Page 113 of The Temporary Fiancée
“Did you ever beat him?” Maisy asks.
“Not once, unfortunately. He was so cocky about it, too. I really just wanted to take him down a peg.”
I shoot Reed a playful grin, and he pretends to roll his eyes.
“Even back then, he was smart and dedicated,” I continue, “constantly studying—I don’t think he ever got below a B in school.”
“Really?” Maisy seems surprised; I guess Reed’s studiousness conflicts with his image a bit. But isn’t that the whole point of this?
“Oh, yeah. For sure. He was always busy, even when we were only kids. Parties with the family, and boarding school, and a dozen other things—he took up sailing at one point, I think—and it all kept him so busy that I was just grateful I got to spend any time with him at all. I had such a huge crush on him, so…”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize my mistake.
I was on a roll, just talking about Reed and almost managing to get past my interview jitters. It was easier than I expected, and I just… wasn’t thinking before I spoke. Wasn’t being careful enough.
I freeze up, and my gaze slides over to Reed. He’s staring at me, his eyes wide. I can feel heat rushing into my face as it sinks in…I just admitted it. I said I had a crush on him.
Oh, shit.
Chapter 25
Reed
Shocked,I stare at Olivia, doing my best to keep my emotions hidden. If Maisy O’Conner sees a look of surprise on my face at this revelation, it could be devastating for our secret.
So I try to recover quickly. Get my feet back under me.
After all… I don’t even know if this is true, right? It could just be something Olivia’s saying for the interview. It could just be a genius ad-lib on her part.
Somehow, though, I doubt it. Because she won’t look me in the eye anymore, and that’s a bit of a dead giveaway. She’s mortified, and in all likelihood, it’s because she didn’t mean to reveal that fact.
I remember the moments we had when we were young, the small encounters when we’d talk—the stories Olivia mentioned before. I remember her learning to play chess and stomping off in a huff when I beat her in seven moves. I remember thinking that she was so pretty, always. But I never knew that she had a crush on me.
In an effort to prevent the interview from becoming awkward for Olivia, I decide to move things along as smoothly as possible. “We’re so lucky that our paths crossed again as adults,” I say,lifting Olivia’s hand onto the table’s surface so that Maisy can see my thumb stroking her knuckles. “And I’m so lucky to have her.”
“Of course.” Maisy smiles, pleased. Partly, she seems happy for us, but mostly she seems happy to be getting the inside scoop—the first interview we’ve given. “It’s sweet serendipity, then, eh?”
“Something like that,” Olivia says in a small voice, recovering from her embarrassment slightly.
“That’s great,” Maisy says. “How’d you reconnect?”
“Two mutual friends of ours met a while ago, and are getting married soon as well,” I explain. “We ran into each other when Olivia came to an event with them.”
“And you fell back into things quickly, huh? Already popped the question. That’s a pretty sudden engagement.”
“Well, it was like picking up where we left off,” I say, eager to get the chance to smooth over this issue. “Honestly, I know her so well already, and she knows me better than anyone, so the connection was just… instant.”
Maisy scribbles for a while after that answer, like she’s copying down what I’ve said word-for-word. At long last, she looks up again. “Tell me about the wedding. How’s the planning process been?”
“Hectic,” Olivia says, which elicits a laugh from Maisy.
“What kind of party is it going to be?”
Olivia and Maisy discuss wedding plans for a while, and I take a backseat from the conversation, my mind spinning.
After a short while, Maisy smiles, takes a few last notes, and sets down her pen.
“I think I have everything I need to write a good piece,” she says. “Thank you both for coming to meet with me.”
