The Art of Falling in Love with Your Fake Fiancé: A small town closed door romantic comedy (Sweetkis

8. Georgie

EIGHT

Locking the door of Pages and Prose, I grab the pile of empty boxes on the sidewalk beside me, carefully balancing everything so I can walk home. My apartment is only a few minutes away, which is awesome. I love the proximity; it was one of the reasons I’d chosen to rent that particular apartment. On the days I forget my lunch, I can run home and fix myself something. Plus, I get back each day to take Toto out at least once before I have to close the shop. I highly recommend living close to where you work to everyone.

When I opened my shop, I made sure it was on Magnolia Lane. It’s the shopping area in Sweetkiss Creek, a little haven nestled down a lane in the middle of small-town Americana. If you’re wondering where its name comes from, of course there are gorgeous magnolia trees lining the street. When they’re all blooming, the area smells absolutely divine. It’s the best.

My daily commute home includes a stroll past cafes, a florist, stores with boutique clothing and upscale children’s items, bespoke jewelers who make one-of-a-kind baubles and other sparkly things for those who want one-of-a-kind things, and so much more. It’s the perfect place for me. At least now it is. Even though my initial move here was supposed to be temporary, it seems that Sweetkiss Creek could be my forever home.

I shift the boxes from one side to the other in my arms and think about how the move here changed my perspective on life. Growing up the way I had wasn’t easy, yet I’d done it. I made it to being an adult and mostly on my own. Actually, I take back the word “mostly”—I made it on my own. Period.

I skip up the porch steps of the old brick building that was once a three-story walk-up townhome, which had been converted ages ago, and in a matter of moments, I’m standing inside my apartment on the first floor. I painted it a bright white all throughout when I moved in because the walls were a weird dull yellow and kinda made me ill. The first time my friend Riley had come over and seen the white walls, she’d compared it to a hotel suite. She’d not meant it as a compliment, but I took it as one. I like that the walls are clean and fresh, because on the other hand, the furniture and my “things” are just a mess. Secondhand couch, the tiny dining room set someone gave me complete with a leg that likes to come off the table, and a TV that I found in the bookstore when I took over the lease.

I happened to win my mattress right after I moved here in a weird fluke, taking part in a social media contest when a local bedding store opened a town over in Lake Lorelei. It was a good thing I did because, for the first month I was here, I’d been sleeping on my floor on top of a pile of bedding. Bedding I’d purchased for a bed I’d get one day. So in a sense, I called that mattress to me. Like that movie Field of Dreams: build it and they will come.

Tossing the boxes to the side, I head to the back door and let Toto out before I look around and wonder where I should start first. I have seven days to evacuate. Where do I go? Worst case scenario, I guess I can set up camp in my bookshop, but storing my things is another matter.

I don’t want to move again. I just don’t want to. I love this place so much, but another part of me wonders that if I have to pack everything up, why not just break the lease or get out of it if I can get a new place?

A grunt from Toto, who has already come back inside and is flopping at my feet, reminds me why. Not many landlords get excited to hear that you have a giant Rottweiler as your roommate. I was lucky I was able to get a place on the first floor here. I’m pretty sure the sound of Toto walking back and forth on the second or even the third floor would be annoying for anyone who lives underneath us. I have needs, and special ones at that, with this dog.

“But you’re mine,” I whisper, kissing the top of his head. Dark black eyes search mine, darting toward the boxes. He knows something’s up. Doggie intuition. It’s a thing.

I take a box and toss it over by my bookshelf, a find from a local yard sale, and grab the remote, finding a playlist on Spotify. The sounds of Coldplay soothe me as I start pulling titles from the shelf and get to work, determined to fill these boxes before I start dinner.

Just as I grab the first few books there’s a knock at my door, which causes Toto to race over and stand quietly behind it. I love that he doesn’t bark if someone knocks; he just waits like a good, silent, stoic soldier to see if he needs to pounce. One word from me and he will. I just have to say “gotcha” and he’ll chase you. If I want him to stop, it’s a simple “here here” and he’ll come back. There’s also “friends” which I use so he knows any other person who is with us is good and he doesn”t need to be on guard. Somehow we’d managed to come up with these signals together and they work. Luckily I’ve only had to use “gotcha” once. It was still one time too many.

