Ten Rules for Faking It

by Sophie Sullivan

  Owen’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “My pleasure. What is it you can most definitely do?”

  Warmth flooded her chest. He was cute, sweet. Funny. “Make a salted chocolate caramel cake.”

  Owen hummed low, the sound nearly as sexy as the scent of his cologne when he leaned in. Hmm. Definitely sexy. Not shiver-inducing sexy but nice. Nice was good. Nice was safe. Safe was awesome.

  “Sounds delicious. Even if it goes wrong, you have to try.”

  Why did that feel like good life advice in this minute?

  Owen smiled. “How are you?”

  “I’m good. You?”

  “Not bad. Work is good, life is good. I can’t complain. How’s the dating game?”

  She laughed and knew she’d curse herself later for how loud it sounded in the empty aisle. “Exciting as always. Just two more to go.”

  “Before you choose the lucky guy?” He said it in such a genuine way, her flutters softened.

  “Before I narrow it down, anyway.”

  His phone buzzed, and he got extra points for not bothering to pull it out and check it. “It’s probably against the rules, but do you want to go grab a coffee?”

  “Oh, I shouldn’t have coffee this late at night. No caffeine, really. I’ll never sleep. When you get older, caffeine can actually affect you more easily.” You take dork to a whole new level, Everly Dean. Way to go.

  To her surprise and relief, Owen laughed. The sound was deep and rough and sent what she was willing to call a mini-shiver over her skin. “I forgot your age, clearly. How about some warm milk?”

  Everly bit her lip, trying not to giggle awkwardly or smile like a loon. It was getting late, she hadn’t bought the few groceries she needed, and it hadn’t been the best of evenings all the way around. Be bold. Even if it’s scary.

  Owen watched her through dark blue eyes with caution and consideration. She got the sense he wouldn’t push if she said no. It wasn’t actually against the rules. Technically.

  “Sure. That sounds good,” she said, going with her gut but needing to add, “I can’t be out for long.” It was reflex to add the escape hatch. Just in case.

  He smiled warmly. Sweetly. “Do you turn into a garden vegetable?”

  She fell into step beside him, dessert forgotten. “Pumpkins are actually a fruit.” That’s it. Reel him in, dork-a-saurus. She stopped, looked up at him. “Let’s pretend I didn’t say that.”

  He bit back his chuckle, but it was there. She could see it in the creases around his eyes. “I’ll wave my magic wand and it’ll be like it never happened.”

  Everly liked how easy it was to laugh with him. This was what she needed: a sweet, funny, good-looking man who made her feel something but not too much. One who wasn’t off-limits. One she could open up to but not lose herself in. Owen was absolutely right. Even if it didn’t work out, she had to try.

  [25]

  For only the second time in her life, Everly stood outside someone’s front door, way too early in the morning, unsure if she should let herself in. She had a key. It was a you’re-welcome-any-time-don’t-even-knock key. She’d never used it before because there’d been no reason. Now felt like a valid reason.

  Stacey hadn’t returned her text the night before, so maybe she needed some space. Stacey never needed space. Without being overbearing, she was as “in your face” as a friend could get. They’d been spending more time out of work together than at work for the better part of three years. If they were fighting, they’d smooth things over and things would be fine. Shifting from one foot to the other without letting either foot actually leave the ground, she chewed the inside of her lip.

  Unless you’ve finally maxed out her patience. Unlike chocolate, caffeine, or batteries, there was such a thing as too much where Everly was concerned.

  It’s going to be time for you to go to work if you don’t knock one day soon. Just go in. She knocked with her free hand, keeping her fingers curled into her palm when she lowered her arm. Seconds that felt like minutes passed without response. She knocked again, curled her fingers deeper, and wished she’d remembered to put Pepper Potts in her pocket. Yes, she’d named her squishy cat from Chris. No one had to know.

  The door swung open, and Stacey appeared, looking less than impressed. Her hair was knotted into a messy bun more on the side of her head than the top. She wore an oversize hoodie and loose flannel pants and a scowl.

  Everly didn’t cover her shock with any amount of grace. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without makeup.”

