He squeezed her into his body. “Sorry, I just want to scream it from the mountaintops, you know.”
Ellie stepped on his foot and he sucked in his bottom lip.
“Then why the secrecy?” Brent asked, looking back and forth between the two of them.
“No secrecy, we just haven’t been seeing one another very long,” Callum said.
“Like a blink in time, really,” Ellie mumbled through gritted teeth next to him. “And you know how people like to gossip around here.”
“Oh my God, are you pregnant?” Brent looked mortified at the thought as his eyes dropped to her flat stomach.
Ellie wrapped her arms around her waist. “No!”
“We plan to get started on that right away though, right, El?” He was a dead man as soon as they left this school auditorium, but he didn’t care. It was fun pretending to be her fiancé and so far she hadn’t told Brent the truth... Besides, she was even more adorable when she was squirming like she had red ants in her underwear. Which he’d noticed were seamless and barely visible through the tight-fitting soft fabric of her stunning dress that evening.
She’d nearly knocked the wind from his lungs when he’d picked her up. He was used to seeing her in jeans and T-shirts, the occasional loose-fitting sundress and sandals in summer. Her light brown, wispy, shoulder-length hair was always getting in her eyes, and she blew it away with her bottom lip. Between the dress, the heels, the hair curled and pulled back away from her face—exposing her long, slim neck—and the heavier than usual but still subtle makeup, he’d barely recognized her.
Until she’d launched into her usual bossy recap of the rules of engagement for that evening.
“Wow. Well, I guess congratulations are in order,” Brent said, raising his glass to them and taking a gulp of whatever was inside the cup. A solitary toast as neither of them had drinks.
The music started to play on the stage, drowning out Ellie’s next words, and her eyes widened at the sound of the familiar slow-tempo love song that had once been the make-out song of their generation.
Brent’s grin was wide as he glanced at her.
Great, the song must have meaning for them.
“Remember this one?” he asked Ellie.
“How could I forget?” she asked, looking like she’d been transported back in time to when this song was the backdrop to their teenage relationship. Callum’s gut twisted as he thought about the two of them together back then. Young love, first love. One that Ellie had never gotten over. And now this nostalgia was playing into the emotions she’d been holding on to for years.
And the guy was here—apparently dateless, single and available. Fantastic.
“Shall we?” Brent nodded toward the dance floor where couples were already swaying to the slow beat. “For old times’ sake?”
Ellie hesitated, looking at Callum. Was she waiting for permission? He’d love to be the one leading her out onto the dance floor, but he’d never prevent her from having this moment that she’d been waiting for, for so long. This was why they were at the reunion after all.
Brent turned to him. “You don’t mind me borrowing your fiancée for one dance, do you?”
He smiled as casually as possible. “Not at all,” he said, but then he turned to Ellie and impulsively grabbed her hand as she started to walk away. “But first, a quick goodbye kiss.”
Her eyes widened as he pulled her toward him. “What are you doing?” she muttered.
“Making it look good,” he whispered, lowering his mouth toward hers. Slowly. Giving her ample opportunity and time to push him away.
He absolutely expected her to stop him right there and then. Stop the whole charade. After all, they didn’t need to continue the hoax now that Brent was there alone. She could end it now. He could leave, and Ellie and her ex could pick up where they’d left off in high school if that’s what they wanted. What she wanted.
Instead, she closed her eyes and lifted her chin expectantly.
Holy shit.
She was going to let him kiss her. But did she want him to kiss her?
Right now, he’d settle for her consent. He pulled her to his chest and tangled his fingers into her hair, drawing her face closer. She smelled sweet like honeysuckle. She always did, and somehow that made him feel even more drawn to her. She may be dressed up that evening but inside she was the same Ellie he spent hours with arguing over books and pop culture. The same book-obsessed girl next door with the big trusting heart and hopeless romantic soul whose smile always made his day better. The same Ellie he’d been torturously in love with for almost two years.
He had one shot at this. He had to get it right. Show Ellie exactly what she was missing by not taking his advances seriously. Show her how he really felt about her. In a five-second kiss before he had to let her go dance with the love of her life.
His mouth met hers and he savored the soft, full lips pressed to his. Ones he’d fantasized about kissing so many times it almost felt familiar in that moment. Her mouth was soft, warm, delicious, and if they weren’t in a room full of her high school classmates with her ex staring at them, he might not be able to stop at the intended quick peck. Her body sank toward him and her hands held his forearms as though she was trying to steady herself, as though the kiss threw her off-balance. His entire body sprang to life as he gripped her tighter and pressed his mouth harder to hers, sealing the effect of the kiss before slowly releasing her.
Her eyes were full of surprise as she opened them and stumbled away.
The kiss had hit its mark.
“Enjoy your dance,” he said, feeling much better as he stood back, hands in his pockets as Brent led her onto the dance floor. When she glanced over her shoulder and her gaze returned to his, her expression said that it was a kiss that one dance with her ex-boyfriend wasn’t going to make her forget so easily.