When I look through the peephole, a flutter ripples through my chest. Levi is standing outside my front door and it totally surprises me. My hands fly up to my hair, which feels like a matted mess. I pull it out of the high ponytail I’d looped it in and give it a shake, only to second-guess myself. It feels desperate, so instead I whip it all into a bun at the base of my neck instead.

As I open the door, I motion for Toto to stand down, which he does by planting himself beside me and watching the door. There’s a grin making its way across my face and I don’t want to stop it.

“Hey.” I fling the door open so Levi can come inside. “What brings you to these parts?”

“Can’t get enough of you,” he says with a chuckle, causing a liftoff of heat in the area surrounding my heart. If only.

“Don’t you know how to make a girl feel special.” I wave my hand for him to come inside. “Just got home myself.”

Levi struts in, walking over to Toto and patting his head. Toto is still tense, unmoving but keeping his eyes on Levi. He knows Levi and trusts him, but I’ve trained him to stay on alert. We’ve trusted before and been burned.

“Friends,” I remind him, patting Levi’s arm.

Levi’s eyes widen as Toto visibly relaxes, his whole Rottie demeanor changing as soon as I say the word. “It’s amazing to me that you have your own language with that dog.”

“I should have trained him in German,” I say with a wink. “Then you’d be really impressed.”

“The fact that you have like, four or five words that only the two of you know and he’ll listen to them is impressive.” Levi scans my living room, his eyes landing on the boxes immediately. “What’s going on there?”

“I have to move out temporarily.” Sighing, I fling myself into a wingback chair. “There’s termites in this building, and they’ve done a number on the foundation. Apparently, there are stability issues they need to sort out, but I’ve got to leave. Seven days to evacuate.”

“Is that legal?”

I nod. “It is. There’s a lawyer a few doors down from the bookshop, Elaine Lenhart. I went to see her this afternoon to make sure, and she said that my landlord is within their legal right to do it, but they do have to reimburse me for at least four days of being ousted from my home.”

“So they’ll pay for a hotel? And your food?”

I shrug. “To some degree. There’s compensation, but it’s all so vague I’m not sure what’s going to be compensated exactly. The rental company said they’ll do everything they can to make it so it doesn’t feel like we’re gone very long, but that makes me laugh.” I stretch my arms over my head, loosening my knotted shoulders and fighting a yawn. “It’s not like I’m in a position to just take a day off work and move everything, nor am I some kind of witch who can wiggle her nose and everything’s boxed up and moved into storage, you know? I have to put it all away, then get it all somewhere plus find a place to live. In seven days. While running a business.”

I bang my head against the back of my chair, a favorite of mine even if it is close to falling apart, thanking my lucky stars for its softness. It’s a good chair, it’s just old. Rolling my head to the side, I look at Levi. “Sorry. I’m just irritated.”

“Look, friends help each other, right? I’ve got time on my hands, I can help you.” His tone is so sincere as he reaches out and puts a hand on my knee. I can’t help but let my gaze fall to where his skin touches mine, a warmth I could get used to. He leans closer to where I sit, and squeezes. “What do you need to do? Where can we start?”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Nodding my head to the corner of the room behind him, I indicate to the pile of boxes. “I want to fill those tonight. It’ll make me feel a lot better if I do.”

“Done. Won’t take us long either, so we can go and get more boxes tonight if you want. I know a storage place on the outskirts of town that sells cardboard boxes for moving. While we’re there, we can see about rental fees.”

I’m pretty sure my shoulders are sliding down back to their original position just under my ears now. He makes it sound so…easy. “Yes, please.”

Levi jumps up and holds out his hand. I look at it for a moment, the warmth of his gesture sinking in, before I slide my hand into his and let him pull me to my feet. It”s a simple gesture, but in that moment, I feel a flutter in my chest, a realization dawning on me that maybe, just maybe, there’s something more between us than I’ve been willing to admit.

Once I’m up and we’re facing each other, neither one of us lets go. We’re suspended in time for a brief moment, as if something is shifting between us in this lightning bolt of a second.

One of his fingers traces a circle on the inside of my palm as the other fingers squeeze my hand gently, this simple act setting off a flash of heat underneath my skin. My thumb, in return, moves slowly back and forth across the back of his hand as we stare at one another. There’s a sensation of electricity, a current of fire that rages through me in an instant.

