Playing Pretend, page 10
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I ignore him, taking an extra five minutes under the shower’s spray before I cut the water and dry myself with a plush towel. I take my time stepping into my long bohemian dress. I practically blow-dry my hair one strand at a time before braiding it. Then I watch a YouTube makeup tutorial, ensuring I perfect each beauty tip to extend my isolation.
“Piper?” Rome knocks again. “It’s been over an hour. Are you going to hide in there all night or come out and talk to me?”
“Hiding feels like the award-winning option. Thanks for asking.”
“There’s no lock,” he drawls. “I’m happy to barge in.”
My gaze snaps to the door. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“You know me better than that.” He wiggles the handle. “And I would’ve thought the two of us confined in an intimate space that recently caused you explicit trauma would be a far worse place to have this conversation than you coming out here where there’s more room.”
Bastard.
I shove from the vanity, bridge the distance to the door, then yank it open.
“There she is.” He stands tall in nothing but his swim trunks. “The post-orgasm glow has faded, yet you continue to look exceptionally stunning.”
I ignore the increase of my pulse and slide past him to enter the main room. “How can you be calm about this?”
“Because it isn’t a big deal. This doesn’t have to be awkward.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t have to be, but unfortunately, I’m wedged tight into discomfort. There isn’t an ounce of wiggle room.” I round the bed, getting as far away from his catnip pheromones as possible.
“Then maybe we should keep repeating the lesson until the awkwardness fades.” He cocks his shoulder against the hallway wall. “Conquer via desensitization.”
I glower. “I know it’s hard to understand when sex is just physical for you. But it isn’t usually a sterile act for women. Especially this one.”
“You worried you’re going to fall for me, little Pip?”
I’m worried the dull throb between my thighs will never fade. “I’m worried we’re ruining our friendship.”
“Then don’t let it be ruined. Simple as that.”
Simple as that?
“Do you even comprehend how infuriating you are?” I grab one of the fresh towels folded at the end of the bed and throw it at him. “Have a shower. I’m going to meet Cassidy before dinner. I’ll see you downstairs.”
He catches the material in one hand. “You sure you don’t want to stick around? You could walk in on me again.”
“If you keep bringing that up I’m going to strangle you.”
He pushes from the wall with a smirk. “Promise?”
“I meant that in an entirely non-sexual way, you filthy pervert.”
He turns for the bathroom, flinging the towel over his shoulder. “Keep talking dirty, Pip. You’re only giving me more inspiration.”
“We’re in our suite. This isn’t part of the challenge, remember?”
He clucks his tongue and walks from view. “Sorry. I forgot. My apologies.” There’s no apology in his tone. Not an ounce as the bathroom door closes behind him.
I grab my cell. Slip into sandals. Then escape the room as I text a pleading message to Cassidy, asking for her room number.
She replies in a heartbeat.
Cassidy
315. I just got out of the shower.
I’m at her suite in seconds, banging my fist against the door.
She answers in a towel, her face crimson with sunburn. “What’s the emergency?
“Can you keep a secret?” I invite myself in, sliding past her to enter the much smaller suite with a crumpled unmade bed, the curtains drawn.
“Is this something spicy? I promise my lips are sealed.”
“I mean it, Cass.” I place my cell on the tiny dining table and turn to her. “This is a big secret. One that can’t get back to Pete or Max or anyone else in the office.”
“Hold that thought for one second.” She strides to the alcove with the fridge and snatches at the mini bar. “Vodka or gin?”
“Both.” I’m not sure more alcohol is the answer, but I crave the dulling effects.
She lobs the tiny vodka bottle at me, keeping the gin for herself. “Okay. Now, what’s going on? Is everything okay?”
“No.” I bark a delirious laugh and crack the lid. “Not one single thing is even close to being in the realm of okay.”
“Then lay it on me.” She drops to the bed. “Has Julian caused more problems? Have you broken out in a messy heat-burn sex rash from your extracurriculars with Rome?”
I raise the bottle and take a gulp, the liquid burning down my throat. “In answer to your first question—yes.” I take another gulp. “When it comes to the second—no… But in the future, who the hell knows? The crazy part is that we’re not actually dating. We’re not even a couple.”
There’s an awkward pause where my friend stares at me. “Excuse me? Run that last part by me again.”
“It’s a long story.” One with future job prospects I’m not ready to share. “The main gist is that Rome is here as a fake boyfriend to keep Julian at bay.”
“Oh…”
“It wasn’t meant to be complicated.” I take another gulp. “Julian had been calling constantly. Texting incessantly. I wasn’t even going to come to the resort—”
“But then Rome offered to be your plus one?”
I nod because for the most part, it’s true.
“And now you’re in love?”
“No.” My eyes bug. “I think it’s some weird, rekindled childhood lust thing. But that’s only natural, right? He’s an attractive guy who keeps touching me—”
“Not to mention he plays his role exceptionally well, girlfriend. I could’ve sworn you two were the real deal.”
“I know. He’s gone above and beyond the call of duty where his hands are concerned.”
“It’s more than that. The way he looks at you. Chef’s kiss.” She places her fingers to her lips, smooching them. “But you implied something else had happened with Julian. What did he do?”
