I don’t give him time to process it. Fingers crossed he’s brushed his teeth.
I close the remaining space, grab the front of his shirt, and press a kiss to his lips. It’s quick and decisive. It’s also absolutely unplanned.
I pull away, far enough to meet his eyes, my hand still resting against his chest like it belongs there. Like this is familiar. Like this is something we’ve done a hundred times instead of it being our first and only kiss. Ever.
“Sorry I’m late,” I murmur, hoping he can read the look in my eyes. I mean, he’s frozen in place, so that’s good…right?
Behind me, I can feel my walking buddy’s presence stall.
“Oh.” Bri-Brent-whoever-he-is says it somewhere between confused and mildly horrified. “Oh, so…this is…where you needed to get to?”
I turn, still standing very close to my newly acquired fake boyfriend.
“Yeah,” I say, offering an apologetic smile that I do not feel. “Sorry. This is my boyfriend. We—um—we’ve got to go.”
There’s a beat.
A long one.
“Right,” he says, nodding a little too quickly. “Okay. Yeah. I—uh—hope everything…clears up.”
I stare at him. “I could say the same.”
He winces.
“Not like—your—um—situation. I just meant—anyway.” He looks at his feet, before nodding his head. “Okay. Bye then.”
And then he’s gone.
I wait until he’s at least half a block away before I drop my hand and step back.
“Thank you,” I say immediately, exhaling for what feels like the first time in twenty minutes. “Also, I am so sorry.”
The man in front of me—still looking like his brain hasn’t quite caught up with reality—takes a small step back.
“Why did you do that?” he asks, his eyes still wide as he runs his fingers through thick dark brown hair. Poor guy, his expression still registers his shock. Fair, but also…ouch.
“I know,” I say quickly, lifting a hand. “I should have asked first. Consent, personal space, all of that—I completely understand. But I was being followed. Well, not followed-followed, but like…socially followed—and I panicked and you were there and?—”
I stop.
Because now I sound like a person who should not be allowed near other people.
“I’m really sorry,” I finish, a little more quietly.
“I know you…” He studies me for a second, something unreadable flickering across his face?—
“Vivian?”
The voice comes from behind him. It’s bright. Familiar. My head snaps up because Iknowthat voice.
There, stepping out of the building like this entire moment has been orchestrated by a rom-com deity with excellent timing, is one of my oldest and dearest friends. I have never been so happy to see my best friend Lucy’s twin in all of my life.
“Oh my gosh,” he says, grinning. “I thought that was you.”
“Liam,” I say, his name falling out of my mouth in a rush. “I just had the worst experience at a coffee shop ever.”
“Only to have your lips land on Ty’s?” he asks, his eyes sparkling. “I was in the lobby and saw the whole thing, you minx.”
