Page 34 of Wild Lies

“It is and I am. It would mean staying in town for a little longer, considering I’m due to fly out on Tuesday morning, but it’s not like I have anything to go back to in Seattle.”

“Do you think you’d consider staying longer than the photoshoot would take you?” Kade asks, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows.

The air between us is charged with expectation.

My immediate response is yes, because this state is perhaps the most beautiful one I’ve ever visited and I could take pictures for months, years even, and not run out of content. But then I’m reminded of our circumstances and the fact that Kade and I started out as pretend and maybe he’s not asking because he wants to spend more time with me but because he’s ready for me to quit dragging him into my drama and get out of his town.

Instead of giving the answer I want to, or even correcting him on how long I’d be here, I simply shrug and say, “I don’t know. It would depend on a lot of things.”

“Such as?”

“If I could find work around here to start with, and somewhere to live. You know, the main necessities.”

The corner of Kade’s mouth kicks up as he nods. “I guess.”

Unable to bite my tongue anymore, I ask, “Has anything ever happened with you and Maddie?”

Kade bursts into laughter before he sees the look on my face and grows serious. “No. Nothing. We were in the same year at school, but we never really hung out and then shit happened with her brother and Wyatt and any chance of us being friends went with it.”

I want to ask what happened between their brothers, but Aunt Liz chooses that moment to arrive, waltzing up to the table as if she hasn’t had us waiting for nearly half an hour.

“If it isn’t my new favorite couple.”

I stand, kissing her on both cheeks before sliding back into my seat. Kade follows suit before sitting beside me.

Aunt Liz narrows her eyes as she looks between us. “Uh-oh, is there trouble in paradise?”

I shake my head, reaching for Kade’s hand that is resting on the tabletop. “Not at all, we were just talking about an opportunity that has presented itself.”

“The truth is,” Kade interrupts, his voice deep and sending a shiver down my spine, “I was asking Chloe if she’d consider staying in Coldwater for a bit longer.”

Aunt Liz lifts her brows and turns her attention to me as she slides into her seat. Resting an elbow on the table, she sets her chin on her fist and says, “And? What did you say?”

“I said I didn’t know.” I chuckle, squeezing Kade’s hand in warning.

He leans into me, wrapping an arm around my waist, the heat of his breath ghosting over the shell of my ear as he says, “That feels like a cop-out answer, buttercup.”

I glance over at Aunt Liz. She’s watching us gleefully as if we’re her favorite show. When I turn toward Kade, he’s inches away from me, so close I could kiss him. Getting distracted by his handsomeness, I lift a hand, running my thumb over his bottom lip as my eyes flit between his eyes and his mouth.

Everything around us fades away; the volume in the room becomes muted as if we’re in our own little bubble. I roll my lips together and ignore the nervous butterflies dancing in my stomach.

“Truthfully, yes, I’d consider staying,” I whisper, searching Kade’s face for his reaction.

His eyes soften and the corners of his mouth curve until he’s grinning at me. “If that isn’t just the best news I’ve had all day.”

I run a hand down his chest and push against him lightly. “I said consider, handsome, don’t go getting carried away.”

He leans back in his chair, his laughter rumbling in his chest.

When I turn toward Aunt Liz, shaking my head, she’s got a wistful look on her face as she presses a hand to her chest. “This”—she waves an arm between me and Kade—“is the kind of love that lasts for centuries.”

I splutter on the sip of water I’d taken, my eyes blowing wide. “Woah,” I choke out. “I think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself there.”

Kade rubs small circles on my back, completely unaffected by Aunt Liz’s words. “I’ll admit, it is a bit soon for that kind of declaration, Liz, but I can definitely see this going there.”

His words are so sure and strong. Like he might actually mean them, and I have to remind myself that this is all pretend. He’s just playing the part of a loving boyfriend and doesn’t really mean what he’s saying, no matter how badly I might wish for it to be true.

The server arrives to take our drinks order now that our party is here. He looks at Kade expectantly, who turns toward me, “You having a neat whiskey?”