* * *
SHE WAS SPINNING, and it wasn’t from Brent turning her in circles out on the dance floor. What the hell had just happened? She’d let Callum kiss her. Was she insane? This dance should have been an opportunity to tell Brent the truth. She could have claimed that Callum was kidding, that it was just an elaborate joke that had lasted three minutes too long. But then he’d kissed her, and now she couldn’t say they’d been faking without having to explain the kiss and why she’d gone through with it if they weren’t actually a couple.
She barely heard the music or felt Brent’s hands on her waist as she still reeled from the effect of the kiss.
Mind-blowing? Absolutely. But why? It was Callum. She didn’t think of him that way, so why had the kiss impacted her like this? Why had the feel of his mouth against hers turned her legs to Jell-O? She wasn’t romantically attracted to him.
It had to have been just the awkward nature of the moment. Kissing her coworker in front of her ex-boyfriend. Panic and anxiety was all it was, masking as sexual tension. The body must process those emotions the same way.
But if it had been awkward, why hadn’t she wanted it to end?
“Hey, you okay?” Brent asked, bending slightly at the knees to peer into her eyes.
She forced a slow, silent breath and smiled up at him. She was supposed to be enjoying this moment with him. Not driving herself crazy wondering how her sneaky coworker had somehow had an effect on her. “Yes, I’m perfect. Why?”
Brent laughed. “Because I don’t think you’ve heard anything I’ve said in the last minute and a half.”
Guilty. Had he been talking? “Sorry...the music...” she said lamely. “What were you saying?”
“I asked if you were still working at the bookstore.”
Still at the bookstore. The last place he’d left her in the small town. “Yes.”
“Whatever happened to the teaching dream?” he asked. “Did you change your mind?”
She was simultaneously thrilled that he’d
remembered that was her dream and embarrassed that she hadn’t fulfilled it. “No, it’s still a...goal. But well, life happened I guess.” She shrugged. In less than a year she’d lost her parents and him. It had been one of the most challenging, darkest times in her life.
“I’m sorry, Ellie. I think you would have made a great teacher. You certainly helped me.”
She smiled, releasing the pain of the past. “Well, there was the extra incentive with that situation.”
He grinned. “Yeah, maybe those study sessions wouldn’t have been so much fun with a different tutor.”
She swallowed hard, remembering all of those after-school meetups that had usually dissolved into make-out sessions. So many passionate kisses as rewards for getting the answers right. So many nights curled up together in the back of his secondhand beater car, holding one another like they’d never let go... Or at least she’d been desperate to hold on.
Callum and his kiss had almost completely vanished from her mind as the song came to an end, but Brent held her a little longer, as though sensing the emotional toil he’d put her through when he left. He stared into her eyes and sighed. “Those were some good times.”
They were. Was there a chance they’d ever get moments like that again? Right now, she thought maybe he would be interested...
“I guess I should get you back to your fiancé,” he said, reluctantly releasing her.
Fiancé. Right. She nodded as she stepped away, confusion and regret mixing into a strangling ball in her chest.
How the hell had she allowed Callum to convince her this could ever be anything but a disaster?
* * *
WATCHING ELLIE IN Brent’s arms was too much, so Callum turned his attention to the mixed bag of cliques all around him. The cheerleaders were obvious—the loud, pretty ones—the football stars were demonstrating they still had skills in the corner of the auditorium, the geeks were huddled around some game app on one of their phones and the outcasts looked like they might actually be considering spiking the punch.
When he imagined a high school reunion, this was exactly what he pictured.
The song ended and he turned his attention back to the dance floor where Brent still had an arm around Ellie, holding her close. The two looked caught up in the moment and in each other. Damn, how could he compete with the guy she thought was the one for her? Should he even try?
Thing was, he knew Ellie. He knew she’d tried too hard to fit in with these people years ago and had only been miserable for it. She’d told him how out of place she’d felt trying to keep up with their ideas of fun and how her lack of focus and priorities in high school had cost her a scholarship to college. She’d been young then, but he knew she would put herself through it again now for another chance with a guy who didn’t deserve her. Ellie didn’t seem to fit in with any of them. She was unique. If only she could appreciate that.
He stared at her now as she said something to Brent. The discussion looked intense, serious...
Was she telling him the truth? Was their entire charade over? It made the most sense for her to come clean now, since the man was here alone, no supermodel clinging to his arm...they could arrange to see one another while he was in town this week. Rekindle the spark the way Ellie wanted.
They headed toward him and he held his breath, ready to go along with whatever she’d decided to do.
“There you are, safe and sound,” Brent said to him as though handing back a possession. The hair on Callum’s arms stood up. No doubt that was how Brent viewed his relationships.
Ellie avoided Callum’s gaze as she shifted from one foot to the other. Obviously, she hadn’t come clean.
Why not? Did his kiss maybe have her second-guessing? Could he allow himself that hope?
“Hey, guys, best news,” Alisha said, approaching them with an armful of red Solo cups. She handed one to each of them before continuing. “Cheryl’s parents have offered the cottages for next week—five days at half the usual rate. We were thinking we should all go. This catching up has been so amazing, but one night is not nearly long enough.”
