The whole crew is laughing at something, and I’ve never felt like more of an outsider in my whole life.
Collin looks up when Poppy scoots back in next to Mack, who immediately grabs for her hand.
“I’m not feeling the greatest. I’m going to head out,” I tell the table.
Collin hops up. “Oh no. I’ll drive you home.”
I bristle, but then I kick myself because that’s exactly what a boyfriend would say. I force out a smile. “It’s okay. Rose is going to take me. I didn’t want you to have to leave early.”
Collin searches my face, and as much as I want to avoid his gaze, I hold my head high and keep my eyes locked on his. He’s the one being the jerk here.
He blinks first. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Feel better, Noli!” Katherine calls as we turn to the door.
I wave over my shoulder but don’t look back.
“Magnolia.” Collin is hurrying to keep up with me as I’m blazing a trail over the indoor-outdoor carpet that’s lining the floor of Romeo’s. I have to wonder who thought neon, geometric patterns were the right way to go when designing this space.
“Hey, wait.” When Collin reaches for my hand, it takes everything in me not to yank it out of his grasp. We’re still in sight of the table, so I don’t make a scene. But my grip is as firm as a wet noodle, which is to say, it’s limp and gross. Kind of how I feel.
“What’s going on?”
“What’s going on?” I pull up before I get to the door and face Collin. I muster up my fakest, most sickly sweet smile. If anyone is watching from the table, I’m about to give them a show that could serve as my Broadway audition. “What’s going on is that you’re acting like a complete player—just the thing you wanted to avoid.” I reach up and slowly stroke his face so that, to a spectator, it’ll look like we’re madly in love.
Barf.
“What are you talking about?” He covers my hand with his, pressing my fingers into his cheek. I flinch against the feel of his five o’clock shadow. It’s masculine, and on anyone else, I’d say it looked—and felt—drop-dead sexy. But I refuse to acknowledge any attraction to Collin. I focus instead on how his skin is hot under my hand.
Good.
I want to see him sweat.
“If you honestly don’t see it, I don’t know how I can help you,” I say, laying my other hand on his chest.
“Is this about Katherine and the guys?” He reaches forward and squeezes my hip. He pulls me closer and moves his free hand to my back where he starts to rub in slow circles. I curse my traitorous heart for hammering. I guess he, too, is trying to keep up our charade. “I can explain everything. No need to get all mad.”
“I’m not mad. That implies that I care. About you. Which I don’t. At all.” We’re chest to chest, and my breaths are coming quicker. His eyes flash as he scans my face, and I tip my chin up, refusing to cower. His gaze flicks down to my mouth, and I lick my lips.
Collin swallows hard and removes his hand from over mine, freeing me to drop my palm from his cheek. I wrap it around the back of his neck and start trailing it up and down the base of his neck.
His breath hitches, but he recovers and dips his chin toward me. “Of course you don’t. Clearly I’m the worst.” His tone is laced with sarcasm. “What with my trying to be friendly to our coworkers and all.”
Ignoring him, I plow ahead. “The only thing I care about is not looking like a fool. If you want to entertain other women in the privacy of your own home, on your own time, fine. But don’t do it here in public, in front of my sisters, who I’m trying to get to believe this whole thing. It makes me look pathetic.” I spit out the last word as Collin draws me into a hug.
His muscular body is taut beneath me, and his heart is racing through his shirt. This is the most bizarre exchange I’ve ever had. Our words are like bullets, and our actions are like Band-Aids.
“You don’t really know me at all, Magnolia.” Collin’s voice comes out in a growl. His breath is hot against my ear, and his chest rumbles against my cheek, which he keeps flattened to it. “I don’t entertain women at my house.”
“Forgive me for not believing you. I call it like I see it.” I push away from him but keep my hands fisted into his shirt. “And stop using my full name, Rattler. I’m plain old Noli to everyone else. So, I’ll be plain old Noli to you, thank you very much. Now go back to the table and be charming. It’s what you’re good at. But remember, you’re the one with his neck on the line here. I don’t have a reputation to outrun. That’s all you.”
I use my grip on his shirt to rise up on my tiptoes and plant a fleeting kiss on his cheek.
I refuse to acknowledge the sinking feeling in my stomach as I pull open the door and step out into the frigid January night. I’m chilled to the core, and it has less to do with the outside temperature and more to do with my fake boyfriend.
I stalk toward Main Street where the glow of Rosie’s headlights beckons me. Even as I speed-walk, I can’t help but notice how the snow lining the alleyway is a dull gray sludge.
Undoubtedly the same color as butterfly ashes.
