Today’s the day.
The official audition or the "formality," as Will calls it.
I wake up far earlier than I need to, but that’s nothing new. Lately, my mornings start the same way. Reaching for my phone, craving just a few more messages from Amy.
She doesn’t even realize how much of my day revolves around her now.
Will calls it catfishing. And sure, there’s a half-truth in what I’m doing, but there are no lies.
Sometimes, a small, reckless part of me wants her to figure it out… to put the pieces together and see through the deepfake. Maybe then we could start from a place of truth.
But I don’t need to know her well to understand how much she avoids the spotlight.
She’s the kind of woman who doesn’t seek or want the public eye. And anyone in my life is bound to suffer under it.
I know that.
I know the selfless thing would be to tell her the truth, apologize, and call it quits before it’s too late.
I’ve typed the message more than once.I’m sorry, Fangirl. I’m not who you think I am.And every time, I delete it. Because I want her smile more than I want to be honest, and that makes me the worst kind of coward.
But I’m already in too deep.
And I don’t want to let go.
Instead, I do what I always do.
I pull up my private account on Instabook—the one no one knows about—and check her latest post.
A new photo of Pea.
The one-eyed bastard is curled up against her chest, his latest hand-crocheted eyepatch sporting the Brazilian flag.
I chuckle, shaking my head.
Even her cat is living a more interesting life than I am.
An unexpected flicker of jealousy stirs in my chest.
Over adamncat.
I sigh and press the button on my espresso machine,the rich aroma filling the kitchen as Lucy, my faithful housekeeper, moves around preparing breakfast.
The precisely measured fruit. The carefully portioned protein.
Prince Anlon, I remind myself.
I need to be Prince Anlon today.
Not Eli.
Not Jake Hollander.
Justhim.
I settle on the balcony, my cup in hand, waiting for Lucy to bring my food. Below, the infinity pool gleams under the early sun, its still water a perfect mirror of the sky. Just beyond it, the private beach stretches toward the ocean, the tide rolling in.
The scent of salt and sand drifts up, and for a brief moment, as the waves hit the shore, there’s peace.
