Right Number, Wrong Girl

I really wished she wouldn’t do that, because all it did was make me imagine what it would be like to kiss her.

I didn’t think she would appreciate me trying to get that answer.

Sophie pushed to standing and paced the summerhouse. “She said that after this I’d never see any of you again, so it wouldn’t matter. And she’s right. When this is done and I leave Moorhaven, it’s not like I’m ever going to come back for any reason, and nor would you have any reason to see me in London, so maybe I’m just overreacting and—”

I stood up and grasped her shoulders, forcing her to stop walking. “Sophie.”

She swallowed, looking up at me.

“Breathe.”

She took a deep breath in through her nose, then huffed it out of her mouth.

That wasn’t quite what I meant, but I suppose she had done as I’d said.

“What’s easiest for you?” I asked her, bringing one hand to cup her chin so she had to meet my gaze. “Is it continuing as if you’re Camilla, or is it telling the truth?”

Her tongue flicked out and wetted her lower lip. “I don’t know.”

“Then you need to decide. If you want to keep being Camilla because that’s easiest, then that’s what we’ll do.”

“We?”

I raised my eyebrows. “I’m bollock-deep in this lie with you, aren’t I? I’ll help you plan the bastard party that Grandma doesn’t even want, and we’ll make sure it goes off without a hitch. I can also keep an eye on Nancy.”

“Why would you do that?” she asked me quietly. “It was one thing for three days, but there’s still two weeks until the party. That’s a lot of lying to your family on behalf of someone you don’t even like?”

My lips twitched on one side into a small smile. “I don’t dislike you, Sophie.”

“You don’t?”

“The first time we met, I tried to hit on you until you handed me my arse in front of the entire pub,” I reminded. “Then, the next day when you walked into my house and were introduced as someone else, I didn’t out you. When it was clear you were in way over your head, I knuckled down and helped you, saving your arse with the cake.”

She peered down at the floor.

“Would I do all those things if I didn’t like you, munchkin?”

“I hate that nickname,” she muttered.

“I know. It’s why I use it.”

“Let me guess.” She looked back up. “You wouldn’t call me that if you didn’t like me?”

“Nailed it.”

She tilted her head to the side. “You don’t even know me.”

I brushed my thumb over her jaw. “I don’t need to. I know you’re a good person who’s found themselves in a difficult situation.”

“How do you know I’m a good person?”

“Because you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. You’d have told your best friend to fuck off.”

“I want to.”

“Because you’re human. I’d be worried if you were happy with this development.”

Her bottom lip twitched, and a small smile curved the sides of her mouth up. “Thank you. I guess I’m just a little overwhelmed by it all.”