“Sorry to bore you, but we met in a bar,” I say, letting my hand suggestively brush Rhett’s arm.
“Yeah, thatisboring. You should make up something more dramatic for next time someone asks,” Max says with a laugh.
“Let me try again,” I say, pretending to think. “Ok. I lost a Truth Game with my two best friends. The forfeit was that I had to dress up as Mrs. Jessica Rabbit and ask a stranger in a bar out on a date. The stranger turned out to be Rhett. And the rest, as they say, is history.”
The whole group whoops with laughter and bangs on the table.
“Fucking hell. I said, make it dramatic, not unbelievable.” Max crows.
“I like this girl,” a guy called Tarquin says. He looks at me and winks. “If you ever get bored with Rhett, call me.”
I can feel the warmth of pride creeping into my chest at his words. There’s a thrill in this, making it all look effortless, like Rhett and I are crazy in love.
I turn to Rhett, and his eyes are dark with something that looks like, God, surely not … pure, molten, sexual desire. He wants to fuck me. I turn away quickly in confusion.
Vanessa, of course, isn’t impressed. She leans back, her arms crossed, giving me that not so subtle up and down scan again that makes me laugh inwardly. Perfect. It only tells me she’s insecure and jealous. Result.
Vanessa’s eyes flicker briefly, a flash of irritation crossing her features.
Keep staring, sweetheart, I think. Camile smiles shyly at me, and I catch her sending a small approving glance in Rhett’s direction, almost as if she’s silently cheering us on.
I smile at her and let my attention swing back to Rhett, and laugh at something he says. Suddenly, he lifts my hand and brushes his lips lightly against my knuckles. Startled, my gaze jumps up to his face. He is staring at me with an expression of unmistakable lust. There is a sudden tightening in my stomach, and I feel myself get wet.
Rhett picks up a small piece of arancini and pops it into my mouth.
“Oh darling, you’re spoiling me,” I murmur into his ear, but loud enough for it to carry to Vanessa’s ears.
“Spoiling you is my pleasure,” Rhett replies gallantly.
I chew slowly and swallow. Suddenly, I know exactly what to say to really piss Vanessa off. “Mmm … that was so good. It reminds me of the risotto I had at lunch with Rhett’s parents.”
It has the desired effect. Vanessa looks like she wants to punch me or explode in anger, and I have to hide my mouth for a moment so she can’t see me laughing.
Maria starts teasing Elliot and Camile about the upcoming wedding, and how it’s not too late for Camile to run. The drinks flow, the laughter builds up, and the banter grows more intimate, more playful. I can feel the tension between Vanessaand me dissolve into mere background noise, replaced by the magnetic pull of the man next to me, and although I continue to play my role, it’s as much for my own enjoyment as it is to send Vanessa a message.
At some point, Maria announces that Vanessa is gone. She’s made a subtle exit, but it doesn’t go unnoticed by the group. I sigh with relief. Now I can allow myself to relax. Vanessa isn’t here anymore, so really, I should stop with the flirting, but I don’t want to. I’m enjoying the intimacy and attention too much.
“They all believe it,” Rhett murmurs, his voice pouring into my ear like melted honey. “Everyone. Even Vanessa. Hell, even Max believes it, and he knows me so well that if anyone was going to see through this, it would have been him. You were perfect.”
“I mean, that’s good, but we’re quite happily lying through our teeth to your best friends. Doesn’t it feel weird to you?”
One corner of Rhett’s mouth twitches. “They say all is fair in love and war …”
“Well, if you’re sure …”
The evening winds down with more laughter, small stories shared, more jokes at Rhett’s expense, which he takes with his usual good humor, and slowly, the group begins to filter out. Hugs are exchanged, goodbyes whispered, and before I know it, it’s just him and me stepping back into the night air.
The city lights are brilliant, the streets alive, and the cab ride back to Rhett’s place is charged with a strange energy. At a red light, his hand brushes mine, just lightly, but deliberately, and I let my fingers linger. A small smile tugs at his lips.
“You know,” he murmurs, leaning closer to me. “This fake relationship of ours is starting to feel less and less fake. It’s almost time to get naked, Pippa.”
“Don’t go getting any ideas,” I shoot back immediately, my cheeks burning in the dark.
But do I mean it? Is George really my soulmate, or am I just clinging to the idea because he’s all I know? Am I clinging to the safe option because the idea of uprooting my life to move here and be with Rhett is too precarious?
I push my thoughts away.
There are questions to be answered another time by another me. I don’t want to ruin this night by overthinking anything.
