Page 32 of What Started In Deception

“Thanks.” He unwrapped his, studying several slices of meat nestled among the cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. “This looks amazing.” He bit in. “It is amazing,” he said around his mouthful.

She grinned, then took a bite of her own, humming in her throat as she nodded and chewed. She put her hand up to cover her mouth. “I’m so hungry.”

He dug into the pack, serving them both salad and fruit. “You went above and beyond, Lyd. This is a hell of a picnic.”

She shrugged. “We might as well do it right.”

He bit into his sub again as the previews for the future summer movies started playing on the screen as the sun officially vanished for the night. “It looks like we’re just in time.”

She nodded, eating more of her sandwich.

Long moments passed while they both attacked their meal.

She smiled at him as she plucked up a grape. “Tonight’s better.”

He paused with a bite of greens at his mouth. “What’s better?”

She gestured between the two of them. “Us. I would call this companionable silence versus uncomfortable silence.”

He nodded. “I told you we would start to find our rhythm.” He set his fork down instead of eating his last bite. “You seem more at ease.”

She shrugged. “I did some thinking last night after you left.”

“Oh yeah?”

She nodded. “This whole fake relationship thing is pretty weird.”

He nodded. “It is.”

“I hate that you’re investigating my family.”

He nodded again. “I can’t blame you.”

“But we’re stuck together for the next little while, so it makes sense for us to make the best of it.”

He nodded yet again. “Things will certainly be smoother if we do.”

“I agree.” She popped a piece of watermelon into her mouth. “That was it,” she said as she shrugged. “That’s what I was thinking.”

“We’re going to find our way.”

She nodded.

He looked toward the screen. “I think the previews are ending.”

They tidied up, putting their pillows at the top of the blanket as The Goonies’ opening scene started playing.

“We should grab another picture,” he said as he pulled out his phone, forever remembering that this was very much a job.

She leaned in without hesitation, touching her cheek to his as he focused them in the frame.

He took the shot, satisfied that they’d both grinned. “I’ll text it to you,” he said, hearing her back pocket ding as he sent it to her.

“Thanks.” She set her phone at her side and lay back, settling in.

He settled his head on his pillow, reaching for her hand, feeling her tense.

She looked at him, holding his gaze in the light from the film, as she let him lace their fingers again. She said nothing as she gave her attention to the movie.