“I’m a lovebug.” I point to my springy antennae. “Obviously.”
“Obviously,” he deadpans, scrubbing a hand over his face.
“Ready when you are,” Kylie announces.
“Let’s go, Cupid.” I grab his elbow and tug. “The sooner we get started, the sooner we finish.”
We take our places before the backdrop and Kylie reminds us to smile, which, under normal circumstances, would probably be unnecessary, but since Nick’s involved…
The flash goes off and when Kylie checks her screen, she chuckles.
“I’m going to need you to smile, Nick.” She glances conspiratorially at him. “Otherwise, no one will believe the glowing testimonial you’re going to give ATX Party Rentals.”
I glance over just in time to see him grimace. “Please tell me that’s not the face you made for the picture.”
“What did you expect?” He shrugs and his wings flutter, nearly blinding me as they catch the light. “I’m a businessman, not an actor.”
Clearly. “It won’t kill you to smile. After all, you’re supposed to represent love and romance and finding your one true soulmate.”
He snorts. “That’s an awful lot of responsibility to pin on a dude who wears a diaper.”
“He’s a cherub,” I argue, dragging out the word for emphasis.
“And you think that makes it better?”
“Whatever. Pretend Epos just became the number one payment app or something.” I flick his wings with my finger. “And watch where you’re pointing those things.”
We turn back to the camera and Kylie snaps a few more pics.
“Maybe you could try moving a little closer together?” she suggests. “So it looks like you’re actually having fun. Together.”
I take a half step toward Nick and he does the same.
“Closer,” Kylie insists.
Nick’s face is unreadable, but he takes another step toward me. I do the same, reminding myself it’s just a picture. No big deal.
Our wings collide—because of course they do—and Kylie suggests we pose back-to-back.
We do as instructed and I don’t know if it’s the heat from the lights or Nick’s presence, but my temperature skyrockets when his body presses to mine, the backs of our thighs touching in a way that feels far more intimate than it should.
“Perfect!” Kylie crows. “Now just turn your heads to me and say Cupid.”
I sneak a peek at Nick and, to my surprise, he’s actually smiling. “You’re thinking about Epos, aren’t you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“I think it might be the first time I’ve seen a genuine smile on your face.”
He makes a dismissive sound and I laugh. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me, Cupid.”
The flash goes off several times in quick succession and by the time Kylie’s finished, I’m seeing stars.
Maybe Nick’s suffering the same affliction because he takes an awkward step forward, and I’m dragged right along with him.
“What are you doing?” I squeak, scrambling for traction.
“What am I doing?” He spins on his heel and my wing folds, wrapping around us like a cocoon as we come face-to-face. “What are you doing?”
