Two truths and a lie.

Easy as pie, right?

Sloane felt like she was staring down the barrel of her first public-speaking exam from college. All eyes were on her.

Her palms turned slick, flutters filled her chest, she clocked all the exits—which was a body of water and not at all helpful—and before she opened her mouth to speak, she actively prayed her voice didn’t wobble.

“And try to use something that you didn’t post on the internet,” Carol said, pouncing like a puma in heat. Her smile was wide and sharp and confirmed Sloane’s suspicion that Carol had championed for this particular game to put Sloane in the exact spot she was in now. Feeling awkward, exposed, and panicked all at once.

“Two truths and a lie,” she said with a long, slow nod.

She could do this.

Out of her periphery, she saw Brady smile at her. He should have been more nervous. They knew nothing about each other, their cover was on the line, and, with a simple game, he’d already proven two truths to her within the space of ten minutes.

The first? He was happy to know more about Felicity than Marcus. Like-a-kid-at-a-candy-shop happy. Sloane had felt it in her body, because his had nearly been vibrating with excitement to let everyone know that he’d never doubted for a moment that he knew which of her statements was a lie. Confidence like that was sexy. Sometimes. Sitting across from your fake boyfriend’s very real longtime ex-girlfriend? Less sexy and more of a punch-to-the-gut, why-are-we-here feeling.

Brady knowing Felicity wasn’t a bad thing; in fact, it made sense.

But him clearly loving that he knew her?

To Sloane, that showed her a man who might still be in love with his ex.

The second? While Brady knew Felicity without hesitation, Sloane was nothing but hesitation when it came to knowing Brady. Sure, their relationship wasn’t real, but it still weirdly hurt that she’d had a one out of three chance of getting the answer right. Yet she hadn’t. And Felicity had.

None of it should have been surprising, and none of it should have made her heart squeeze just a little.

But it had, and it did.

Now Sloane had a feeling she was going to feel like an outcast again. And she hated it.

Then do something about it, Sloanie girl.

She straightened her back, rolled her shoulders, and ignored her rising adrenaline.

“One, I once catered a wedding where I caught the groom cheating with the bride’s sister. Two, Emma and I have matching Beetlejuice tattoos hidden very well on our bodies. And three—” Sloane finally looked at Brady. His eyebrow rose. “I’m about to jump in the water because hot damn it’s humid out here.”

Brady smirked. “Well, I know which one of those I hope is true.”

Sloane didn’t wait for anyone else to comment.