My heart races, I’m sure he can hear it slamming inside of me. My breath hitches as my eyes land on his lips. Big, full, beautiful smooth red lips that I’ve often wondered about kissing. Thoughts I’ve learned to shove to the side because I value his friendship. So much.

But as I drag my eyes slowly back to his, I’m pretty sure I catch him looking at my lips, too. The movement is so quick and fluid, I’m not sure if I did, but my body is reacting as if he was.

This is it. The thing you hear about.

Thismust be what it means to have your breath taken away.

A moment like this needs to be acknowledged or it never happened. Right? I want to pull my eyes from his, but I can’t. They are the most perfect blue, not a sky blue but with more depth, like the Hope Diamond. I saw it on display once, years ago, at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. but it obviously made an impression.

Right now, however, my attention is on this man who stands in front of me. There’s delight dancing behind those bright blue eyes, laughter lingers, and there’s a promise of more. I can feel it even if it is fleeting.

Closing my eyes, I calm myself, wanting to say something. I do my breathwork, breathing in and out slowly, counting to five each time. Only, there is a smell that hits my senses. Like…rotten eggs?

Oh, for the love of all things Taylor Swift, there is an odor floating around us that could knock out a wooden puppet, and that can only mean one thing.

”Oh my…” Levi chokes. “What is that?”

“Toto,” I say, pulling my hand away from the comfort of his so I can fan my face. “And his almighty butt. That is the smell of a dog who has farted.”

“New plan,” he suggests. “How about we take him for a walk and get a bite to eat? I know where the best barbeque in all of North Carolina is. Then we come back and pack?”

Giggling, I cover my mouth and nose with one hand as I swipe Toto’s leash from its hook by the front door with the other. “Last one to make it outside alive buys dinner.”

When he said he knew where the best barbeque was in all of North Carolina, that man was not lying. Pulled pork barbeque sandwiches are my favorite, and the one I’m enjoying now has knocked my socks off.

My mouth waters as I lift the sandwich to my mouth, take another bite, and groan loudly as I do, causing the man sitting beside me on the park bench to laugh.

“I told you these were the best,” Levi says between bites. “This place has been around since my mom was a little girl.”

“I love the history here,” I say after I swallow another mouthful. “It makes it even more special to live somewhere that has such a rich and vibrant past.” I hold my sandwich in the air and grin. “I get to see through your lens some days, too, which makes it even more special.”

A flush hits Levi’s cheeks. “You see it through my lens?”

“I sure do.” I wave my hand at the park around us. “In the past year that I’ve known you, you’ve shown me a lot of what this place has to offer. I knew what Sweetkiss Creek had going for it, but going on hikes with you through the mountains, trying whitewater rafting and inner tubing…I’ve even camped solo one night all because you encouraged me to give it a try.”

Levi points to Toto. “You also have a massive guard dog to take with you when you camp out.”

“That is true.” I laugh. “But I’m out of my comfort zone, you know? That’s what I wanted to do and why I left New York City when I did.”

Levi chews thoughtfully, turning in his seat on the bench to face me. “You’ve only told me that you left New York because you wanted something better, but you’ve never elaborated.”

I nod. “No, I guess I haven’t.”

“Care to…elaborate?”

Putting my sandwich back in its wrapper, I look at the ground, summoning my words. This is one story I’ve not shared with anyone here since I moved to Sweetkiss Creek. It’s my backstory and not one I’m proud of, but it’s mine.

Actually, I take that back. I am proud of it because I’m the one who came through it all, but still. Levi Porter is about to get a whole lot of me being really vulnerable and raw.

“I think we’re in a place where I can do that.” I say my words slowly, giving myself time to summon my courage.

“Hit me with it,” Levi says with a laugh, nudging me in my ribs with his elbow. “What was childhood and family life like for you in New York?”

“To start with, I didn’t have one.” I let my gaze meet his, his eyebrows furrowing.

“You didn’t have a family? Or a childhood?”

“I’ve never met my parents, Levi,” I say softly. “At least, not my real ones. I was put into the foster system when I was little because they couldn’t take care of themselves. I’m one of those kids who bounced around from foster home to foster home, hoping and praying I’d be adopted but wasn’t.”

