CHAPTER ELEVEN
Music pulses through our beach house, filling every inch of the spacious home with perky Top 40 hits. The music is so loud that I can’t even hear my thoughts, which is exactly how I want it to be right now.
Boone and I are coming up on the two-month anniversary of our fake relationship, and I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t definitely been a ton of fun. We’ve been bouncing around all sorts of ideas about what we should do to memorialize the occasion for both our fandoms, but we can’t seem to come up with anything grand enough.
Or, should I say, I’ve been bouncing ideas around and Boone…
Well, Boone hasn’t quite been the same since the night of the Coyotes’ bonfire.
Things have simply been off with him lately. I’d thought after we had such a great conversation that we’d be closer than ever, but it seems like it’s caused him to drift away from me instead.
I’m sure it’s nothing. I mean, every relationship—even ones based in falsehood like ours—has a tide that ebbs and flows. That’s simply how life is.
But Boone doesn’t seem to joke with me as much as he used to, and he takes longer to respond to texts and calls. I haven’t brought it up because it felt like I’d be poking for drama—thus breaking both first commandments of our fake relationship. So, instead, I’ve been biting my tongue and trying to enjoy the ride we’re sharing. It’s not like Boone’s totally withdrawn. He’s always on time for G&G video shoots and our weekly dates, and I’ve still been accompanying him to the team bonfires.
I can’t even exactly put my finger on the change. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
At least my followers haven’t noticed.
At night when I can’t sleep, I stay up late skimming through all the comments on Boone’s and my latest posts and videos together. Just as I’d hoped, the Glammers are going wild over the torrid affair between my hunky rugby player and me. The G&G page’s engagement is through the roof. We’ve even had more sponsors and curious business owners reach out as of late.
So…
If I’m getting everything I wanted, why am I feeling so distraught?
And why is Boone acting strangely?
Could he be regretting ever fake dating me?
Groaning, I saunter over to the speaker and crank the volume higher and higher, moving and swaying to the music. Try as I might, I can’t seem to drown out my doubts.
“Sutton!” someone abruptly shouts from behind me.
Shrieking in surprise, I whirl around to spot Kali and Liv standing at the entrance of the kitchen. Liv bobs her head to the fun music and grins while Kali frowns and sets her hands on her hips.
“Hey, babes!” I call back, grinning at Kali and Liv. My two G&G besties were out doing some meetings related to Liv’s fashion designs. They’d left before the sun came up and have obviously been working hard all day long. They both look beat. It’s a good thing we don’t have any shoots scheduled today.
Kali’s lips move, but I don’t hear a thing over the loud music. Eventually, she rolls her eyes and stomps over to the speaker to turn it off. Even after silence descends on the house, my ears keep ringing. I tug at one of my earlobes and wince.
“We’ve been trying to call you, girl.” Kali sighs. “No wonder you couldn’t hear us. You’re going to lose your hearing if you aren’t careful.”
Giggling, I throw my arms around my bestie’s shoulders. “Aw, you don’t have to worry about me, Mom.”
Liv slides up onto one of the barstools around our kitchen island. “What’s for dinner?” she asks, kicking her legs back and forth. “We were so busy, we barely had time to eat anything today and I’m starving.”
Flashing a happy grin, I clap my hands together. “Actually, I cooked. And before you say it, you’re welcome, babes!”
Liv and Kali stare at me and then at each other. Their eyes are practically round as saucers. I’ve never seen my two BFFs at a loss for such words.
I can’t hold back the laughter for more than a few seconds until I start laughing. “Just kidding! I ordered us sushi from our fav spot. And of course, I got some vegan rolls for you, Liv.”
“Thank goodness,” Kali announces as Liv bursts into laughter.
I paw at Kali’s shoulder while a pretend pout forms on my face. “That’s not nice. Don’t make me eat all of your sushi.”
“It’s just that you’d find a way to burn cereal, Sutton. Even your coffee is…well…” Liv trails off and sticks out her tongue in disgust.
“It’s not my fault I have so many thoughts spinning around my head that I get distracted when I cook,” I huff playfully.
