Things Liars Fake: a Novella (a #ThreeLittleLies novella Book 3)(20)

He’s genuinely shocked.

“No, I love them.” I confess, biting down on my lower lip. “Why did you wear them if not to drive me insane?”

His mouth opens but no sound comes out. We’re the only two people on the dance floor not dancing; the only two people on the dance floor, surrounded by his family and cousin Grace’s good friends.

The only two people that matter; right here.

Right now.

Or maybe it’s just me.

My fake date is kind of hard to read; he’s spent more time being chivalrous and gentlemanly than flirty. He hasn’t made one single overture. Not one single advance. Hasn’t touched me in a way that was anything but friendly.

Unfortunately.

And yet…

It’s his eyes that give him away. They’re interested.

Intrigued.

Something in his eyes…

He longs for me.

I can see it.

But.

There’s something else I see reflected in his dark, brown eyes; doubt. For himself and my attraction to him.

So that longing?

He won’t do anything about it.





“You know how ridiculous the whole thing is, right?” I’m in my apartment, make-up removed, sitting cross-legged in the center of my big, fluffy bed. I couldn’t resist a phone call to Tabitha with a recap of the past several days; the movie. The meeting at the coffee shop where Dexter propositioned me.

The engagement party.

“I don’t understand why he didn’t just ask you to be his date. It makes no sense.” I can hear Tabitha shuffling around her kitchen, a pan going into the sink followed by running water.

I throw myself back, sinking into my pillows and staring up at the ceiling. “Right? The whole fake date thing was dumb. All it managed to do was fire up my imagination. It’s running wild. You know how I always want what I can’t have? Ugh, his lack of interest is driving me crazy.”

“I wouldn’t call it lack of interest; I’d call it a lack of cojones.”

I ignore her flippant remark and prattle on. “Besides, what is this—a Made for TV movie? What are we, in high school?”

On the other end of the line, she’s speaking around her toothbrush. “Yeah, it was pretty immature.” She takes it out of her mouth to say, “But maybe…”

My best friend’s voice trails off.

“Maybe what? I’m hanging on your every word here.”

“Well, maybe—just maybe—he’s intimidated by you and doesn’t want to be rejected. That’s Collin’s theory, and I happen to agree with him. You can be pretty intimidating, Daphne.”

I consider this.

I’m not shy or reserved, and if I’m being brutally honest, I haven’t broken any mirrors lately.

“Okay, yes. That’s a possibility.” I pause before adding more information. “But I’m pretty sure he was going to ask me out after the movie. I’d bet my favorite yoga pants on it.”

“He was spooked by his aunt,” Tabitha declares with authority. I can picture her nodding in agreement. “And now he’s too chicken shit—” She stops mid-sentence. “Tell the truth; do you really want to date a guy like that, though? Not enough balls to ask you on a real date? It’s kind of wimpy.”

I’ve debated this a million times in my head so I immediately jump to his defense. “Jeez Tabitha, just because he’s not humping my leg or sending me dick pics doesn’t make him a wimp.”

She huffs indignantly. “Please don’t call him sensitive. That’s way worse.”

I chuckle. “No, he’s not that nice. I mean—he is, but he also has a smart mouth on him, too; it’s sexy.”

His smart mouth.

Those lips.

“Sexy Dexy,” Tabitha croons into the receiver. “You know, I bet he’s got a lot of pent-up sexual repression.”

My ears perk up. “Ya think?”

“Oh yeah, definitely.” Tabitha breaths seductively. “You said yourself he’s a thinker—he’s probably thinking of all the ways to do you.”

God I hope so.

“No doubt he’s got himself convinced you’re out of his league.”

I scoff at this. “He couldn’t be more wrong.”

“Then prove it. Show him he’s wrong.”

“I can’t,” I whine like a baby. “He put me in the Friend-Zone.”

Tabitha sighs impatiently. “No, he put himself there. Now you need to take him out.”

“Hmmm, we’ll see…”

“I’m sorry, what was that? You need. To take. Him. Out.”

“Have you always been this bossy?”

“No, it’s something new I’m trying out.” I can practically hear her rolling her blue eyes.

“Wow, sarcastic, too. Collin’s one lucky guy.”

Tabitha releases a breathy laugh. “Sweetie. If you like him, just do it; make a move. Don’t wait until your ovaries dry up.”





It turns out, I don’t have to make the first move. Instead, the opportunity to see Dexter falls into my lap in the form of two brown haired, mischievous teenage twins.

Who apparently really, really like me.