Not Fake for Long by Weston Parker

14

KEIRA

Iwalked into my apartment and staggered to the couch, taking off my heels, bra, and earrings one after the other. The shoes hit my rug with dull thuds, my bra ended up hanging off the back of the couch, and I set my earrings down on the coffee table before sagging into the cushions.

For a few minutes, I didn’t move. I just sat there, staring at the black screen of my TV as I caught my breath after another wild day. It turned out that taking a day off meant working even longer hours the week after, trying to catch up on everything I’d missed.

It was terrifying how much actually happened in just a day and a half at my office.

I blew out a breath, grabbing the remote to switch on the news. The workday at the office might finally be over, but I needed to make a study of the business news every night. I didn’t even have time to change before I watched the report with a notebook from my satchel in hand, jotting down interesting points that I’d look into in the morning.

Just as I was about to go change and then dig something out of the freezer for dinner, there was a knock at my door. I sighed but veered off to the front door instead of heading straight for my bedroom.

Jamie hid her face behind a bag of takeout, but there was no hiding her hair. I’d barely undone the latch when she started talking. “I come bearing gifts. I know you’ve had a long few days after getting back, but everybody needs to eat, and I haven’t seen you for a week.”

I opened the door wider, grinning as I pulled her in for a hug. “Seeing you is gift enough. But the food helps.” I snatched the food right out of her hands. “This smells delicious. Please tell me it’s what I think it is.”

“If you think it’s fresh tagliatelle pasta from the place that finishes it off in the cheese wheel, then it is what you think it is.”

“Have I told you lately that you’re my all-time favorite person?” I inhaled deeply, getting another whiff of creamy, cheesy pasta.

“You have, but it’s always good to hear it.” She laughed, following me inside and shutting the door behind her. “So, how was the weekend? Are you a star rider now?”

“If by star rider, you mean that I can safely sit on a horse and get it to stop when I need it to, then yes, I’m a star rider.” I motioned toward the living room. “Have a seat. I’ll get us something to drink.”

I got the containers out of the bag and carried them, along with two bottles of water, back to the sofa. We snapped the wooden forks off the tops of the containers, tucking our legs underneath us while we ate.

“I don’t think Hailey is going to use horses in her wedding anymore,” I said around a mouthful of food.

“Oh yeah?”

I shrugged. “She was on a horse for a few hours on Friday, but that was it.”

“Did she hurt herself?”

“No, nothing happened,” I said. “Like she didn’t fall or anything. She just didn’t seem to like it very much.”

“Well, that’s fair enough. Not everyone needs to like everything.” She swallowed a bite of her pasta. “It just sucks that you took a whole weekend to go away with her and then ended up not riding. What did you do instead? Were there at least some cute shops around?”

I flashed her a coy smile. “Just because she didn’t ride doesn’t mean I didn’t. She spent the entire weekend in bed or on the phone. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the fresh air and the company.”

“What company?” She frowned. “I thought Hailey was on the phone all weekend?”

“She was, but there was this horse guy.”

She laughed. “What, like a centaur?”

“I have no idea what that is, weirdo,” I said with a giggle.

“Duh, a half-horse, half-man creature from Greek mythology?”

A mental image of Harrison played in my mind. “If he’s anything from a Greek myth, he’s one of the gods.”

She grinned and leaned closer. “Okay, that’s way more interesting. Tell me everything. What did he smell like?”

“I don’t know,” I said, laughing. “Like a man, I guess.”

“Super hot. Go on.”

“He took me out riding on some trails. Showed me a few things.”

She barked a laughed. “Oh, I bet he did.”

“Shut up. It was fun getting to know him.”

She leaned forward, her gaze glued to mine. “Just how well did you get to know him? I saw that look on your face just now, young lady.”

Heat raced to my cheeks, but I didn’t look away. While I wasn’t about to go into the finer, more intimate details, I wasn’t ashamed of what had happened between Harrison and me.

“Let’s just say that we got along well enough that I spent Saturday night with him.” I smiled as I thought back to how sweet he’d been on Sunday morning. “I like him. He’s a nice guy. A good one, too.”

She studied my expression before breaking out into a wide grin. “If you’re still so smiley four days later, I bet he’s good in more ways than one. What’s his name? Do you have any dick pics?”

