"Are you ready to go, butterfly?"
I blink, glancing at him and then at the stage.
"It's over?"
"Yeah," he says, his voice soft. His worried gaze lingers on my face. "You were lost in your own head for the last half hour."
Crap.
"I'm sorry."
"You okay?"
"Fine," I say, a little too quickly. "Um, I'm fine. I was just thinking."
He jerks his chin in a nod before rising to his feet and holding his hand out to me. "Come on," he murmurs. "Let's get you out of here."
I allow him to pull me to my feet and wrap an arm around my waist. If anyone stares at us on the way out, I don't really notice, not when his thumb is right above my ass, rubbing maddening circles.
Neither of us says anything until we're in the truck with the doors closed, and then he turns to me, his face obscured in shadow.
"Did you have fun tonight?"
"I did," I whisper. "Your sister is a beautiful dancer." I never even imagined that there were professional, plus-size ballerinas, but his sister made dancing look effortless. She lives her life in a way I never have—completely unafraid. "I think she's my new hero."
I sense more than see his smile. "I definitely won't be telling her that. She's already a pain in my ass."
"You love her."
"Yeah, I do. Doesn't change the fact that she's a pain in the ass."
"I bet my brothers say the same thing about me."
"Have you ever hit your dance partner on stage?"
"What?" I gape at him. "Your sister did that?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"The prick deserved it," he growls. He doesn't seem very happy about whatever happened.
"Wow," I whisper. "Your sister is a badass."
"Wait until you meet her," he chuckles. "You might change your mind."
"You want me to meet her?" I gape at him, my heart pounding.
"She'll be at Tye's wedding."
"Oh." I swallow. "I didn't know that." I have to meet members of his family? I have to pretend to date himwhilemeeting members of his family? Gulp. "You can tell her the truth about us if you want."
"And what truth is that, butterfly?" he asks.
"Um, that we're just…faking it?" I squeak.
"Ah. Is that what you were doing in the box tonight? Faking it?"
