Fake Friends - Saxon James Page 0,73

you’re on set in Greece, we’ll start orchestrating your friendship with your costar. The producers don’t want to push the dating thing, but they do want people questioning how close you two are, and we don’t need some fake boyfriend getting in the way of that.”

Break up? Filming in Greece?

“Umm … I don’t want to break up.”

“Well, it’ll be a poor look to seem like you’re cheating on your boyfriend. What’s the problem? He’s got a platform now, and you’re getting everything you’ve worked toward for years.”

Years. And that’s the thing.

Everything with Rowan is great for right now, but I’ve been pushing for this since I started my site. Giving it all up because I have a sliver of happiness, a hint at the family I’ve always wanted, is ridiculous.

All it would take is Rowan to decide he’s done with me, and then I’m left with nothing again. No real boyfriend, no fake boyfriend, no movie contract.

If I don’t take this, I’m not dumb enough to think anything else will come along. This is it.

Preston must take my silence for the stunned variety, rather than the holy-shit-my-whole-life-is-resting-on-this-moment type, because he chuckles.

“I’ll send over the contract and the script. Go celebrate.”

I hang up without saying goodbye.

When it comes to my family, I’ve always been okay with them having the upper hand. I let them talk at me, I never complain or back-talk. I’m respectful to a fault, but that was mostly because I didn’t want them to ever guess about this other side of me that I’ve worked for so long to keep hidden.

Well, it’s out there now.

So as I walk into the diner, I keep my head high even though I’m preparing for a full-frontal assault.

I don’t know if it’ll just be Piper there, or the whole Harvey clan, but I do know that I’m ready for a fight if it comes to it.

The thing I’m not sure about is whether Circus will be there for me when it’s over.

He’s seemed so in this thing since I showed up the other night, but the last thing I want is for being in a relationship with me to make things hard for him.

I need to confront my family and let them know nothing is going to change and if they don’t like it, fine. But they’re to keep away from Circus.

I’m all but holding my breath when I finally get to Harvey’s Burger Bar and push through the door.

The tinkle of the bell overhead is familiar in a soul-deep way. And even though I don’t want to keep working here, it would kill me to never step foot back in the place.

I glance around at the usual regulars, smiling at a few of them, and then make my way over to where Piper is manning the coffee machine.

There’s a part-timer out back working the grill, and thankfully I don’t see any other family around.

“What’s good here?” I ask, sliding into the stool closest to my sister. She immediately spins at my voice, and her face breaks into a smile.

“It’s about time. Where have you been?”

Truthfully? “Hiding.”

“Still with Circus?”

“Well, he’s my boyfriend, so …”

Piper crosses her arms and leans on the counter. “Boyfriend? Wow. Congratulations.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

She’s smiling, but I can’t quite read how she feels. It’s definitely off compared to what she’s normally like, but I don’t think it’s completely bad. “Are we okay?”

“Of course.” She hurries to squeeze my arm. “Yes, totally. I am one hundred percent happy for you.”

“Then what’s with the face?”

“I’m sorry. I swear it’s not you. Really. I’m just struggling with the being single thing right now. And while I’m happy for you, like, legitimately thrilled, it’s also reminding me I’m still alone.”

Well, thank God for that. “Piper, you’re one of the best people I know. But … maybe you need to let Tanner go already. I’m well aware of how hypocritical that sounds coming from me when I’ve never been able to forget Circus, but him and Royce … I dunno. I can’t see that ever ending.”

“Yeah, I know.” She wipes over the counter. “They were always sort of inevitable, weren’t they?”

I’d like to think Circus and I were too.

The bell above the door sounds again, and I glance back over my shoulder to see Mom and Dad walk in … with Father O’Connor. This does not seem promising.

“Rowan, thank the Lord,” Mom says, hurrying over.

“Yeah, hi.”

“I didn’t know if you’d come.” She almost sounds … worried. I try not to let it get my hopes