“Does it have anything to do with that deposition he had to make last month?” I glance between Ellie and Will, eyebrows up in question.
She just smiles. “He’s very smart and dating you proves that.” She looks over at Will, and he nods in agreement.
“I thought we’d agreed to never mention that,” Caleb breaks in.
“Mention what?” Ellie says innocently.
Caleb has scooted his chair closer to mine, and I lean over. “I really,reallywant details,” I say in a low voice.
“Hmm,” is his only reply.
“I’ll tell you if he won’t,” Ellie says in loud whisper, winking at me. Caleb blows out a half-scoff, half-laugh. “Superhero,” she mouths at me.
I grin back and then turn to look at Caleb. “I already knew that.”
The emcee announces Carlie and Law’s first dance, and everyone at our table, even the kids, turns their attention to thedance floor. It doesn’t surprise me that Carlie and Law have chosen Etta James’s “At Last.” It fits the story that Caleb has told me about them.
I lean my elbows on the table and rest my head in my hands to watch, a transfixed smile on my face as Law holds his new bride ever so tenderly. The way she stares up at him, like she knows he would move heaven and earth for her, is all of my relationship goals wrapped up in a look.
“Here we are in heaven,” I whisper along with Etta. I really am. I think back to telling my sister that agreeing to come with Caleb as his fake date was either really stupid or really amazing.
Amazing. It turned out amazing.
He puts a hand on my back, running it lazily up and down my spine, lighting a fire along the trail of his fingers. The fabric of my dress is light, and I wonder if he can feel the heat his touch is creating. I turn my entranced stare to him, and he holds my gaze, his expression smoldering. My heart speeds at his stare. It’s too much, too soon, and yet I can’t help but picture this scene for myself. A princess dress. My Prince Charming holding me close, his eyes only for me. The rest of our life stretched out in front of us in a happily ever after just like Kathleen and Joe fromYou’ve Got Mail.
As soon as the emcee invites guests to join Carlie and Law on the dance floor, Caleb turns to me. “Would you like to dance?”
“Absolutely.”
He takes my hand in his and leads me out onto the dance floor.
Every nerve ending in my body is firing as he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close. He takes one of my hands in his, holding it and resting it against his chest. We are a breath apart, and not one piece of me is pretending for his family. I am all in, and I’m praying praying praying that Caleb is too.
“Is all of this still okay?” Caleb asks in a low voice.
“More than okay.” My voice is breathless. He stares at me as we sway together, and I stare back. It’s like a spell binds us together, pulling our faces closer and closer. Just like the spell in a game Vire is developing that’s based off a popular romantasy novel. I’ve played the early testing versions, but it never felt like this. So all-encompassing, but … like I’m flying.
When we first started this faking, it was a character I was eager to play. A game and me crossing my fingers I’d come out the winner.
Now, so much more is on the line. My heart. My future.
Caleb’s lips brush across mine, and I automatically move to my tiptoes, closer to Caleb. As close as I can physically manage.
His arm tightens around my waist, holding me against him. I draw in a quick breath. My first kiss with Caleb cannot be like this. Not pretend. Not for show. I planned to kiss him as part of this act, but that was beforethis. Before I knew the possibility of real was on the table. And I want more. I want real.
“Can we…” I whisper against his lips. “Perhaps finish this … later?”
He draws back only a centimeter. “That’s probably a good idea.” He sounds as reluctant as I feel, his voice ragged, but the minute he kisses me,reallykisses me, I’m going to lose myself in him. A crowded dance floor is just not the place.
My mind flashes to the couch in Caleb’s game room and waking up in his arms. It’s not the same as the romantic scenery around us, but that … that would be perfect.
Caleb lets go of my hand, leaving it to rest on his chest, and gently brushes an escaped strand of hair from my cheek. I lean into his touch, and he lets out a soft groan.
“As the brother of the bride, how noticeable do you think it would be if I snuck out early?” he asks.
I giggle quietly. “Probably pretty noticeable.”
“Back to dancing,” he says huskily.