  Stacey yawned, not bothering to cover her mouth. “Well, if that was your goal, showing up at the crack of dawn is the way to do it.” Her squinty gaze focused on the bag in Everly’s hand. “What’s that?”

  Everly gave her best “I’m sorry I’m high maintenance” smile. “Double chocolate fudge doughnuts. From Baked.”

  Stacey stepped back. “Permission to enter, granted.” Once she’d shut the door to the tiny bungalow home, she grabbed the bag. “Gimme.”

  Laughing, Everly followed her into the kitchen. The bungalow used to belong to Stacey’s grandmother, but she’d inherited it after her grandmother’s passing several years earlier. It was part of her decision to settle in San Verde despite opportunities to work at bigger stations.

  While Stacey started coffee, Everly glanced around the kitchen. Dishes from the night before, and probably the night before that, were stacked on the counter. Old newspapers sat on the small round table. In the window over the table, a once-leafy plant drooped.

  Everly went to the sink, grabbed a glass from the cupboard, and turned on the water. She poured a small amount on the plant, waiting for it to drain into the tray below, listening to the sounds of Stacey grinding beans and shuffling around.

  Her skin felt too tight. She hated fighting. Hated conflict. Especially when she was the source.

  “Thanks. If I ever have kids, they’re going to be in trouble if you don’t visit more often,” Stacey said, jutting her chin in the plant’s direction when Everly set the glass on the counter.

  Taking a deep breath, trying to fill her lungs with courage, she faced her friend. “Tell me what to do to make us okay. I’m sorry I was a spaz at the gym last night. I’m sorry I left, that I overreacted. I’m sorry I’m high maintenance, fussy, and all the other adjectives you could probably label me with. But along with the negative ones, like finicky or anal, I want you to know you can also add loyal, loving, trustworthy, and reliable.”

  Stacey blinked several times, leaning against the edge of her aged countertop. “That was a lot before coffee. What are you even talking about?”

  The air whooshed out of Everly’s lungs. “I can’t stand you being mad at me.”

  “Good thing I’m not, then. Have you been up for hours worrying about this?” Stacey’s eyes narrowed.

  Of course. Unnecessarily so, apparently. Everly scoffed, averted her eyes. “No. Hardly. Whatever.”

  “You forgot convincing on your list of adjectives.”

  Stacey turned and grabbed two cups from the glass-fronted cupboard.

  “Maybe it’s time to see someone,” Stacey said quietly.

  Everly purposely sidestepped this. “I’m seeing too many people. This is part of why we can’t be fighting. I need you. I’m multi-dating.”

  Stacey spun. “What?”

  “You heard me. You can’t be mad at me. I need you.”

  “I’m not mad at you. We’re circling back to the ‘you should talk to someone who can help you work through your anxiety’ conversation because I’m sure you’ve created new indents in your skin worrying about something that wasn’t a problem. Now, if you value your life and want me to share the doughnuts, tell me what you mean by multi-dating.”

  Everly opened her mouth.

  Stacey held up a hand. “Wait. Let me grab the coffee; you get the doughnuts and meet me in the living room.”

  All breathing functions returned to normal, and adrenaline pumped through Everly’s vein
s. They were okay. No reason to worry. Ah, but then what would you do with your time? It’d be interesting to find out.

  The living room was completely retro, but by current decorating standards, it was hard to tell if it was on purpose or because Stacey had never updated after her grandmother died. After removing the box from Baked from the bag and setting it on the coffee table, Everly curled up in the yellow wingback chair, tugging the soft crocheted throw over her legs. Stacey joined her only a minute later, setting both coffees on the table. She tugged two napkins out of the pocket of her hoodie.

  “Explain yourself, Dean.”

  Everly smiled. “First, are you sure we’re okay? I felt like we didn’t leave things okay last night.”

  “We’re fine, Evs. Even if we weren’t, we’ll always be fine. There’s nothing we can’t get through. You’re my girl. You know that. You’re quirky as hell, and I love you. All those little idiosyncrasies you, for some reason, dislike about yourself are just a small part of why I love you. You’re for real, Evs, and so is our friendship. Don’t ever doubt that. Ever. Or I’ll kick your ass.”