I laughed, nearly choking on my next bite while I was at it. Reaching for my water, I took a long sip before finally shaking my head. “Nope, none of those. Sorry. His name is Harrison. I should’ve gotten a picture of him—a regular picture—but my mind wasn’t exactly on my phone when I was with him.”

She playfully pouted. “No pictures? You mean I have to use my imagination like a caveman? Fine, you’ll just have to describe him to me then. Don’t leave anything out. How big around is it? I’m all about girth these days.”

I ignored that detail and described his hazel eyes and thick dark hair, his muscular physique and tanned skin. There was no doubt in my mind that my face got all dreamy while I spoke, describing the easy way he controlled the horses and how gentle he was while he taught me.

Eventually, she laughed at me and wet her fingers in her glass to flick some water on me.

“Cool down, girl. Your hot riding instructor is too far away for a booty call.” Her blue eyes twinkled as she crinkled her nose. “Besides, you can’t show up for work tomorrow morning in today’s clothes and smelling like the great outdoors.”

I sighed. “You’re right, but it is damn tempting to drive out there just to see him again. I’ve never clicked with anyone the way I did with him.”

“What did Hailey think about him?” she asked. “Did you get a lecture about how you should be looking for a guy who can provide for you?”

“No. I don’t even think she noticed him or that I wasn’t around much.” My heart still gave a pang whenever I thought about all that time I could’ve spent with my sister before she got married. “She did exactly what I thought she would do. If it hadn’t been for Harrison, I’d have spent the entire weekend basically by myself.”

Sympathy crept into her eyes but when she blinked, it was gone. She sat up straighter with a determined expression on her face. “It’s her loss. I’m not going to let you sit here and obsess over the what-ifs. She was lousy company this past weekend, but Harrison was great. You clicked and you ended up having a good weekend even without your sister around.”

“I know.” I breathed in deeply through my nostrils and put Hailey’s disinterest behind me. It wasn’t that difficult. I’d had plenty of practice, after all. “Honestly? I just wish the wedding would be over already. I’m more than ready to get back to my life.”

“It’ll be over soon,” she said, trying and failing to sound encouraging. “On the bright side, I’ve got a guy you can take to the wedding with you. I’ve met him a few times now. He works for one of my suppliers. I think you two would really hit it off.”

“Thanks, but I might already have a date,” I said, thinking back to Harrison’s offer. “I’ve been trying not to think about it too much because I still don’t know if I can take him up on it, but Harrison actually said he’d come with me.”

“Hot riding instructor Harrison?” Her eyes shone with excitement, her grin growing even wider than it’d been before. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me? That’s fantastic. You have to take him up on it. He wouldn’t have offered if he didn’t want to go with you.”

“Hailey and my mom are hoping I’ll meet someone at the wedding,” I said. “I’m worried that if I take him, Mom will spend the night interrogating him about when we’re getting married. That’s not to mention that Hailey knows what he does for a living. Someone might be rude to him about it.”

“Taking him will be a nice break for you from all the rich pricks who will be there,” she said. “Besides, if he can handle a horse, he can handle your nag of a mother. Or whoever else.”

“That’s almost exactly what he said.” I finished my food and popped the used fork and napkin back into the container. “I don’t know. It just feels like a massive favor to ask someone I’ve just met. We don’t even really know each other all that well.”

“So?” She shrugged. “Get to know him if it will make you feel better about it. It sounds like you’ll have fun if he’s there with you and that’s all that really matters. Why would you take a date you wouldn’t have fun with?”

I glanced absently at the TV, watching the banner running under the screen without really paying much attention to it. Finally, I looked back at her. “Is it really fair to him, though? I might have fun if he’s there, but he might not have fun being there.”

She set her container down next to mine, then picked up her water before settling back on the couch. “I’ll tell you what isn’t fair. Automatically thinking that you can’t take him up on an offer he made to take you on a date he obviously wants to take you on.”

I laughed. “Well, when you put it that way…”

“Wanting to get to know him better is fine, but don’t just say no because you’re afraid it might not be the best night out for him ever.”

“So what you’re suggesting is that I call him up, talk to him until I’m sure he’s not a killer or one of those people who farts just before they get off the elevator, and then say yes. Even if it’ll feel like it’s leading a lamb to slaughter?”

“If he’s a lamb, he may not be the guy for you,” she joked, laughing before she arched a brow at me. “The real and only question is whether you want him there. If you do, call him, get to know him better, and then say yes.”

“I may just do that,” I said, nodding slowly. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

Famous last words.