“Let me just tell the driver we’re ready.” Luke pulled out his phone and rattled off a text. “Done.”
Seeing his phone gave me an idea. “Take a picture of us.”
He smiled and rolled his eyes. “There will be a million pictures of us online.”
“I don’t want those pictures. I want a picture you took, just for the two of us.”
“Okay, come here.” Luke pulled me close with his arm wrapped around me, sending a thrill through me. He extended his other arm, holding the phone so we were centered in the frame. “Show me that beautiful smile.”
His words hit me unexpectedly. My smile in the picture ended up being very real.
“Send it to me.”
He did. “Make it your wallpaper.”
I laughed, pretending I hated the idea. The limo pulled up to the curb and we didn’t wait for the driver to open the door for us.
Luke swung it open and swept his arm out with a flourish. “Your carriage awaits.”
“Such a gentleman.” I slid into the leather seat and Luke dropped in beside me.
My legs and feet sighed with relief and I kicked my shoes off. “That’s better.”
Luke grinned at me and closed the door. “What a night.”
“I know.”
Luke told the driver to take us to his apartment and then raised the privacy partition. The driver glided away from the curb and up the street. Lights shined through the tinted windows, painting Luke’s face in shifting patterns. I couldn’tlook away. “That was amazing. Thank you for bringing me into your world. I feel like things are lining up to be almost perfect.”
Luke’s expression darkened. “Almost?”
I couldn’t tell him he was the missing piece of my perfect life. “Oh, I just mean it’s a good start, but who knows what the future will look like.”
He nodded. “It really feels like you’ll be moving out here soon.”
“Yeah, if I literally have a job lined up on Broadway, nothing will stop me from being here, even if I have to live under a bridge or something.”
He laughed and shook his head. “With our deal, you won’t have to. Even without the money, you’ll always have a place to say with me. You’ve already got your own room.”
“Luke, are you already asking me to move in with you?” I asked playfully. “At least put a ring on it first.”
He smiled. “I considered it.”
My breath caught in my throat. “What?”
“I thought about asking you to be my fake fiancée instead of my girlfriend.”
“Oh, right.” I was too embarrassed to tell him what I had thought he meant.
Luke sighed. “But things are already tangled up enough. Sometimes I regret ever suggesting this deal.”
My stomach dropped. “I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong? I thought things were going great.”
“They are,” he said quickly. “That’s the problem. Sometimes when I’m with you, things feel too real. Like I’m not faking anything with you. But you’re my best friend’s little sister. He would kill me if we ever got together.”
“I don’t care about that,” I said. “It’s none of his business who I’m with.”
Luke shrugged. “Well, I care. And more than that, I’m paying you, which makes this way more complicated.”
