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NICKY

R onan stomps up the path to his house with me draped over his shoulder. Like I’m a bath towel or something. I kick and wiggle the whole way.

“Put me down, Ronan,” I beg between my uncontrollable giggles.

“As your practice boyfriend, I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

I can hear the mirth in his voice. “Because I don’t want to.” He casually caresses my butt. “Also, my sister is on her way and she already started texting, asking about you.”

Ronan elbows open his front door and toes out of his shoes on the mat.

Three women decorating the hallway stop to stare at Ronan and me.

“Oh, hey, ladies,” I awkwardly—and upside down-ly—say to Karli, Daphne and Layla. I give them an embarrassed wave.

“Um, hey,” Daphne says, eyebrows raised as Layla chuckles.

Ronan finally puts me down on my feet. “Package delivered. My work here is done.”

I punch the giant of a man in the shoulder as he strolls off toward the kitchen, very pleased with himself. “Look at all the help you already have. You don’t really need my assistance.” Breathlessly, I look around, smoothing down my hair and clothes.

“Just want you here, Nicky. Everything’s better when you’re around.” He flashes me a lethal wink one second before he disappears around the corner.

The three women exchange some knowing grins. Layla is literally fanning herself. “Phew!” And I can tell they’re all wondering what the hell is going on between Ronan and me.

Before they start asking questions, I eagerly jump in. “Anything I can help with?”

These girls are angels, though. Because whatever questions they have in their eyes about me and Ronan, they don’t ask.

Karli grins handing me a packet of balloons in various shades of pink and a small pump. “Balloons. So many balloons.”

A short while later, the rest of the Brighton family arrives.

I love seeing them all together, and my chest aches with how much they remind me of the Westbrook crew. They’re a bunch of rowdy, obnoxious shit-raisers. All of them. And I love every minute of it.

Then there is Ronan.

Who doesn’t shy away from wearing a tutu and a tiara when his niece begs him to. Who jumps in to sing a whole Selena Gomez album on his karaoke machine when the main speakers go out. Who spends an hour giving piggyback rides to each and every party attendee under ten.

Even though Ronan is playing host to more than a dozen family members and a whole slew of six-year-olds, he’s still constantly making sure my drink is full and my belly is fed.Each time I’m pulled away by one of his family members, Ronan always seems to find me and check on me.

I catch Mason watching us knowingly on more than one occasion then whispering together with Karli. And Darius, especially, keeps giving me suspicious looks all night, like he’s trying to figure out what’s going on with my assignment and me. But I’m having way too much fun to be uptight and self-conscious the whole time. Eventually, I just let my hair down and go with the flow of the day.

Although I won’t admit it to Ronan, I’m glad he dragged me—kicking and screaming—to this party. It’s truly the first time I’ve truly felt at home since coming here to Starlight Falls.

I know our relationship is pretend. It’s only practice. But more than that, it feels… dangerous.

Dangerous because I clearly see how I could so easily slip and fall right in love with him.

The party is a great time. There’s an elaborate unicorn cake, pinatas, games, and snack food galore.

At the end of the night when everybody is gone, and I’m still at the main house, helping Ronan clean up. He takes the half-full trash bag from my hand. His fingers brush across my skin, and I sizzle.

“See, today wasn’t so bad after all,” he says with a sexy grin.

“No, it wasn’t bad at all.” Not even a little bit.

Watching him interact with his family and all those kids today…Somehow, my eyes now see him in a whole new light.

“Seriously, thanks for helping me today. And thanks for coming. You being here really helped make the day special for my niece. And for me, too.” He smiles.

I shrug. “It’s what a good girlfriend would do.”

“Right.”

A comfortable silence settles in around us. The only sounds I hear are the fireplace crackling and my now heavy breathing.

I don’t know how a single, innocent touch has the ability to affect me so strongly. The air heats up between us. I try to fight it. I do.

Girl power! Boss babe! Ugh. Independent woman, who? I need to ride that dick.

“What…?” I eyeball Ronan, my stomach tingling.

His thumb hooks in the hem of my sweatshirt. “You’re pretty…”

I bite down on my lip. “Wanna practice—in the bedroom—tonight?”

“Fuck yes,” he breathes excitedly.

Barely waiting for his answer, I grab his face and kiss him senseless, capturing his words as they leave his mouth.