Or too long.
Alisha turned her attention to them. “What do you think? There’s space for two more couples. Cheryl and Mitch and Nick and I would love for you to join us. You did such an amazing job organizing the event, Ellie.”
Ellie looked slightly panicked.
About which part, Callum wasn’t sure. Was it the idea of spending five days with her old friends or in a cottage with him? He liked the idea...he only wished they’d be alone, not with this group. But he waited for her to answer.
“Oh, it sounds amazing, but...we have to work,” she said, finally.
“I’m sure we could take some time off,” he said with a grin. It was fun to watch her squirm a little. She was usually so in control and unfazed by things. This evening she was getting a crash course in how to roll with it.
“I also have my online English students,” she said apologetically to Alisha.
“That’s too bad.” Alisha looked genuinely disappointed as she turned to Brent. “What about you?”
“Well, I’m stag, but I’ll go and be the pathetic fifth wheel drowning his sorrows,” Brent said with a laugh.
Beside him, Ellie looked like she was just realizing something. “Hey, actually I’m off next week, and I could always teach my class from there as long as there’s a reliable internet connection.” She glanced at Alisha.
Alisha nodded. “Trust me, there’s Wi-Fi or I would not be going.”
Ellie smiled. “Well, then, I might actually be able to go after all.” She turned to him. “You have to work though, right?” she asked pointedly, straining to sound disappointed.
He should say yes. That was what she wanted. That was what she was expecting.
Instead he shook his head. “Nope. Free as a bird.”
Daggers shot like laser beams from her eyes. “But what about the bookstore?” she asked tightly. “We can’t close it for five days.”
“I’m sure Mrs. Grayson can handle it. She’s always telling us we need to take some time off together,” he said for good measure. “And April’s been asking for more volunteer hours for her college application, so I think they’d be okay without us for a few days.” He was in now, and he was determined to see this through. Five days of them pretending to be in love might be just the thing Ellie needed to see him in a different light, and up against Brent, he was determined to be the one that had her attention by the end of the week.
“Well, that settles it,” Alisha said, excitedly. “We’re all in!”
Ellie shot him a murderous look behind her forced smile. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Callum knew he should be feeling guilty or at least worried for his life after they were out of view of the group, but he wasn’t. Even if things didn’t go his way, even if Ellie didn’t fall madly in love with him, at least he’d be there in case she needed him.
She might be infatuated with her ex-boyfriend, but Callum could see right through the guy, and he didn’t like what he saw.
CHAPTER SIX
A FULL WEEK away with her former classmates was stressful enough. Adding a fake fiancé that she had to first convince everyone she was in love with and then stage a breakup with all within five days was giving Ellie pangs in her chest that she was certain had to be mini heart attacks. She pressed her hand to her chest and forced several deep breaths, but they only stuck in her throat.
Getting the time off work had been surprisingly easy. Meredith had been more than accommodating when Callum had announced they were going camping together. The woman had literally lit up at the idea of the two of them together. Not that they’d told her about their elaborate scheme—she thought they were going as friends though it was clear she hoped that friendship would develop into something more. It only made Ellie feel worse to think that their boss and friend, a
mother figure to them both really, thought the two of them together in a romantic way was a good idea.
Disappointing Meredith when she, hopefully, reconnected with Brent wouldn’t be a great feeling.
Packing her bag, she put things in and then took them out. What the hell should she take anyway? She wasn’t a big camper, and the weather forecast for Wild River was reporting warm, sunny days, but the weather was often more unpredictable three hours away, closer to the coast. One minute it could be hot and sunny, the next overcast with thunder and lightning.
Consulting Alisha’s group message on Facebook was no help. The other woman had provided the directions to the cottages and said to be prepared for a fun, adventurous week full of surprises that Cheryl had planned.
Ellie wasn’t a huge fan of surprises either. Not since her parents threw her a surprise party when she was sixteen and she’d ended up in the hospital with a broken arm after falling down the stairs in fright when everyone jumped out at her screaming “Surprise!”
Nope, that word literally gave her an involuntary twitch.
And besides, Ellie was a planner. She liked to be prepared, she liked having a heads-up. Winging it never went well, as had been recently confirmed, and she needed this week to go according to plan.
It would all be so much easier if she just told everyone the truth, but she was too far into the lie now. Pretending that Callum had to bail last minute wasn’t a great idea either. She didn’t want the others to think she was there flirting with Brent behind her fiancé’s back. How would that make her look?
And being there with Callum might make Brent jealous. Of course, Ellie wanted him to want her back because he realized he still had feelings for her after spending time with her again, but a helpful nudge from the green-eyed monster could definitely help.
She picked up her cell phone and texted Callum.
We need to be on the road by noon tomorrow.
Then she deleted the last two words and wrote eleven thirty tomorrow instead. Always give a chronically late person a time a half hour earlier than you want them there, her mom always used to say.
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