Chapter 2

2

MADDY

December 23rd: Daniel’s car.

“Must we listen to Christmas music?”

“Yes. My car, my rules.”

I huff and cross my arms. Of course Daniel listens to Christmas music. Should have caught the bus, but air-con was too tempting to turn down. The sweat dripping down my back is finally cooling, and I hope my perfume covers the smell of sweat.

It annoys me how obsessed everyone is with Christmas. No one’s ever around on my birthday, which I understand, but we don’t have a white Christmas like the songs sing about endlessly. When the music is all about the cold, huddling together with mulled wine, but it’s sunny and humid outside, it’s kinda hard to get into the spirit of Christmas. Didn’t see a point in celebrating this year, no one’s around, so why would I?

“How’s the octopus healing?” I ask. Guess I’ll make conversation while I’m stuck in the car with him. He appeared about a month ago, unannounced, and wanted to add to his aquatic-themed sleeve. Did I have time to work on him? Nope. Did I make time anyway? Yes. I did. Because I’m an idiot.

“Perfectly. No issues.”

“Good.” I can’t see it from where I’m sitting, but I’ll check it before he leaves. “Turn left here.” I remind him. He’s visited my place a few times and my chest always squeezes to see him in my space, sitting on my couch and eating my food, but it clearly isn’t stuck in his mind like it is in mine because he misses the turn. “It’s fine. Pull in here and I’ll walk.”

He ignores me and keeps driving. The wrong way.

“Daniel, you’re going the wrong way.”

“I know.”

I glance at him and watch his shifty eyes dart from me to the road and back again, never landing on me for long.

My eyes narrow at him. “Where are we going?”

He coughs. “Nowhere.”

My eyes analyse the street. “Is there a reason we’re waiting at the lights for the motorway north?” I say through grit teeth. I know exactly what’s north, and it isn’t my flat or his house.

“To go to the beach.”

“And what beach is that?”

“The beach where a bach and holiday awaits you.” He turns onto the motorway.

“Daniel! I said I wasn’t coming. Turn around,” I demand.

“Oops sorry, can’t.”

“Then take the first exit.”

“I have a feeling I won’t get across the lanes in time to exit.”

“Daniel, you fucker. I said no.” My nostrils flare, and I ignore the cheery music on the radio trying to kill me.

“All I heard was a cry for help.” Without moving his eyes from the road, he finds my shoulder and squeezes before I shrug him off.

I don’t need his bare hand on my bare skin, sending tingles down my arm when I’m angry at him.

I slouch in the seat. Guess I’ll get comfortable since I’m stuck here with stupid music and stupid handsome Daniel with his stupid green eyes and stupid chestnut hair for the next few hours.

“A cry for help is a bit dramatic.”

“You didn’t want to celebrate your birthday.”

My mother would say my eyes rolled so far back in my head they got stuck. “I said there wasn’t anyone to celebrate with.”

“And what am I? Someone random off the street?”

“No. You’re Oliver’s best friend, who I only see when you’re with him, or when you want a tattoo.”

“I’m hurt you don’t think we’re friends.”

We aren’t. Even if I desperately want to be. But it’s a little hard to be friends with your older brother’s bestie when you’ve been in love with him since you were sixteen, and he was your sexual awakening.

And now I’m spending my birthday and Christmas with him. Fuck. What am I going to do? At least Emma will be there, so I can try to avoid him. Being in the car with him is hard enough for me, inhaling his citrusy cologne while trying to stay angry at him. But… Maybe it’ll be nice to get away for a few days.

“You kidnapped me. Friends don’t kidnap friends.”

“They do if they need sea air for their constitution.”

I snort. “I’m not that bad.”

“You gave your staff a holiday and worked in the studio by yourself. That’s bad.”

“Fine. But I work by the sea. If it hasn’t fixed me there, it won’t fix me at your fancy bach.”

“It’s not fancy. It’s been in the family since I was a kid.”

My eyes widen, and I straighten. I hadn’t clicked. The family is spending Christmas at the bach. The whole family. “Wait. You have to turn around.”

“Can’t really do that.”

“But I don’t have any presents!”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Sure, welcome me into your home for the holidays, but, oops, I forgot to buy your family presents.” Maybe I could cook or something?

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Stop saying that,” I hiss. I’ve met his family numerous times, but that doesn’t mean I feel comfortable invading their holiday.

“I took care of it.” He squeezes my shoulder again.

“How?”

“I added your name beside mine.”

I blink at him. “What?”

“I added your?—”

“Yes, I got that. Why?”

“Because I knew you’d stress about it.”

“And why has my name been added beside yours instead of on a separate present? They’ll think we’re together.” The only reason I notice his wince is because I’m staring at him. “Daniel, why have you put our names on your presents like we’re a couple?” I ask uncertainly.

