“Thank you.” She offers a small smile, brings them to her nose, and sniffs. “This almost feels like a real date. Would you like to come in while I find something to put these in?”
“Sure.” I wipe my hands over my jeans.
“You really didn’t have to do this.” She says as she heads up the stairs. “You’re already doing so much. And I appreciate it.” She turns to look at me once we’re in her kitchen. “And I don’t just mean with my parents.”
“No problem.”
I shrug. There’s so much I want to say to her, but I can’t form the words. Now that she’s in front of me, thoughts race through my mind so fast I can’t think straight. I stay silent, afraid I’ll stumble over my words. I never did mention the strange manlooking into the window. I need to tell her about that and ask about her ex while I’m at it.
Most of all, I want to open up and tell her what I really am. I don’t know how she’ll react when she finds out that this human skin is just a disguise I wear. I stare in silence as she pulls a tall glass out of the cabinet, fills it with water, adds sugar, and places the flowers in it.
“I don’t have any vases yet, but this will do.”
I clear my throat, “Why isn’t this a real date?”
“Neither one of us wanted to go; we’re only going because we lied to my parents.”
“What if I want it to be a date?” I ask, holding my breath, nervous to hear the answer. She freezes. I shrug. “Would that be so terrible? To go on a date with me?”
The fact that she doesn’t immediately respond has me believing I read her wrong. I’m the only one catching feelings. I keep my eyes locked on her as she approaches me.
“Ready to go?” She asks, smiling at me and completely ignoring my question.
WE WALK THE FEW BLOCKSto The Mummy’s Tomb Cafe, making small talk along the way. I notice that Camilla is doing everything she can to avoid making eye contact. We’re almost there when I stop and reach for her hand. She doesn’t resist. I look at her tiny hand in mine, stroking my thumb over her soft skin. This is how we should be.
“Camilla. ” Music and cheers spill out of the cafe. I stare into her eyes. “If you want to make this believable, we have to act like a real couple.”
“I know.” She nods. “I wish this night were over already.”
That smarts—thinking she wants away from me. “I don’t,” I respond truthfully. “I’m looking forward to spending it with you.”
Chapter 18
Camilla
“Ididn’t know we were supposed to wear costumes,” I say after taking a look around the cafe. “Some of them look so real.”
“I guess some people thought it would make for a better presentation.” Stone whisper-yells in my ear as he leads me through the sea of people. His warm breath tickles across my skin.Focus on anything but him!
“Wow, what a crowd!”
There’s standing room only. I can’t help but wonder if people are buying my desserts. I should look where I’m going, but instead I peek at what’s on the customers’ plates as we pass the tables. I’m giddy when I see something I baked being eaten. Until I crash into Stone’s muscular back.
I’m reminded of his strength as a flash of him carrying tree trunks like they were bags of groceries comes to mind. I reach up and drag my fingers down his spine as I apologize. His muscles feel more like cables. He shivers under my touch.
