Chapter Four

Sebastian

Something's off with Nora and her boss.

His mother was in the bookstore two weeks ago hounding Nora's "boyfriend" about being single. And the other woman she was there with was force-feeding him phone numbers for potential girlfriends—in front of Nora, whodidn't even bat an eye. If that wasn't telling enough, she and her boss booked more than one room at this resort.

She's now looking at me like a deer in the headlights.

Fake game recognizes fake game.

These two are no more a couple than Alessia and I .

It's none of my business, but I can't help but feel for the guy. His mom is more intense about marrying him off than Nella ever thought of being, and that's saying something, since Nella once invited her cardiologist's engaged granddaughter to the movies with us "in case I could turn the tide." I understand the pressure he feels.

Benjamino looks like he wants to bolt. If these two are actually together—

They aren't. I'm sure of it.

"Hey." I take a step closer. "That lady who was just here was the same one harassing you about eggs and babies at the bookstore, right?"

Benjamino side-eyes me. "How do you know that?"

"I was there that night getting a tour. I wouldn't expect you to remember—you were busy dealing with the other woman." I carefully add, "The one who offered you names and phone numbers."

Nora's eyes cut to mine. "What are you trying to say?"

That I hope I wasn't hitting on a taken woman, for starters.

Not for nothing, she was giving me signals that she was interested back at the store. I may be out of practice with women, but I'm not dead. So sometime between then and now, the two of them must've arranged this.

Benjamino pinches the bridge of his nose. "He's saying he knows , Nora. And that we're doing a terrible job selling it, and that we should give up."

"Whoa. I didn't say any of that." Though they are pretty terrible at selling it. "I was just trying to understand."

Why was I trying to understand? I have no fucking idea. Should've kept my mouth shut and let them do their thing, frankly.

"All there is to know is my family is off their giant shared rocker and obsessed with my relationship status." Benjamino casts a miserable look Nora's way. "And as nice as it would be to make them happy for once, no one is going to buy that you'd ever be into me."

"C'mon, Benji. That's not true." Nora squeezes his shoulder. "I'd be lucky to—"

"And they wouldn't believe I'd go for you, either."

Nora looks down at her outfit. "Okay, ouch?"

I give Nora a once-over as we shuffle forward in line. Last time I saw her, her glasses had clear frames. Today's are black-rimmed and play nicely with her dark hair.

Holy shit , do these suit her. Or maybe they just suit my interests, same way her red lipstick and tight jeans do. They're the kind of jeans that make a man want to say spin around and show me the back.

I remove my head from the gutter and glance back at her eyes. They're a soft green. The color is the same as the wind chime I hung for Nella on the porch over her favorite wicker chair.

Sea glass , she'd called it. Makes our porch feel like Cape Cod, doesn't it?

From where I'm standing, Nora's got all the necessary features to be almost anyone's type.

"Not physically, Nora. I'm talking personality," says Benjamino—or Benji, apparently. "And anyway, they're going to be paying way too close attention for us to fool them. Especially my mom."

Alessia looks up from her phone, which features a selfie of Eloise blowing a kiss. It disappears when she clicks the side button. "If you keep yelling about how fake your situation is, yeah, you'll probably have some issues." Her gaze moves from Benji to Nora and back again. "And my family is off their rockers, too. Join the club. My advice for surviving the week? Just laugh at each other's jokes and occasionally touch each other when people are looking. That's our plan for the week, anyway."

" Alessia ," I nearly stumble over her name. "What are you doing?"

Her gaze is pointed. " You're the one who poked the bear and called them out. I'm just trying to help."

In her eagerness to help, Alessia is on the brink of disclosing our secret, and I'm fairly sure it's my job to help prevent that and protect my friend. "Right, but you don't have to say anything about…anything to do with that."

"It's fine, Sebastian." Alessia gestures at the four of us. "This is the circle of trust now."

Nora lifts a finger, her voice almost a whisper. "Uh, more like the triangle of suspicion. You're saying you two aren't really—"

"Nah." Alessia catches her eye. "We aren't. And I'm sure we can count on you to keep that under wraps."

Nora's mouth hangs open for a few seconds.

If I looked up "wary" in the dictionary, I think I'd find the face Benji is making. "Then why did you tell us?"

Alessia shrugs. "Misery loves company, right? And obviously we can relate on our ridiculous families. All the more reason for us to be allies."

