My tongue finds hers, and she moves over my cock with her pussy, feeling it and kissing me even harder, making breathier noises. Just like I thought, there’s nothing pretend about this. We have it all. The friendshipandthe chemistry.
It steals both of our breath. And I know, without a doubt, that no matter what we call this, pretend or real or somewhere in between, this is the hottest thing I’ve ever felt in my life. I know she feels it, too.
Her hands grip my hair, pulling me in, riding my cock and moaning softly as I kiss her deeply, my hands gripping her bottom, pulling her onto me, entirely making out now.
She pulls back, breathless, her forehead resting on mine.
“Nothing pretend about that,” I whisper.
“We’re so fucked,” she whispers.
God, I hope so.
Chapter 12
Poppy
High Road by Zach Bryan
We’re sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by half-packed boxes. Owen’s legs swing under his chair, his face carefully blank in the way that tells me he’s bracing for something. Telling Owen is somehow scarier than telling the entire town, which makes sense because how he feels about this is really all that matters.
I clear my throat, nerves skittering everywhere, and Ollie’s hand tightens around mine under the table. Just a quiet squeeze. Steady. Reassuring. Like he’s saying I’m here without saying anything at all.
My other hand drifts to my face, fingers brushing my mouth. My lips still tingle, like they haven’t caught up to the rest of me yet.
Holy shit. That kiss.
It was way too good. Too consuming. The kind that leaves my chest tight and my thoughts scrambled, my body humminglike it’s been woken up after a long sleep. I’m still a little breathless, still aware of how close he is, how easily he could reach for me again.
And that’s the problem.
Because ten minutes ago, Ollie was my best friend and my safe place. The person I trusted more than anyone in the world. Now I’ve agreed to marry him. To live with him. To share space and mornings and nights and everything in between.
That’s not nothing.
Excitement flares low in my belly, hot and undeniable, followed immediately by a spike of panic. How do you go from best friends to this without breaking something? How do you live that close to someone you want without wanting too much?
I swallow hard and force my brain back online.
Focus, Poppy.
I was worried about making this look real, about convincing other people, when my own body clearly didn’t get the memo that this was supposed to be pretending. My pulse is still racing, my skin is too aware, my thoughts drifting places I’m not ready to name.
This is going to change everything.
Living together. Sharing a bed eventually. Navigating a closeness that’s always been emotional and now feels dangerously physical too. I want it. That’s what scares me.
I lace my fingers tighter through his, grounding myself in the familiar feel of him. Best friends. Family. That’s what this is supposed to be.
Even if my body is already questioning every rule I’ve ever made for myself.
“Okay, so there’s something we need to talk to you about,” I say, carefully watching Owen’s reaction.
He sighs and lifts his shoulders like he’s bored. “Okay, what?”
I glance at Ollie. He gives me a slight nod like we’ve got this. We might not, but I appreciate the confidence.
“Owen,” I say gently, “Ollie and I are going to get married. It’ll be legal and all, but just...pretend.”
