“Can I come in?”
“Only if you promise to tell me everything. I thought we hated him. What is happening?”
What had Chloe been thinking? She’d never be able to keep the truth from Meghan. “Let me in and I’ll tell you everything.”
Chloe entered the home, complete with old wood floors and cushy seating. Its seaside palette featuring subtle shades of blue, green, and beige invited guests to sit and rest awhile.
“I’ll get you some orange juice and then I want to know what’s going on.”
Chloe collapsed on the sand-colored sofa, sinking into its welcoming embrace. She stared across the living room at the focal point of the room—an entire wall of built-in bookshelves, fully stocked with everything from genre fiction to classics. Never mind that Meghan had a store full of books down the street. Yes, in some ways, her friend led a charmed life. In others...
She glanced around the home that screamedSingle woman lives here!Gone were the wedding photos and Kyle’s ugly green recliner. No stray socks or empty beer bottles littered the room. Instead the place was embellished with feminine touches: candles, a planter, a candid photo of Meghan and her sisters.
Her friend returned with two glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice. “Drink up. You need your vitamin C.”
Because yes, Meghan was a health nut. Chloe did as she was told.
“First things first; did you buy the thong?”
Chloe snorted. “It was a bathing suit, and do I own anything in highlighter yellow?” She went on to tell Meghan about her run-in with Liam on the sidewalk downtown. Her friend nearly spewed orange juice when she got to the part where he caught her hiding in the clothing rack.
“What did he say?” she asked.
“He said”—she lowered her voice—“‘Hello, Chloe.’” She made sure to use that arrogant tone.
Meghan only laughed harder. “I love it!”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side. It was embarrassing.” But it was so good to hear Meghan laughing again, Chloe couldn’t even take offense.
“I can’t help it. You paint such a vivid picture. What happened next?”
“Not much of anything really. We kind of had words about the role of Ledger. He got my back up.”
Meghan’s eyes sparkled. “You don’t seem upset about that now. Have you heard from him since the story broke?”
“I texted him last night and he came over after work.”
Meghan’s jaw dropped. “Liam Hamilton came to your house last night?”
“You can stop using his last name. Especially since he’s my boyfriend now.”
Meghan’s eyes widened. “It’s true?”
Chloe savored the moment for an extra beat before expounding. “Yep, we’re official.”
“Chloe... for real. You’re not getting mixed up with that guy.”
At the note of worry in Meghan’s tone, Chloe came clean. “Relax. We’re officially in afakerelationship. Liam’s concerned about his image, what with the recent negative publicity, and I want to coach him in his role as Ledger. So we made a deal: I pretend to be his girlfriend and in return he’ll take my direction on the role. The studio is on board and everything.”
Meghan took a slow sip of juice, then set the glass on the table. “I see.”
“He approached me about it yesterday. Apparently a committed relationship with me, in all my chaste wholesomeness, will make him look like a steady kind of guy.”
Meghan just stared at her.
“What?Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I can’t believe you’re in a fake relationship with Liam Hamilton.”
