What are you guys doing?" Felix said, and I startled.

Correction, they were looking at us .

Felix was suddenly, soundlessly at my side.

"You have to stop doing that," I mumbled.

He lifted a brow. "Doing what?"

"Appearing out of nowhere, sneaking up on people."

"I don't sneak."

"Yeah, you kinda do."

"Not my fault you're unobservant, princess."

"Please," I said. "You're so quiet it's like you move around on soft kitten paws."

Felix lifted a brow. "I'm more of a dog person."

Internally, I whooped. I couldn't wait to tell Viola. Felix love s dogs.

Somehow, I'd known that already.

But I couldn't place how… Maybe it was just intuition? One dog lover recognizing another? But it felt like more than that.

My brow furrowed. "Well, you could be a ninja assassin then."

"Always wanted to be a ninja," he said with a nod, and I shook my head as he grinned.

When I looked back to the band, they were each wearing amused and/or smug expressions.

"What's up?" I asked.

Ryker crossed his arms. "Why don't you tell us?"

At my confused look, Elliot said, " Ignore him. We're just enjoying the flirting."

I choked on a laugh. " That's not…I mean, we weren't doing that."

"Yeah, okay."

Hayden shrugged . "Looked like flirting to me."

"There was a definite spark," Santino said, and I literally rolled my eyes at his too-innocent expression.

"Ferora," Ryker said.

"Huh?" I said.

"That's why the fans got so into it—or at least part of it."

"Of course," Santino said, shaking his head. "How could I forget about Ferora?"

Felix sighed as I tried to understand.

"Who's Ferora?" I asked.

Elliot was the one who answered.

"You are," he said.

"Nah," Hayden said, "I like AF better."

I blinked.

"It's more badass. Plus, it puts Aurora first ."

The pieces fell together, and I tilted my head. "Are you saying Felix and I have a couple name?" I asked.

"Two names . You hadn't heard?"

"No."

I turned to Felix.

"Did you know about this?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said.

"It's all over social media," Hayden added.

I nodded slowly. "Ah, okay. This was Izzy , right ? T rying to play up our relationship?"

"Actually, it was the fans," Izzy said, coming over to join our little group and smiling like the cat that caught the canary. "They love you and Felix. Ferora is just a byproduct of that."

Santino gave a shrug. "It's not as catchy as Sizzy," he said. "But you know, you gotta work with what you have."

Ignoring him and his use of their couple name, Izzy threw me a grin. "You two really played it up out there. All that blushing, those little, intimate smiles? Pure gold."

"Bet I could make you blush."

This time the publicist turned to give Santino a cold glare. " Are you still talking?"

He gestured to her face. "Your cheeks are getting red now."

"That's called annoyance."

"Or unresolved sexual tension."

"You wish."

"I do wish."

With a huff, Izzy spun on her heel and left me and the guys staring after her.

"You need to watch it," Hayden said to his friend. "She's the best social media person we've ever had, not one of your fangirls."

"One day," Santino said, gazing at where Izzy had disappeared. "One day, she's going to say yes."

Elliot shot him a look. "My money's on her decking you first."

"I'm with him," Ryker said.

"She'll kill him and ask us to help bury the body," Hayden agreed.

"You guys, Izzy loves me ." Santino smiled. "She just doesn't know it yet."

"I could see her falling for you," I said.

"Thank you, Ror . You're my new favorite."

As he drew me into a quick hug, I couldn't help but notice Felix's eyes narrow. They stayed that way as the hug ended, fixed on Santino's hand on my waist.

A beat passed.

"Want to head out?" Hayden said. "Security's supposed to meet us at the exit and walk us to the bus."

Before anyone could answer, my fake boyfriend interrupted.

"Why are you still touching her?" Felix said.

Santino immediately backed away, hands up. "Sorry, didn't realize you guys were the real deal."

"We're not," I said quickly.

"Ferora," Elliot said with a grin.

"Ferora," Hayden agreed.

Ryker took a few steps and threw his arm around Felix . "Only 18, and you already got yourself a fake girlfriend and a couple name. How sweet."

Felix shrugged him off.

"Jealousy looks good on you, brother."

My eyes widened at that.

Was Felix really jealous?

Of me and Santino?

There was no way.

"Doesn't matter if it's real or not," Felix said finally . "The public thinks it is, and I don't want anyone saying my girlfriend's cheating on me."

"I would never do that," I said.

"Good to know."

"Ferora's not so bad, I guess," I said with a faint smile, trying to lighten the mood. "What do you think?"

He eyed me a moment then said, "I like AF."

I liked both, so—

"Anything with your name and mine together sounds good."

Wait…what?

Felix shook his head . "Too easy. "

"What?"

"Making you blush," he said. "It's fun."

"As fun as this is," Hayden cut in, holding up his phone, "Taylor just texted. Essie's threatening to leave if we're not on the bus in two minutes."

With that, we made a mad dash to vacate the venue. Security met us by the doors leading outside . Nervousness filled me, but I steeled myself for what was to come. We were about to walk out into a pretty large crowd of people who'd apparently hung around, waiting for the guys . I could hear them on the other side of the door .

Right before we stepped over the threshold , Felix offered me his hand. I looked up at him in question.

