Apparently, my faking looks fake.
It’s a lot harder than it looks.
Axl and I make it back to the plane without saying much of anything to each other. I want to ask if he knew about the news story, but I don’t have the stomach to apologize for my failures right now. Once we get on the plane, it seems Axl has other plans than solitude. “He’s a loser, you know.”
“Pardon me?” I glance up from my phone and find him gazing at me with focus.
“Rocco. If that’s why you’re quiet.” He gestures toward me with an open palm. “I just want you to know he doesn’t deserve you. I hate seeing you so forlorn like this. Any guy would be lucky to even be in the same room as you.”
Like you.
My eyes rocket wide open, and I’m so glad I didn’t say that out loud. Somebody glue my mouth shut fast. “Er, thanks. Although, I’m definitely not thinking aboutRoccoanymore.”
“Oh.” He closes his mouth, and then opens it again. “I guess I was hoping, um, I mean,thinkingthat’s why you were so quiet. Are you upset about something else?”
“No.” I pause, sucking back air, preparing to explain how I ruined this for both of us, but as I open my mouth, he speaks first.
“I’m sorry I messed it up.” He spikes a hand through his hair. “I don’t get a lot of practice at this sort of thing, and last night I saw that photographer take our photo, and I tried to get it back, but it was too late.”
“You didn’t mess it up.” Astonishment pools in my chest, as I can’t believe he was thinking that. “I messed it up. I was so exhausted last night that I didn’t even think about staying in character, and it was me who decided we needed to leave early. If we’d stayed with the plan, likeyouwanted to do, it would have been fine.”
“It will be fine,” he rushes but then stops talking abruptly when Skye appears from behind the curtain.
“Is there anything you need before takeoff?” She’s already walking to the closet to get my usual.
“Yeah, pillow, blanket, and sparkling water,” I rattle out, and then cut a glance back to Axl.
His gaze bounces from me to Skye. “I’ll have what she’s having.” A small smile buds on his lips as he adds, “I might have gotten used to this. Too bad it’s the last time.”
“It doesn’t have to be the last time.” I take my pillow, placing it behind my head as I kick back my footrest and close my eyes.
“Sort of.” His voice is somber. “I mean, I don’t have a jet of my own, and I doubt you need a bad fake date tagging along with you.”
I sputter out a laugh and open one eye. “Trust me, I enjoyed dating you.”
What?
Why would I say that?
“What do you mean by that?” His voice takes an inquiring tone.
“I was wondering the same thing.” I force a chuckle, trying to laugh it off, but I’m insanely curious about what I meant by that, too. “Maybe I just need some rest.” I shut my eyes tight and pray he drops it.
“Maybe,” he says in a definitive tone, and I hope he’ll cut me some slack and drop my blunder.
Just don’t say anything else. Let it go before I die.
“As far as fake dating goes,” he says. His smirk sparking from the corners of his mouth. “I think we both know we’re better off not.”
“Right.” My stomach drops, and I force myself to laugh. “Ha, ha . . .”
When we land in Mapleton, I need to recharge, and I couldn’t be happier chilling at home. I hate that I had to cancel concerts to get these two weeks off, but it’s been a long time since I had any breaks, and as each day passes at home, I can feel tension release a little more from my shoulders. I need a hard break.
However, it seems someone has other plans for me. I’m not home for more than an hour when there’s a now familiar knock on the door. I know it’s not Norma. Her knock is more persistent and tappy. This knock is measured and presuming.
I whip the door open and find Bill Baker standing where I had pictured him. His Granite Ice beanie covers his bald spot but emphasizes how unruly his eyebrows are, with long gray hairs spiking out from the center of the dark ones. It doesn’t make him look unkept though, just more like a friendly grandpa, and I’m getting used to him.
“I saw your new photos.” He clasps his hands behind his back, as if he’s ready to give a speech. “People suspect you’re faking this relationship.”
