Faker - Sarah Smith Page 0,110
and beach hopping, and I see two messages saying you had a concussion after falling at work, and you had your appendix removed. Are you okay? This is nuts.” She’s waving her arms around as she speaks. I recognize the drab hostel background behind her.
“It was, but I’m fine. Seriously. How was the hike in the jungle? What beaches did you go to?”
“Never mind the jungle and the beaches. You have a follow-up appointment with your doctor, right?” The bun at the top of her head wiggles along with the impatient movement of her hands.
“Yes, next week, but everything’s fine. I feel almost as strong as I did before. I’m only a tiny bit sore.”
“Thank God.” She throws her head back and exhales. When she looks back at the screen, she squints. “What are you wearing?”
“A T-shirt.” I bite my lip.
“It looks huge on you. Is it new?”
I shake my head and think of a lie. “Sort of. Borrowed it from a friend.”
She raises a suspicious eyebrow at me. “Where are you right now?”
“A friend’s house,” I say quickly. I suddenly wish we were speaking on the phone so she couldn’t see the embarrassing shade of red I suspect my face is turning.
“Really? The only friend you ever seem to visit these days is Kaitlin, and that’s not her house. All the walls in her place are pastel colored. The wall you’re in front of is taupe.”
My silence is incriminating. I quickly sink onto the bed, bouncing slightly. “It’s a new friend.”
“Is this new friend a guy?”
“Um, maybe.”
She claps and throws her head back before unleashing a fit of giggles. “Shit, I just busted your walk of shame, didn’t I? Oh my God, I have amazing timing!”
“Addy, it’s not like that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is he about to bring you breakfast in bed?”
“Knock it off, smart-ass. He’s in the shower.”
“Perfect! Now you can tell me all about him!” she says in a singsong voice as she claps her hands gleefully.
“I don’t want to get into it now.”
“At least tell me who he is. Oh, is it the sexy contractor you told me about?”
“Nope.” I pause for a much-needed exhale. “It’s Tate. My coworker.”
Addy rolls her eyes. “Come on. Be serious.”
“I’m dead serious,” I say with a straight face. “And it’s not a walk of shame. We’re . . . more than that. Way more.”
“No way.” Her jaw drops. “I thought you couldn’t stand him.”
The sharp ring of the doorbell saves me from having to explain further.
“Someone’s at the door. Gotta go!”
“Emmie, don’t you dare.”
“I’ll Skype you again later, okay?”
I end the call, thanking the universe for such a well-timed distraction. When the doorbell ringing persists, I groan. I guess I should make myself useful and answer it so Tate doesn’t have to jump out of the shower and do it. When I open the door, I nearly bite my tongue off.
twenty-nine
Natalie’s eyebrows shoot halfway up her forehead when she sees me.
“Emmie. Hello.”
I stammer a few incriminating “um” and “uh” sounds before I finally return a proper hello.
“What a surprise.” She lets out a good-natured laugh. “I wanted to drop by and check on Tate. I was worried when I saw you two leave last night.” There’s a glint in her eyes, and she’s fighting a grin as it crawls across her mouth. “But I’m guessing he’s all right.”
I cross my arms, hoping it somehow makes me look less indecent. It’s eleven a.m. Sunday morning, and I’m clad in Tate’s shirt and boxers with messy bed hair. It couldn’t be more obvious what we’ve been up to.
I shake my head and step aside. “Sorry. Come in.” I shut the door, and she makes her way to stand near the couch.
My eyes feel a magnetic pull to the floor. There’s no reason for me to be embarrassed. We’re adults after all. Still, though. Nothing like being caught the morning after by the sister of the guy I just spent the night with.
My mouth is wide open, but I make no sound as I try to think of something proper to say. She grabs my arm in a gentle hold.
“It’s okay. I was hoping you two would make up.”
Her warm smile eases me. The shower turns off, and we flick our gazes to the top of the stairs.
“Beautiful, Emmie,” Tate calls from the bathroom. “I thought I told you to meet me in the shower.”
Natalie covers her mouth to fight back a laugh. Flames engulf my cheeks.
I attempt to drown him out by hollering,