“Everything and nothing at the same time.” I scan the room for the trash can, finding it under the table. “To sum it up real quick, he admitted he stayed in our relationship even though he knew it wasn’t working. Apparently, he thought it would mean he had a better chance of scoring the Bellefont contract.” I dump the empty bottle in the trash, then turn back to face her wide-eyed shock. “That’s when Rome entered the scene.”
“Are you shitting me?” She lobs the gin at me and I fumble to catch it.
“I wish. Julian went on to announce how unskilled I am in the bedroom.” My chest tightens at the admission. I crack the gin to ease the discomfort. “Apparently, I wasn’t the only one unsatisfied where sex skills were concerned.”
“Where did this whole situation go down?”
“At the bar.”
Her mouth gapes. “In public?”
“No holds barred.”
“Fucking asshole. What did Rome do?”
I shrug, staring at the liquor in the bottle. “I don’t know. I bailed. By the time I was on the other side of the pool, I turned back to see his fist cocked. I think he was about to throw a punch until I called out for him to follow me.”
“Why would you do that?” She scowls. “I would’ve bought tickets to Julian’s demise.”
“I was trying to keep my humiliation under the radar. Being told I fuck like a dead fish isn’t something I want shared in the work newsletter.”
Cassidy winces. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m stunned. I can’t believe all this—” She waves a theatrical hand in my direction, “—has happened.”
I huff a laugh. “You haven’t heard the worst part yet.”
“There’s more?”
“Unfortunately…”
“Well, don’t hold that shit hostage, woman. Tell me.”
I shouldn’t. The less people who know, the easier it will be to pretend it didn’t actually happen… But I need to talk to someone. To vent all the sordid details in the hopes they’ll take up less headspace.
“I kinda orgasmed against Rome’s leg in the pool.”
“No fucking way.”
I remove the cap on the gin and throw it all back. Gulp after gulp. Not stopping until the tiny bottle is empty.
“Girlfriend.” Her eyes light up. “You’re giving me more details. Don’t even try getting out of it.” She pushes to her feet. “Was it on purpose? Or some random combustion-type situation?”
I look at my friend. We’ve worked together for a while now and she has always wanted a closer friendship, but I’ve deliberately kept a wall up between us. I don’t have close friends. Only Rome. I’m just not that girl. The one who gushes all her thoughts and feelings. That has never come easily to me. But maybe I need to bring more people in close. Maybe I need to get all these thoughts and feelings out. Maybe a friend like Cassidy could help me sort through the mess in my head.
“On purpose,” I answer her. “I don’t randomly orgasm, which is actually half the problem.”
“How? Why? What the fuck?” She spits questions at me. “Spill. I’m dying here.”
“Because Julian never made me come.”
“Oh, my God. I’ve never been more fully invested in melodrama than I am right now.” She speeds me on with a twirl of her hand. “Tell me more.”
“I’m only giving the CliffsNotes because we’re going to be late for dinner. But Rome caught up to me at the pool and wouldn’t quit pestering me over what happened. So I told him the whole nonexistent orgasm thing. Don’t ask me why. I guess I thought it was better than telling him the truth about why my ex was with me in the first place.”
“Aww.” She looks at me with puppy-dog eyes. “You didn’t want him to feel guilty.”
“There’s nothing for him to feel guilty about. I just…” I don’t know. I don’t like how he’s forcing his way into the shady corners of my love life.
“Save the analysis for later and get back to the dirty details.”
I throw the empty gin bottle at the trash, hoping for a swish and not even getting a rebound when it drops straight to the floor to skitter along the carpet.
“Piper,” Cassidy grumbles. “You can’t leave me hanging at the good part. I won’t stand for a closed-door policy on the sex scenes.”
I huff a sigh. “Rome wanted to prove I wasn’t cold. That I didn’t have problems, only a problematic ex.”
“And?”
“And he got me into the pool, caged me against the wall, and had me grind against his thigh until I climaxed.”
She slaps a hand over her gaping mouth, her eyes dancing.
“I know, right?” I lower my gaze to the floor. “When I say it out loud it sounds cheap and nasty. I swear I don’t usually do that type of thing.”
“On the contrary. I think it’s hot as hell.”
I cringe, unsure if her opinion makes me feel better or worse.
“So, what’s happening now?” She grabs at the edge of the towel just above her breasts, making it tighter. “Where is he? Where does this leave you?”
“It leaves me suffocating in awkwardness. I don’t even know how to be around him right now. This isn’t us. We don’t do friends with benefits. We can’t. I’m not willing to risk the complications that come with it.”
“Then don’t be in a friendship.” She pushes from the bed to stand before me. “Why not take it one step further? For real this time.”
I give her a look of incredulity. “That’s not happening.”
“Why not? There’s obviously chemistry between you two.”
“Yeah, the type that requires a hazmat suit.” I fake a chuckle, trying to deny the truth. But she’s right—there is chemistry. Unpredictable, explosive chemistry. “He’s my best friend, Cass. And I mean a real best friend. There’s not a memory in my life that hasn’t involved him. I can’t complicate the perfect stability we have.”