"Wouldn't want you to get lost," he said.

I saw right through him. "I'm not helpless, Felix."

"I know."

He didn't move.

"Girlfriends hold hands with their boyfriends, right?" he said.

"You mean fake girlfriends," I said.

"Whatever."

Despite his words, I couldn't shake the feeling he was doing this for me, that Felix somehow sensed my tension and didn't want me to have to walk out there alone.

"Princess?" he said.

"Right," I said with a nod.

Placing my palm in his, I ignored the tingles racing up my arm as his fingers closed around mine, and we rushed onto the bus. Once there, Felix let me enter first, walking close behind me up the steps. Essie's disapproving frown turned into a bright smile as I passed, and following her gaze, I realized we were still holding hands. I knew Felix would extricate himself as soon as we were completely inside . Our relationship was for show after all.

But for some reason, he didn't.

I came to a stop wondering why—but I couldn't think about it too long because in the next second a person-sized blur of motion threw themselves into Felix's arms . He fell back a step on impact, causing him to drop my hand.

"Whoa," he said.

"Fe, it's been too long!"

It turned out the blur was actually a girl—well, a young woman . She smelled like fresh flowers and honey. After a moment, she pulled back, and I got my first glimpse of her face. She was beautiful, effortlessly so, the kind of gorgeous that made people stop in their tracks. Flowing dark brown hair, flawlessly shaped eyebrows above brilliant ice blue eyes, pink heart-shaped lips, perfect teeth. Her smile was directed at Felix, and I felt myself drawing inward.

"Why haven't you written or called? It's been forever," she said.

"Been busy," Felix mumbled.

"Too busy for me?"

He grunted, and she just shook her head like he was the cutest thing.

"Well, I know you missed me," she said and raised her voice to encompass everyone on the bus. "I know you all did—even if some people won't say so."

Then her eyes landed on me.

"Hey," she said, "I don't think we've met."

I swallowed.

"Oh, I love meeting new people."

She not-so-discreetly nudged Felix with her elbow.

"Fe, introduce me to your pretty friend."

Friend, I thought.

The word sounded inadequate, wrong somehow. Felix and I weren't really friends—but we also weren't dating. Which begged the question: what even were we?

And as for the "pretty" comment, I gave a mental scoff.

Next to this girl, I felt like an ogre.

Which was weird because I tried hard not to fall into the trap of comparing myself to other people. Must be a side effect of seeing her hug Felix—which was concerning on so many levels. Had they hooked up? Was she his actual friend—or something more?

I braced myself.

Felix rolled his eyes then said, "London, we both know you can introduce yourself, but since you insist, this is Aurora, my girlfriend."

My breath hitched . As his eyes met mine, I hoped he couldn't see how much the words affected me.

"Aurora, this is—"

"What are you doing here?" a low voice interrupted.

Ryker was standing behind me, staring at our new visitor, his features marred by a deep scowl.

London crossed her arms, meeting his glare head on. "I came to see the show and catch up with some of my favorite people."

His look darkened. "Who let you on the bus?"

"I did," Essie spoke up from the driver's seat. "You got a problem with that?"

Silence was the only response.

"It's nice to see you again, Ryker," London said.

The guy behind me bristled . "Is it?"

Ignoring this, she said, "You're not nearly as scary as I remember."

"And you're just as annoying as I remember."

My jaw dropped as I peered over my shoulder. Ryker was usually such a nice guy. I mean, sure his appearance was menacing, what with his size and the whole tall, dark, and silent thing he had going on. But I'd never heard him be so cold to anyone.

Except London.

Ryker didn't take his eyes off her for a second. He opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, Elliot stepped forward and clucked his tongue.

"Now, now, kids, play nice," he said.

The drummer's eyes went to him. "Why should I?"

"Because she's my baby sister, and I'd have to kill you if you hurt her feelings."

Sister?

My eyes widened as Elliot threw his arm around London, and she laughed.

"Thanks, bro," she said, "but I don't need you to protect me. I can do that myself ."

Ryker didn't move a muscle.

"And baby sister?" London gave a scoff . "Just because you were born like five minutes before doesn't make you older."

"Actually, that's exactly what it means," Elliot replied.

Hayden and Santino called London's name, and she started to turn then stopped. Her smile was as big as ever when her eyes met mine. "Aurora, it was so nice meeting you."

"You too," I said.

"If you ever want to know anything embarrassing about the guys, just hit me up."

I nodded.

Her eyes went back to Ryker, and she shook her head. "Lovely talking to you as always."

He didn't respond, and she didn't wait for him to.

But as she walked away, his stare stayed fixed on her.

When she sat next to guys.

When she laughed.

He was still looking.

"My brother has a thing for London," Felix said quietly.

"No, I don't," Ryker muttered then pushed past him to sit at the table—where his eyes went right back to her.

Felix looked down at me and lifted a brow. "He does."

"So, he's in love with his friend's little sister," I said. "That must be…complicated."

"It is," he agreed.

"Almost as complicated as having a fake relationship."

Felix sent me that small smile of his. "Almost."

Why did my heart have to react so violently to him?

And why, oh why was I so relieved when Felix's eyes didn't stray her way once?