Silence slams between us like a door hit by a strong wind. I can tell by the look on his face that he’s horrified he even brought it up now, so I reach out and pat his arm.

“It’s fine, now. I’m here and I took care of myself to get here.”

His lips, smiling a moment ago, are now taut. “But it couldn’t have been easy.”

“It wasn’t. I got a job as soon as I could make money. I worked fast food, mowing lawns, cleaning houses…whatever I needed to do, and I saved every penny.”

“As a teenager?”

I nod. “Yep. I worked around studying because I knew I wanted to graduate high school and get a diploma. I wasn’t happy. I was in homes where there was always a circumstance; one family was only fostering so they could collect the checks, and another had a super sweet mother but the father had a temper—that house I ran away from, which didn’t go over well. The third one I was placed in, one of the other kids bullied the rest of us and I ended up getting into a fight with him.”

“What?”

“He tried to steal one of the younger kids’ lunches one day when we were waiting for the school bus. So, I…hit him.” I hold up my right hand, balling it into a fist. “Tiny but mighty. I knocked out one of his front teeth.”

Levi nearly spits out his sandwich. “Sorry. I’m trying to deal with this visual of you punching some guy. Good on you; someone needed to defend the younger kids.”

“Someone had to do it, but I hate fighting. I hate anger and yelling.” Of course, it comes from all of the different houses I lived in. One hundred percent. It was like being on a game show and not knowing which prize you’d get when you spun the wheel.

“Of course you do, I’m not saying you’re condoning it,” Levi murmurs, inching closer to me. “How come you’ve not told me about this before?”

“I don’t tell anyone this, Levi. I’m trying to make new memories that I can hold on to that are happy ones. That’s why the bookstore is so special to me.”

“So you saved enough money as a teen to open it?”

“Kind of, but not really.” I chuckle. “I was able to open the store with a grant for underprivileged women. There was a businesswoman out of Charlotte who ran a competition years ago asking for business proposals from single women who needed help. I was lucky enough to make it to the final, and win support. I used that money to rent the space and order my first few boxes of books. From there, the rest has worked out because I’ve worked hard on it.”

There’s something different in his eyes, watching me as he listens. “I had no idea.”

“It’s not like I advertise it.” I take my last bite of this amazing pork sandwich and chew, staring at the park grounds. I shiver uncontrollably as the sun begins to dip behind the trees, a movement that doesn’t go unnoticed by Levi.

“Here,” he says as he shrugs out of his zip-up hoodie, putting it over my shoulders. “You’re cold.”

“Thank you,” I say, pulling it tightly around me. It’s fleeting, but I catch a whiff of Levi’s cologne—a hint of bergamot and sandalwood mixed together. My senses are in overdrive; he’s like a comfortable blanket holding me safe. “I’ve worked hard for what I have, which is why I think I’m freaking out that I need to evacuate my apartment right now. I don’t like being told I have to go.”

“I get it, and thank you.” Levi’s hand is suddenly on top of mine, squeezing it. “Thank you for trusting me enough to share that with me.”

I don’t dare look down, even though I want to. I just want to enjoy this moment with Levi sitting here comforting me while we eat our food. I want to burn the feeling he gives me into my memory banks so I can return to it later, when I’m alone at home and wishing I was brave enough to speak up and tell him how I feel.

I’ll also try to tell myself that I’m not really falling for him and haven’t been all this time because that’s a fun game I play in my head, but at least it’s safe. Because he’s another part of me I don’t want to ever go away, especially not now that I have him in my universe.

“You know,” he says, interrupting my internal spiral, “Austin and I were in town checking on some of our rental properties this morning. One of them is not far from the bookstore and it’s empty right now. I’ve been thinking of fixing it up for Duncan and me to move into, but maybe you could stay there while they work on your place?”

“Are you serious?” Who is this guy? Prince Charming? “Oh my gosh, Levi, yes! If you’re serious, that would help me so much.”

“Of course I’m serious.” Despite the happiness in my voice and the sincerity in his question, his face is dark and he keeps his eyes on the ground, pulling his hand off of mine. I miss his warmth as soon as it’s gone.

Throwing my hands around his neck, I pull him tight. “You’re my hero. Thank you!” I sit back and chuckle. “That was too easy, but it’s you. You’re like a godsend.”

He shrugs. “It’s nothing.”