He swallows harshly and glances at me. “Because they think we are one.”

My world crashes. I stare at the cars whizzing past and remember to breathe. “They what?”

“They think we’re a couple.”

I shut the music off and slap his hand away when he tries to turn it on again. “Tell me why,” I snap.

How could they think that? Why do they think that? Does this mean I can touch him as if we’re dating? Hug him and breathe in his scent?

“Emma kept being annoying about me not dating anyone, so to shut her up, I said I was dating you and it happened to be in front of my parents.”

Should I be flattered he thought of me to get his family off his back or horrified?

“And how long have we been dating?”

“Six months.”

“Six months! What the fuck, Daniel?” I screech and he cringes.

“What?”

“Your family thinks we’ve been dating for six months. How? Don’t they think it’s weird I haven’t visited them at all?”

“Which is why you’re coming today.”

I flinch and stare out the passenger window to avoid looking at him. So he doesn’t want to celebrate my birthday or Christmas with me. He can’t be bothered telling his family we aren’t together and dragged me into it instead of being honest. It was never about me and making me happy and getting freaking sea air.

It’s about him.

“And you need a holiday and to celebrate your birthday. It’s a win-win situation.”

“Is it? I don’t have any clothes with me. Shall I wear this for the duration of my captivity?”

“I’ve got stuff for you.”

That gets me to turn my head. His cheeks are flushed. “What stuff?”

“Stuff Ella packed.”

To think there wouldn’t be any more surprises. “As in Oliver’s soon-to-be fiancée and neighbour to my studio Ella?”

“Yes.”

My hands shake and I can’t tell if it’s from fury or nerves. Probably both. “They left days ago.”

“She packed stuff when we were at yours the day before they left.”

I frown and my mouth drops open. “Are you telling me you came up with this ridiculous plan a week ago, got my brother and his girlfriend in on it, and went through my stuff, all to make your life easier?”

“No.”

“Don’t tell me no, you dick. You said?—”

“It’s not to make my life easier! Maddy, you need a holiday and you deserve to celebrate your birthday. El and Ollie agreed with me. They don’t know about the dating stuff. This is about you and giving you a break. The dating stuff doesn’t matter, the family will ask a few questions, we’ll hug a few times to pretend it’s a thing, and that’s it. Nothing will happen expect you finally relaxing and drinking champagne on your birthday.”

“While pretending I’m dating you. Some birthday,” I mumble, but the idea of his arms wrapped around my shoulders and my face buried in his chest sends butterflies through my stomach, and then lower.

He slaps a hand on his chest. “I’m offended. I’m a catch. Founder of my own company?—”

“With my brother.”

“—and I have these freaking awesome tattoos?—”

“That I did.”

“—and a place by the beach.”

“Your family has a place by the beach,” I correct.

“Semantics.”

I can’t help but laugh. So I have to pretend to date him. Worse things could happen than my dream coming true. Is it dating him for real? No. But spending time together at the beach isn’t terrible. It sounds nice. I could swim for once. Haven’t had a chance to swim in ages. You’d think working by the beach I’d swim daily, but no, I work long hours to keep my studio running and if I’m not at the studio, I’m working on designs.

Not that I’ll admit it to Daniel, but spending time with him and his family is worlds better than what I had planned.

“How did you convince them we’re dating? And for so long?” I ask, flicking the music back on and causing Daniel to smile. The only reason I did it.

“It wasn’t hard. I talk about you a lot, so I just talked about you more, told them what you were up to. It helps that I don’t see them often.”

“Don’t you have a weekly dinner together?” My brow creases.

“We do.”

“How is that not often? That means you discussed me weekly, for six months.” My limbs feel weak imagining him discussing me at his family dinners.

He shrugs. “Wasn’t hard.”

I decide not to approach his comment, not sure I’m ready to hear why it was easy to discuss me. Is it a good thing he discusses me with his family so often? Could he feel the same way I do, or is he avoiding confrontation with his family? It would have been easier to say we broke up. I rarely see his family now, it wouldn’t change anything in my day-to-day. Although Emma would have had lots to say. Why hasn’t she said something already? I shake myself. It doesn’t matter.

“So, do you have a plan for this dating thing?”

“Nope.”

“You don’t have a plan. Are you kidding?”

“What’s there to plan? We’re already affectionate, we’ll just sit closer together than usual.”

“You’re affectionate,” I correct. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

“No one will care. They’ll be happy to see you. We’ll eat lots of food, relax, and head home in a few days. Easy.”

Speak for yourself. Easy. Easy being around him and his family, all cosy, pretending we’ve been dating for six months, while I try not to show my true feelings. Guess it wouldn’t matter if I showed them, considering we’re supposed to be in love. Are we supposed to be in love or just dating? Too many questions and so few answers.

I’ll take his lead and see what happens.

At least there’ll be champagne.