  Everly laughed, tears filling her eyes. No tears.

  Stacey’s expression softened along with her voice. “I wish I could help you loosen up, stop your brain from spinning. Not because it bugs me but because I see how hard it is on you. You’re exhausted, babe. But I’ll always be here for you. Just as you are. You accept me, I accept you. That’s how this works. Now, do you want to lose out on a doughnut? Because you’ve been warned. No more mushy stuff. Spill it. Did you get naked with someone?”

  Everly was leaning forward for the doughnuts and nearly fell at Stacey’s words. She sputtered unintelligibly before saying, “No. Of course not.”

  Stacey grabbed one of the chocolatey pieces of goodness and brought it to her mouth, saying just before her bite, “This may be part of your problem and why you have so many quirks.”

  Picking up her own doughnut, Everly licked chocolate off her index finger. “I disagree, but regardless. Guess who I ran into last night? Never mind. Guessing takes too much time. Owen. Bachelor number one. He was in the grocery store, which I stopped at after I visited Mom at her office, and he asked me to go for a drink.”

  Watching her friend’s jaw drop open was mildly satisfying. “But no naked?”

  Huffing out a breath, she took a bite. “Of any sort.”

  Pointing with her doughnut, Stacey asked, “Your mom was at the office? I’m scared to ask. What was it this time?”

  Everly cringed. “Nude paintings.”

  Stacey slapped a hand over her mouth, then moved it. “Of herself?”

  “No!” Everly shuddered. “Actually, that might have been better. She’s taking a course on how to draw people in their birthday suits. Only the one she drew looked more like he was wearing a wrinkled bodysuit.”

  Stacey burst out laughing. “I’m oddly intrigued and kind of want to see it.”

  Everly waved a hand, not wanting to get into that conversation. “You don’t. Trust me. Save yourself.”

  “Okay. Was Owen still dreamy at second glance?”

  It was easy to smile when she thought about him. That’s a good sign. “He was. Also, he was still sweet, funny, and charming.”

  Stacey sat straighter. “I think you’re smitten.”

  “I could be.” She had a strong suspicion he was going to be the one she chose.

  “Did you at least want to get naked?”

  Everly sank into the chair, breaking off a chunk of doughnut. “Are you secretly a sex addict?”

  Polishing off her own treat in record time, Stacey made loud, sucking motions while cleaning off her fingers. “I can neither confirm nor deny.”

  “That’s exactly what someone who was secretly addicted to sex would say.”

  Stacey shook her head. “You can’t know that. Anyway, this isn’t about me.”

  “No. It’s about me, who never goes out and somehow ended up on a date last night and has another date tonight.” And has a secret crush on our boss. In her mind, she slapped a hand over her mouth. Where had that thought jumped in from? Uh, reality? God, she hated her brain. You do not like Chris. You do not like Chris. He’s your buddy. Like Stacey. Your kickboxing partner. Who looks delicious both before and after a workout. Shut up. Why did her brain never listen? Owen. You want Owen. Owen would look good after a workout, too.

  “It’s about time. You deserve to play the field and see what’s out there for you. One of these guys is going to give you tummy flutters. I can feel it.”

  Ha. The wrong one. “I don’t know, Stace. I had a panic attack the other night. That’s why I had to reschedule.”

  All humor fled from Stacey’s gaze. “Dude. You’re supposed to call me when these things happen. Why didn’t you?”

  Everly shrugged. Because it never stops being embarrassing? I called Chris, and he came over. I … lost track of everything else.

  “What did you do?” Stacey grabbed a napkin, wiped her hands, and then crumpled it up, tossing it back on the table.

  “Chris actually came over. We watched Veronica Mars.”

  “What? You watched our show with someone else?” Stacey unfolded her legs from the couch and got up. “I need a moment.”

  Everly laughed, heard the water running and was still smiling when Stacey returned, hands clean. She picked up her coffee.

  “Question,” Stacey said, leaning on the arm of the couch.

  “I’ll allow it,” Everly said, picking up her own cup.