Nora looks between my fake girlfriend and me, perhaps still trapped in the triangle of suspicion.

"Solidarity?" Alessia offers her closed fist.

Benji eyes it like it's a contagion for a few seconds before he figures out he's supposed to bump it.He finally does. Kinship, sealed with knuckles.

Nora follows suit, one of her rings clinking against one of Alessia's.

It's finally almost my turn to check in at the counter.

"It's about time," says Alessia. "We've got cocktail hour and then dinner soon. Enzo and Ro scheduled more group activities than a sorority during rush." Alessia gestures at the two of them. "How are you related to the bride, anyway?"

Benji scans the lobby. "Rosalina is my sister."

Alessia's eyes widen and she points at him. "Oh shit. Your sister is marrying my brother?"

Benji points back at her. "Enzo has a sister?"

"A twin sister, no less. But I'm a half inch taller, be sure to rub that in when you see him."

"I know nothing about the guy or your family other than that we hate you," he says firmly. "I keep to myself."

"And I know nothing about your family other than that our dads once beat the daylights out of each other." Alessia cackles and grabs the handle of her suitcase. "God, I hope your dad landed a few good punches. My dad could use them. Anyway, see you tonight? You're definitely staying?"

Nora turns her doe eyes Benji's way. "Are we?"

Benji takes a long look at her and blows out enough air to power a small windmill. " Fine . If we're going to do this—which, apparently, we are—at least we'll have allies, as you said."

Nora squeezes his elbow. "Great. It's settled."

With that, it should feel settled.

But an uncomfortable buzzing beneath my skin screams loose end.

"Can I talk to you for a second about Boys and Girls Club stuff?" I blurt at Nora. "Confidential stuff about one of my mentees you'll need to know when you're facilitating their event?"

That was as smooth as a jagged blade, but what's done is done.

She scratches the side of her neck. "Uh—now?"

Alessia has already busied herself with her phone, and I'm not sure when else I'll be alone with Nora. "Yes. It has to be now."

"Sure thing."

I guide us out of earshot, keeping my eye on the line so she doesn't miss her turn. "Listen, we have maybe a minute, so I'll keep this brief. I'm not sure if you were picking up what I was putting down back at the bookstore…"

I trail off and wait for some understanding to dawn on her face.

Instead, her stare is blank. "What?"

"I was going to ask you out," I say, my neck heating. Was I too subtle, or is she too innocent to tell when a man is checking her out?

"You were?" Her eyes… Damn it all, they light up like the July fourth sky. "I wasn't sure. I mean, I'd hoped you were."

I groan internally, pressure increasing between my ribs. She wants me to ask her out. Or wanted , before we both waltzed into fake relationships that neither of us can jeopardize.

So much for clearing my head of this girl.

Knowing she was fully interested is going to haunt me, but I'm going to have to force myself to forget that interest if I have any hope of making it through the week. I'm talking Men-in-Black level of mind erasure.

"Obviously none of that can happen now," I clarify. "We are both in iron-clad situations that require our full attention while we're here. And in your case, maybe longer?"

I don't mean it to sound like a question, but it comes out that way regardless.

"I don't know how long Benji needs me to keep this up," she admits, peering over her shoulder. "Even if we're ‘done' at the end of the week, it still may take a little while to relay that message to his family."

"Right. So, this"—I gesture between us—"is not a thing we can entertain. Agreed?"

A blush colors her cheeks. "Agreed."

Benji glances our way with an air of impatience.

"Last thing," I say. "Can we not tell our respective partners that I almost asked you out? I think that would just complicate things further."

Alessia would try to release me from the arrangement out of guilt—her default emotion for needing anything, ever, is guilt—and I don't want to risk Benji's ire.

Nora nods, chewing her lip. "Okay. Because you didn't, technically."

If she wants to get technical, her Redwood tree of a "boyfriend" cock-blocked me at the bookstore, but there's no point in splitting hairs.

She makes her way back to Benji's side. I trail behind her, forcing myself not to pay close attention to how she walks.

Commence with the mind erasing.

"Good timing," Benji says as we file in beside our partners. "It's our turn to check in. And not a minute too soon, because I need to get out of this damn lobby before Tairn gets lonely."

Alessia looks at me sidelong. "Who the hell is Tairn?"