Chapter 13 Miranda #2
Since I’d decided to put distance between us after our fake dating was over, that expiration date made the moment bittersweet.
But I couldn’t keep banging my head against the brick wall of knowing Leo didn’t want me.
After the night he’d pushed his erection against me and whispered my name—I continued to force that memory aside, knowing he hadn't meant it—and after the vehemence of our fight on Halloween, I’d accepted that we could never go back to the way things were before the summer.
We’d reached a tipping point. The past week had proven that.
So why did lying in his arms feel completely, utterly, indescribably right? My beautiful, painful limerence.
12 MONTHS AGO - DECEMBER
“You want to do what?”
“Fake date her.”
I jumped off Stone’s couch and began pacing in the open space between it and the dining table.
“Naomi Butler?” I asked again, as though having him repeat what he’d just said would change it.
“Yes. Since it’s a quick shoot, this could help generate buzz until it comes out in the summer.”
“You think people will talk about your movie because you and Naomi are dating?”
He shook his head with a smile, as though I’d asked a silly question. “C’mon. The public eats that shit up. And it wouldn’t be real. Just for, like, the internet and stuff.” He leaned back. “I know you get it. I saw you watching a reel about Zendaya and that Spider-Man guy.”
“Pretty sure they’re actually dating.”
“But would anyone even care if they weren’t?” Stone reasoned. “Shoshanna suggested it. She thinks it’s a great idea—”
“Oh, well, if Shoshanna said it—”
“Babes, be so one hundred right now. You know how it is. Naomi’s people were into the idea too.”
“I don’t know… It just seems a little…unhinged. And risky.”
Stone stood behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.
“Miranda, think about it. It’s perfect. You and I are already completely undercover.
No one in your life knows about us except your friend Leo, and you can tell him what’s up.
Then we can just keep doing exactly what we’re doing.
No cap. The only difference is that when I’m out in public, sometimes I’ll be with Naomi.
Shoshanna told me celebrities do this all the time. ”
“And Naomi’s okay with it?”
“Yeah, she’s on board.”
“And does she know you’re a twenty-seven-year-old man who still says, ‘no cap’?” I shook my head with a grin, beginning to resign myself to this scheme.
He huffed good-naturedly before continuing. “Darlin’, I hope you don’t mind, but I had to tell Shoshanna and Naomi about you. About us. They won’t tell anyone, but I had to explain that I was already in a real relationship. So they’d understand my limits.”
“Limits?”
He hummed, looking guilty. “Shoshanna was pushing for a lot more physical stuff. Frenching on the sidewalk or whatever, so paps would be sure to get the shot. She said it would just be more acting, like with the movie, but I said no. When she—and Naomi, for that matter—pressed me on it, I had to tell them about you so they’d stop pushing.
But don’t worry, they won’t say anything. ”
I snorted. “Obviously, unless they want to sabotage their own plan.”
“Exactly. I told them that if they really believe it will help with the movie, I could be fine with fake dating, as long as we fake a breakup after the release. I also said that I didn’t want to do physical stuff.
Maybe a quick kiss on the lips or holding hands, really whatever you’re comfortable with, but I draw the line there. ”
“And if I don’t agree?”
“Then I don’t do it. Full stop. I told Shoshanna and Naomi too. That this wasn’t a done deal until you and I talked.”
“You’d be willing to give up this supposedly amazing PR opportunity for me?”
“Don’t give me too much credit. I’m only halfway on board with it myself. But if you say no, then the whole idea dies… But, babes, I really hope you can see your way to agreeing. This would be stellar for my career.”
I sighed. I was already twisted up enough since I’d come home from Coleman Creek.
Every time I was with Leo, it reminded me of what was missing from my relationship with Stone.
It occurred to me that Stone wanting to start a fake romance with Naomi might be the perfect excuse for me to simply call it on our relationship, to walk away before it got messier or I became more invested.
But then I took an objective look at the way Stone was handling this request. The fact that he was asking for permission, that he was considering my boundaries and was willing to walk away.
He cared about me. Maybe I didn’t have the same connection to him I had with Leo, but I didn’t want to sell him short. Or give up on our potential too soon.
As to the question of his publicity stunt with Naomi, with the level of indecision and ambivalence I felt toward our relationship, it wasn’t fair to hold him back from something that might be a great career move.
“I’m okay with it, as long as we’re clear about those ground rules. If Shoshanna wants you to stage a choreographed fuckfest with Naomi in some Vegas hotel, I’m out.”
His shoulders shook with laughter. “Nah. That’s the image of me I’m trying to get away from. The idiot bad boy. If I’m gonna be somebody’s fake boyfriend, I’m gonna treat her like a lady.”
I couldn’t stop my smile. Despite everything—staying casual, keeping our relationship a secret, all our various external pressures—Stone had treated me with nothing but respect over the past three months.
He would have gone public already if I’d allowed it.
Instead, he’d waited for me. On some level, it felt nice to do this for him.
At least in theory. I was going to hate it the first time I saw a picture of him holding hands with Naomi online. Pushing the thought aside, I relaxed my expression. I could give him this.
My arms rested around his neck. “It won’t require much acting on your part to convince people you’re a great boyfriend.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “Good to know.”