  “Have you considered the possibility of getting naked with Chris?”

  Her heart went a kind of haywire she hadn’t experienced before. Like she’d taken an adrenaline shot straight to it. In slow, calculated movements that required a lot of effort, Everly brought her mug to her lips, sipped, tasted nothing, and set it down. “I’m not sure why you’re so fascinated with the idea of me naked. Maybe it’s more than a sex addiction going on for you. I’m not running around looking for men to strip naked.”

  Stacey sank back into her spot on the couch with a sigh. “Trust me, friend, you’d be far more relaxed if you were. But for real. Was I imagining a little spark of lust between you two?”

  “He’s my boss. He’s our boss. We’re becoming friends.” She folded her hands together.

  “So, no, I wasn’t imagining it.”

  “He’s in charge of our job security.” Her fingers linked together.

  Stacey sat forward. “You like him.”

  “He’s a perfectly nice human being.”

  Setting her coffee down, Stacey pressed both palms flat on the table. “You really like him. ‘Perfectly nice human being’? You don’t like human beings. They talk too much. This is serious.”

  Despite feeling like the room got a hundred degrees hotter, Everly let out a deep belly laugh. “You’re such a dork.”

  “You’re a dork in love with her boss.”

  Picking up the napkin Stacey had crumpled, Everly tossed it in her face. “You take that back. I’m not.”

  Laughing, Stacey tossed the napkin on the ground, and Everly did her best to ignore the urge to pick it up. Or flee from the conversation. “Be honest. Do you think Chris Jansen is dreamy?”

  Her annoying insides trembled, waking up at the sound of his name. The thought of him. “He’s attractive.”

  “Uh-huh. On a scale of one to I’d-sleep-with-him, where is he?”

  Everly’s cheeks felt like fireballs. Stacey pointed, making it clear that her expression gave her away.

  “Oh my God. I was teasing at first, but do you seriously like him, Ev?”

  Picking up her coffee, Everly took another drink, but it had cooled too much to be enjoyable. “It doesn’t matter. Stop. I need your advice.”

  “On what? Whether or not to bang our boss?”

  She nearly choked on her own spit. “Jesus, Stacey. I’m not banging anyone, and if you say that’s part of my problem, we will be fighting, because that’s not what any of
this is about. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life. I’m not happy dating a string of men and figuring out how to act around each one. I thought by thirty, I’d already have kids. That I’d have a loving husband who made me laugh and swoon in equal measure. Instead, I’m dating like a college coed and breaking out in hives every second day.”

  Stacey got up and came over to sit on the arm of the chair, putting her feet on the other arm, creating a bridge over Everly’s lap. “Okay. Okay. Breathe. Slow down. I’m sorry.”

  She rubbed Everly’s back, making her feel both comforted and needy at the same time. Damn it. Why couldn’t she have a normal freaking conversation? No wonder she hadn’t settled down or found the one.

  “Do you want to stop the contest?”

  “No,” she whispered. Clearing her throat, she said it again, louder. She realized that was actually the truth. “I don’t. Stace, last night, a woman contacted me and thanked me for being brave. She talked to me a bit about her own anxiety. I felt like I actually helped someone. I have two dates left, one later today. I think Owen is going to be the front-runner. It’s more than that, though.”

  Stacey waited. Like Chris had. No rushing. Just patience. Her heart muscles spasmed as she leaned into her friend.

  “I feel good. I’m learning things about myself. I stood up to Simon even though I had to leave after. I hung out with Owen last night. I invited Chris over to hang out. I made someone else want to be brave.”

  She was surprised to see tears fill Stacey’s eyes. “You’re awesome. I keep telling you that.”

  “Even with all that, I’m tired. I’m ready for things to go back to normal. Whatever that means.”

  “It will. In the meantime, you’re doing this incredible thing. This is so far out of your comfort zone, you probably can’t even see the fence around your zone. I’m proud of you. Not everyone could do this.”

  Everly tilted her head back and arched a brow. “You could. You could do this in your sleep.”

  Stacey pursed her lips, pressing them tightly together. She leaned down and whispered, “Because I’m afraid to fall in love at all.”