“Stop that.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “If there’s anything I can do in return for you, you have to let me know. I appreciate where your heart is, but now that you’ve heard my background, you have to understand I know that there’s never a free ride.”

Levi goes quiet, nodding his head slowly, his eyes scanning the park. I can tell he’s thinking. I wait quietly, wondering if he’s already regretting offering me the apartment to use, when he clears his throat and pulls his shoulders back.

“Since you mentioned it,” he begins, his energy suddenly vibing quite anxious, “there’s something I want to ask you for in return.”

“A little quid pro quo, Clarice?” I tease, quoting from one of our favorite scary movies, Silence of the Lambs, but he’s still not smiling. “Levi, I just revealed my sad, sad backstory to you. You can tell me anything. You can ask me anything, we’re friends. We’re good friends—in fact, I think it’s fair to say we’re more than that. You’ve been one of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. You literally just offered me a place to live…how can I help you?”

He struggles with his words, his lips twisting and turning as if he’s trying to find the right thing to say. I don’t like that he’s suddenly so stressed, so I go back to silence and give him a little space. As I settle in on the bench again, his phone dings, pulling his attention to a text he’s suddenly focused on, so I stand up and stretch while he holds up a finger asking me to wait a minute.

“Sorry. It’s Mom, asking me about Duncan.” He nods to the phone in his hand. “I need to call her quickly.”

“I can wait,” I say as I pull out my phone. “I can keep myself busy with my own device, thank you very much.”

Levi hops up and disappears around a tree, talking in a hushed tone to his mother. I feel like there’s a small case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde happening here, where he’s gone from being super chill and relaxed to uptight and stressed, and it’s happened in a matter of moments. Seeing as his whole world has flip-flopped in the past few months, I’m sure the responsibility of having Duncan and stepping up to kind of be a dad can do that to a person.

As I flip through emails and my social media feed, I let my hand fall to my side to pat the top of Toto’s head. My man. My main guy. The one who will not leave my side. Everyone needs a Toto.

I let my eyes wander over to where Levi paces under a giant magnolia, the scent of its flowers wafting around me. I love them so much. Such a delicate white flower perched on a staunch tree. The fragile blooms supported by the strength underneath.

Levi’s shoulders hunch slightly and he keeps casting his eyes my way, making me wonder if the call is about me. Have I done something wrong? My own anxiety kicks in, and I question the offer for the apartment now. Maybe his mom had plans for it and he’s telling her that he’s letting me use it and now she’s upset?

He disconnects the call and slides the phone into his back pocket. The sun is all but gone from the sky; it’s getting dark now and I can make out the first firefly sightings of the night as bright lights twinkle off and on again in a slow cadence in the trees around us.

It’s actually quite romantic here, a thought I work to push to the back of my brain as Levi appears back in front of me.

“Everything okay?”

“Huh?” he asks.

“Levi!” This distracted version of Levi is so not him. Still gripping my phone in one hand, I stare at him. “At home. You said your mom texted you and you had to call about Duncan. Is he okay, is everything okay at home?”

“Oh, yes,” he answers me, visibly flustered. “Sorry. He’s fine. She’s fine. We’re all fine.”

There is nothing fine about that sentence. “Okay, now you sound really weird.”

“Sorry,” he apologizes once more as he begins again. “Where was I, you know, before Mom wanted me to call?”

“You had something to ask me. A favor in return for staying at your apartment.” I jump to my feet and put a hand on each of his arms, studying him as much as myself. “And look, if having use of the apartment is too much right now or if me needing help is too overwhelming, I get it. Just tell me it’s a no-go and I’ll go back to finding a motel where Toto and I can hole up for a couple weeks.”

“No, no. It’s not that…” Levi shoves both of his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and stares at the ground. I can feel my heartbeat in my eardrums, it’s that intense.

“Levi,” I begin, “you’re kind of freaking me out here. What’s going on?”

He smiles, he frowns. He looks up, he looks down. Through it all, he stays in front of me, allowing me to help brace him. It’s not much, but I feel like maybe my touch is helping, but I can’t tell. He won’t look at me. He’s dropped his gaze to the ground, staring at our feet now.

What. Happened?

After what feels like an eternity, he slowly drags his gaze upward to meet mine.

“How would you feel about…getting engaged?”