Fake Friends - Saxon James Page 0,82
cute little pout. “It’s our first holiday together. I wanted it to be … memorable.”
God, he melts me. “I can safely say this is unforgettable.” Circus lets me pull him closer, and I wrap my arms around his waist. “When did you do all this?”
“I’ve been up since five.”
I laugh. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Yesterday was a big day.”
“For both of us,” I point out. “It was your first time visiting them.” He squirms a little in my arms. I’ll never forget the pain on Circus’s face. It took so much out of him to finally go out to the cemetery, and then to face my parents and play the role of perfect boyfriend seamlessly, I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed by him.
“I want to go more often. I think I felt guilty more than anything.”
“We will.” I kiss his hair. “Whenever you like.”
“As much fun as it is to sit here and relive my grief, we also have a hell of a lot to do before everyone gets here.”
“Okay, put me to work.”
He thrusts a list at me. “Food. That’s all you need to worry about. And Rowan?” He pins me with a serious look. “No pressure, but make sure it’s perfect. This is the first time I’ve had anyone here, and I’m just a bit nervous.”
“I got that impression.” It’s sweet though. Him wanting to impress his friends—our friends. And it feels oddly grown-up of us to be throwing a party in our home. “We don’t need to talk about how much all this cost, do we?”
“Probably best not to. Especially if we factor in the fireworks.”
“Fireworks?”
“It’s the Fourth of July.”
I drop my head onto his shoulder and muffle my laugh. “Never a dull moment with you.”
“You’re welcome.”
And I wouldn’t have it any other way. With Circus, it doesn’t matter if we’re on a day trip somewhere, or having a few nights in LA, or spending a lazy Sunday on the couch. He’s my everything.
Coming back to Sunbury, I never imagined my life would turn out like this, let alone that Circus would be a part of it.
And while I’ll always regret how I left and how long we spent apart, I know I wouldn’t be here without it.
I’m also lucky enough to have the rest of our lives to make it up to Circus.
He deserves nothing less.
And for the first time ever, I can give him all of me.
Including the best Fourth of July he’s ever had.
I grab the Kiss the Cook apron he bought me for my birthday and point to the words. “Out of interest, should this be a general rule whenever someone enters the house?”
He smirks. “I wonder how red Tanner would go if we suggested it?”
“And how dead I’d be after Royce was finished with me?”
“New plan. I’ll kiss you enough for everyone.”
And he does. Slow and deep, and I return it just as lazily.
“Love you,” I murmur against his lips. “Always have.”
“And always will.”
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Fake Boyfriends. Reality TV. What could go wrong?
When Jace and Blake are accepted onto Total Fabrication, it's supposed to be easy. Renovate a house, take out the win, walk away with the money. Reconstruction is what they do on the daily—even the reality TV aspect can't throw them.
But there's just one little problem.
Jace and Blake are the show's token gay couple ...
Who aren't actually a couple at all.
Telling anyone they broke up is the blueprint for disaster, but with one poorly-timed video, two nosey contestants, and a shit ton of sexual tension, can they really keep up the illusion of the relationship they totally fabricated?
Or is it destined to the one thing they demolish and can't rebuild?
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OTHER BOOKS BY SAXON JAMES
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LOVE’S A GAMBLE SERIES:
Bet on Me
Calling Your Bluff
NEVER JUST FRIENDS SERIES:
Just Friends
Fake Friends
CU HOCKEY SERIES WITH EDEN FINLEY
Power Plays & Straight A’s
Face Offs & Cheap Shots
And if you’re after something a little sweeter, don’t forget my YA pen name
S. M. James.
These books are chock full of adorable, flawed characters with big hearts.
www.amazon.com/S-M-James/e/B07DVH3TZQ
As with any book, this one took a hell of a lot of people to make happen.
First, my cover designer Story Styling Cover Designs did a fantastic job on finding the perfect angst for the cover.
Thanks to Sandra from One Love Editing for my amazing edits, and Karen Meeus, Louisa Masters, and Chelsea Bell for taking the time to beta read. They helped me make this book stronger than I could on my own.
Lori Parks, you were a gem as always with my proof read and I always appreciate how timely you are with your work.
Thanks to my formatter Rebecca Bosevski, for fixing this mess of a word doc and making it look ridiculously professional.
Eden Finley, your notes and ongoing commentary were fucking incredible, and thank you for letting me pick your brain while talking absolute smack at each other.
Amanda Johnson, your unwavering support and beautiful encouragement always give me the boost I need and I’m so grateful to be able to talk your ear off whenever I need to.
And of course, thanks to my fam bam. To my husband who constantly frees up time for me to write, and to my kids whose neediness reminds me the real word exists.
Copyright ©
FAKE FRIENDS - 2020 Saxon James
All rights reserved.
First published in Australia by May Books 2020
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Under no circumstances may any part of this book be photocopied for resale.
This is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.