Her body trembles with a laugh. “I’ve missed you too.” She smiles back at me as we pull away.
I take her suitcase and lead her to our waiting car. “Flight okay?” I ask, walking into the warm sunshine.
“Flight was good, managed to read the first chunk of your book that you sent me.”
My steps falter and I look at her.
“It’s really good.” She nods, eyes all glassy.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She beams. “When are you sending it to Maria?”
“I’m not sure, I feel like I am holding off. Kind of hit a bit of a wall with it.”
“Oh yeah?” She hums as our driver gets the door. “Oooh fancy.” She winks as she climbs in.
I give him a wide smile as he takes the suitcase then closes the door behind me.
“Why do you think you’ve hit a wall?” She turns her body to face me, her sunglasses slipping down her nose.
“I don’t know.” I huff and I can tell she knows I am bullshitting straight away.
“You do.” Her head tilts to the side, eyes narrowing on me. I keep mute. “It’s because things have stopped with Royce, he was your muse… and well, now the muse is silent…”
My cheeks flame red.
“Plus, there have been no spicy scenes… I like your little notes throughout, and I quote ‘add mind blowing sex scene.’I mean… have you and him… you know.” She lowers her voice and my eyes widen as I look at her.
“No,” I hiss, folding my arms over my chest. “And it isn’t going to happen either.”
She scoffs. “I mean this in the nicest way, and I love you, obvs”—she rolls her eyes—“but you kind of need to do something with someone to help with your sex scenes.”
My shoulders lift and drop with my intake of breath. “Royce alluded that they were bad.” My stomach knots.
“Not bad.” She winces. “Just… I don’t know.”
“Lacking chemistry, vanilla…” I list a few things that Royce has mentioned.
“Yes, that, exactly.” She nods. “It kind of falls short and you’re such a beautiful writer, but yeah…”
“Okay.” I press a smile onto my face, willing for the conversation to be dropped.
“Don’t be mad.” Her puppy dog eyes kill me every time.
“Not mad, just a little frustrated that’s all. It’s been a bit of a day.”
“Well, look, I am here now, I’ll follow you around and be your cheerleader when you need it.”
I laugh softly. “I don’t think I’ll see the season out, to be honest. I’ll get the last chunk of the book done and book a flight home.”
Her face drops. “Really?”
“Yeah.” I nibble my bottom lip “I know Royce wants me to see out this fake relationship thing, but I don’t think I can do it.” I feel the deep ache inside my chest. I hate to admit that the feelings between fake and real have started to blur.
“That’s a shame,” she says, her lips turned down slightly, “but you’ve got to do what is right for you.”
I nod. My throat is burning and I can feel the tears that are resting on my lower lid.
