“One week. But only because he’s got the vacation time accrued, but this is it, Noah. Seven days is all I can give him on such short notice.”
Holy shit, she said yes. Foxy saidyes.
Noah grins.
“You’re a fucking saint, baby.”
“Yes. I know. Clearly.”
A moment later there’s a hang up. All I can hear is my heartbeat, my heavy breath.
She said yes. I’m apparently going on vacation as of tomorrow.
“You’re welcome,” Noah says, wrapping his arm around me, pulling me out of my stupor. I hug him and the relief hits me instantly from what he’s done.
“Thank you,” I say, tears prickling the edges of my eyes.
Noah hugs me tight. “Don’t thank me,” he says humorously. Then his voice turns serious. “Just promise me you’ll have fun and enjoy it, okay? Be the best fake boyfriend there is, butenjoyit.”
I nod as his words hit me. “I promise.”
He slams my phone against my chest. “Better tell your boyfriend.”
I swallow hard at those words. It’s just a job.
Like any other job before. At least that’s what I tell myself.
I find my text thread with Aaron and change his contact info from Aaron Smith toBaby.It’ll be more believable if someone picks up my phone. It’ll also help with my method approach if I focus on pretending he is my boyfriend, I’ll sell the image better.
I tap out a text.
Me: Okay.
I wait for a brief moment, and soon enough, the text bubbles start to flash.
Baby: Okay? You’ll go with me?
I let out a deep breath and type my response, hoping I haven’t just made a grave mistake.
Me: Yes, baby. I’ll go to the beach house with you.
No time like the present to start preparing for my role as Aaron Everett’s romance novel-writing boyfriend who’s madly in love with him.
Aaron sends a string of text messages with happy emojis, heart emojis, and even a flame emoji.
I smile.
Baby: You won’t regret this. I promise.
I send him a thumbs up, hoping he’s right.
Chapter Fifteen
Aaron
Thankfully, since I packed for the weekend, there’s not much for me to pack to head to the beach house. I haven’t been to the place in years, not since I moved from Seattle to LA.
The place is probably still stocked with clothes in my closet, which I’ll have to go through anyway, so if it really comes down to it, I can pick up some new digs in town. And of course, if there’s anything Prince Charming might need.
