Faker - Sarah Smith Page 0,102

up like a Christmas tree whenever I bring her up. I know when my twin brother is head over heels for someone.

Natalie: Your deafening silence proves I’m right. You won’t say otherwise because you know it would be a lie. Just talk to her. Get to know her. Make small talk. Ease your way into it.

I inhale sharply. The relentless teasing from his sister must have gotten on his nerves. I wonder how worked up he must have felt most of this past year.

Tate: I blew it.

Natalie: Blew what exactly?

Tate: She came to the rock climbing gym. I talked her down the wall when she panicked because I guess she’s afraid of heights so I calmed her down. She thanked me for helping her . . . she finally looked at me like she didn’t despise me . . . and I blew it. It completely threw me off seeing her like that. She looked so scared. It wrecked me. I should have said more, but I froze.

Natalie: Crap . . . it’s okay. You did a nice thing by helping her. I’m sure she appreciated that. Say something tomorrow at work to her.

Natalie: So?! Did you say anything to her today?!

Natalie: Do not ignore your sister.

Natalie: Taaaaaaate

Tate: Jesus. I don’t check my phone for one afternoon and this is what I come back to?

Tate: To answer your question, no. I didn’t have the nerve. She seems pretty into that contractor who asked her to the rock climbing gym. I should just leave it alone.

I can’t scan the texts fast enough. It’s like reading a page-turner, and I want to know how it all ends as soon as my eyes hit the first letters of each word. Only this book is about me, and I have a one-sided view of all the major plot points.

I get to the night of our first kiss.

Natalie: Work happy hour tonight, right? Perfect time to reveal your feelings for a certain coworker. Sack up, Rasmussen. Do it!

Tate: Shut up.

Natalie: Don’t choke, bro. Take a risk. Tell this girl you’re into her.

Tate: I’m turning my phone off now.

Natalie: Don’t you dare.

Natalie: So? How goes things with Emmie?

Tate: I can’t handle this. It’s worse than I thought. She is . . . fucking hell, I don’t even know.

Natalie: What do you mean?

Tate: I took your advice. I bought her a drink. We’re playing a bar game. She’s fucking hilarious. Witty. Smart. Gorgeous. Fuck, I’m screwed.

Natalie: I told you. You’re a lovesick puppy. Put yourself out of your misery. Tell her how you feel.

Tate: Seriously? She’ll think I’m a psycho if I admit I’ve been nuts about her.

Tate: I mean . . . I made up that work project just so I could spend time with her. She can’t stand me. She thinks I can’t stand her.

Natalie: And whose fault is that?

The next messages are from the weekend he took care of me in the hospital.

Natalie: Cookout at Eli’s tonight at 6!

Natalie: Hey, are you coming or not? Everyone’s asking where you are.

Tate: Sorry, no. Emmie’s in the hospital. I’m going to stay with her so she’s not alone.

Natalie: What?? Is she okay??? Are you okay?

Tate: I’m fine. She fell at the worksite and got a minor concussion, but it looks like she’s got appendicitis too. Doctors have everything under control, though. She’s pretty scared so I want to stay with her.

Natalie: Sure, of course. Wow. Poor girl. Let me know if you need anything.

Tate: I’m fine now, but I’m sure I’ll need a chat later. Spending all this time with her . . . you were right. I’m a lost cause. I’m head over heels for her . . . I’ve been for a while. How the hell am I going to tell her?

My chest aches with a new sensation. It’s numbness mixed with adrenaline and a bit of awe. There’s no way. He couldn’t possibly.

I hear the clink of a metal spoon and shoot up. I spin around and see Tate stirring a cup of tea while leaning against the kitchen counter. He’s gazing at me expectantly.

“I made you some tea.” He says it so calmly, like I haven’t just been reading all of his private texts about me over the past year.

“You were head over heels for me? This whole time?” I catch my breath. I must have stopped breathing.

He’s giving me the same wide-eyed stare I’m giving him. He nods. Neither of us blinks.

“No. I need to hear you say it.”

“I’m crazy about