“You okay? You want me to go out there and stuff Brutus’ balls up his asshole?”

Taylor’s laughter felt like a reward. “He’d probably like that. He was weirdly obsessed with his balls.”

“He’s drinking a lot and can’t stop staring at you.” I unbuttoned my wet jeans. I was going to shower downstairs, but the denim was digging into me now.

She swallowed hard. “He’s not good at letting go.”

“We can make our boyfriend-girlfriend act be a traveling show, if you want. I know he won’t touch you with me here. Not that that’s fair, just your words should be plenty. But if you aren't in the mood for a fight, it’s an option.”

“I think that would be preferable tonight. Just take him out of the equation.” She moved toward Teddi’s bathroom.

“Okay, I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” I turned and left. It wasn’t fair and I was trying not to think about it, but I had seen the cloth plastered against Taylor’s breasts in the pool and they were spectacular.

12

TAYLOR

Austin had seen me as close to topless as a person could get. I mean, I could see my nipples in the pool, and he had come and been my dignity.

I sighed. Wrapping myself around his body was intense. Chest-to-chest, him in his low slung jeans, easily holding me up. It was effortless for him. I could feel my heart beating against his. We fit so perfectly. I knew we would. My whole being had been betting on that exact thing.

While I took a shower and dipped into the shampoo and conditioner that Teddi kept on the edge of the tub, I let the hot water try to restore my body’s temperature.

I toweled off and wrapped my hair in another fluffy white towel. I put on my leggings and a sweatshirt that I had planned to sleep in.

I met Austin in the living room and he had a towel on his hair, too.

He held out his hand and I put mine in his.

“I texted Teddi so she knows we’re pretending and she knows not to make a fuss.”

I nodded. That was good. That was the right thing to do. It was slightly crushing to think that he freely told Teddi the pretend relationship was just that—pretend.

My heart was going to be put through a cheese grater, but I couldn’t stop myself if I tried. Even being a fake girlfriend was still a girlfriend to Austin Freaking Burathon.

We walked out to the porch and I saw Brutus hunched over at the picnic table, another beer in his hand. Austin led me over to the bonfire and pulled me onto his lap when he chose a chair.