“That’s debatable,” I muttered, hiding a smile.
He leaned back, watching me. “Seriously, though. I think we should actually talk. Call each other when we’re on the road. Share the boring stuff—what we had for breakfast, annoying publicist emails, weird dreams…”
“So, like… long distance besties with a fake dating clause?”
“See, you get it.” He winked. “I mean, if we show up together and can’t name each other’s families or favorite foods, we’re screwed.”
I nodded. “Okay. That makes sense. I like it.”
“Plus,” he said, a little softer, “I want to be your friend. This would feel kind of hollow if we weren’t.”
“Okay, then I’ll be yours too.”
A slow smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Good. I’m excellent friend material.”
“Oh yeah? What all do I get with that package?”
“Middle of the night pep talks. Bodyguard duties. And I’m not saying I bake when I’m stressed, but…”
I laughed. “You’re a stress baker?”
“Don’t spread it around. I’ve got a reputation.”
I smiled, warm all over. “Alright, Sawyer. Friends?”
“Friends.” He lifted his coffee in a toast. “To the weirdest, most public fake relationship friendship of all time.”
I tapped my cup against his. “Cheers to that.”
We lapsed into a quiet moment. Not awkward, just…reflective. Then he ruined it in the best possible way.
“So, tell me something random about you. Something someone wouldn’t know from the media. Something about just Ellie, not Ellie Miles. No pressure, but make it interesting. Like… totally obscure and random. Do you make your assistant separate your M&Ms by color?”
I chuckled. “No, but maybe I should start.”
He gasped. “Missed opportunity. I would totally do that if I were you.”
“Okay, fine.” I tapped my chin. “Something random… Okay, I’m obsessed with crime documentaries. Probably a little too much. I like to fall asleep to them playing.”
“Murder helps you sleep?”
“Yep,” I said with a smile.
“Too late to take back the friends thing?” he teased. “I might be a little scared of you now.”
I shrugged. “You should be. With everything I’ve learned, I could totally get away with murder.”
He leaned back dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. “And yet, here I am, willingly. What a beautiful, reckless man I am.”
He grinned at me, a slow, crooked smile that took over my entire brain. My gaze dropped to his mouth before I could stop it, and…what were we talking about? I couldn’t remember, which was a problem, considering I was supposed to be the one in control of this arrangement, not sitting here staring at my fake boyfriend's lips.
“Okay, big true crime girl,” he said, breaking the moment. “What else?”
I exhaled slowly, trying to steady myself. “Uh, I check my horoscope every day. I’m not sure I believe in it all, but it’s fun and often pretty spot on.”
“You’d like my brother’s girlfriend. She’s into that kind of stuff too.”
“Noah?”