“You can’t risk complicating it or losing it? Because if you’ve been close for so long, what’s a few minor complications between besties if spicy, hot sex is on the table? You can laugh it off afterward, right? You’re not going to lose him over this.”
“I haven’t done much laughing since the pool. In fact, I hid in our bathroom for over an hour before fleeing here.”
She gives me a pitying smile. “You’ve gotta loosen up, babe. Have some fun. If he’s willing to offer his services, why not take advantage of that smokin’ hot body of his? You’ve got a fully functioning libido, right? And a working set of eyes? That man is gorgeous. Why not dive crotch-first toward that di—”
“And that’s where I call it quits.” I raise my hands in surrender. “No more Rome talk for you.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know you are.” I chuckle. “That’s the problem.”
“The problem is that you need to stop worrying so much and enjoy the opportunity you’ve got while it’s here. Julian made you feel bad about yourself. Let Rome fix it. We’re only on vacation for two more nights. Put a firm finish line on this benefits scheme and some hard rules, then go with the flow. What’s the worst that could happen?”
I could fall for him.
Plain and simple.
I could revert to the teenager who hung off his every word. I could go back to crying myself to sleep whenever he’s out on a date. I could crumple with heartache every time he relays one of his stupid, sordid sex stories for years to come.
He could break me.
“It’s two nights, Piper.” She raises her brows. “Two nights. Then things can go back to normal.”
No. Then things will change even more. Hopefully, I’ll have the new career I’ve always wanted, which only means I’ll be closer to Rome on a daily basis.
“You’ve gotta do this.” Cassidy steps forward and grabs my shoulders, giving me a shake. “If not for you, do it for me. I’d kill to know what he looks like in his birthday suit.”
“I can already tell you that much.”
“You’ve seen him naked?” Her voice raises. “And you didn’t tell me?”
I cringe. “I walked in on him in the bathroom while he was getting up close and personal with his rather large—”
“Sit the fuck down.” She jabs a pointed finger at the bed. “We’re skipping dinner. You’re not leaving until I have every single detail of what’s gone on between you two.”
I chuckle as my cell vibrates on the table. Cassidy’s beeps from nearby. “I think I’ve shared enough for one day.” I sidestep to pick my phone up and check my screen.
Pete: Don’t forget we’re on the beach tonight. I expect you all here in fifteen minutes. Anyone who turns up late will be required to make thirty cold calls to potential clients first thing Monday morning.
“Shit.” I meet Cassidy’s gaze. “You need to get ready.”
“Was that a warning from the boss?”
I nod. “With a threat of cold calls.”
CHAPTER 10
Piper
I step into the hall, leaving Cassidy to get dressed, but I can’t bring myself to continue toward the elevators.
I don’t want to pass my suite and chance running into Rome. Not yet, anyway. I have to sort out my next move.
“Two more nights,” I whisper to myself.
That’s all that stands between me and the career I’ve worked for. A career positioned beside the two people I love most. The men who have always valued and respected me more than anyone else.
“Only two more nights.” Then I’ll be so busy I won’t even remember this weekend. The heated memories will be suffocated by workload. Julian’s nastiness will feel like a past life.
I force myself from Cassidy’s door and head toward the fire escape.
I fumble down the stairs, my limbs numb from the alcoholic influence I shouldn’t have indulged in. It isn’t until I reach the lobby that I text Rome—
Piper
Sorry for the late notice, but I forgot to tell you dinner is on the beach. I’ll meet you there.
Maybe he already found his way. Maybe he’s waiting, preparing to launch into another speech that will set my cheeks to flame and my stomach tumbling.
I slow my steps, my cowardice showing.
“Waiting for someone?” Max bounds across the lobby, barefoot, sun-kissed, and clearly drunk. “Where’s your date?”
I smile awkwardly at his description of Rome and swipe at a nonexistent piece of fluff on my dress. “We’re meeting outside. Are you behaving yourself? Or will this be another sleep-by-the-ocean kind of night?”
“I haven’t stopped drinking since we arrived, which means the second option is more than likely.” He slinks his arm around mine, hooking elbows with me. “Come on. Let’s get wasted.”
I chuckle, following him outside.
We skirt the pool, the warm breeze kicking up the long lengths of my dress and loosening short wisps of hair from my braid.
Two more nights.
I remain at Max’s side as we walk the well-trodden dirt path leading over the grass to the beach. I pause once we reach the sand. A white marquee bathed in twinkling lights is illuminated up ahead, a crowd already gathered underneath while the sun slowly sets behind it. My colleagues drink and chat, their laughter rivaling the sound of the crashing ocean waves.
“What’s the holdup?” Max takes an additional step before stopping.
“Nothing.” Everything. I want to relax and mingle like everyone else. But how can I do that when I still have no idea how to handle Rome, let alone Julian? “I’m going to take off my sandals. I’ll catch up to you in a minute.”
Max slides his arm out from mine. “You’ll find me near the alcohol.” He continues without me, stumbling over the sand to disappear into the throng of realtors.
I scan the crowd, searching for the two men wreaking havoc on my life as I kick off my shoes and pick them up by their flimsy straps.
Just two more nights.
