Fakecation, page 5
“It’s fine,” Daniel assured her, and when her eyes turned to him, he could see that she didn’t believe him. “It really is. Now, let’s go tell the police what we saw.”
After they gave their statements, they were free to go. Daniel climbed into the driver’s seat of the car. Amelia was quiet when she got in. They pulled back onto the road, and he focused on ensuring they were far enough away from other people.
But only a few minutes into the drive, he heard her stomach rumble. “Are you hungry?” he asked.
“What? No. I’m fine.”
“Do we need to stop?”
“No, I’m good! I can skip lunch.”
“So you are hungry.”
“I don’t want to keep stopping for something so small.”
Amelia’s hunger wasn’t small to him, but he had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to convince her of that. She was stubborn, but not in the ways he was used to. It seemed she was insistent on not taking care of herself, not inconveniencing others.
“Would it help if I said I was hungry too?”
“Maybe. Are you?”
“I am. How about we just get something really quick?”
“Okay,” she said slowly. “That works for me.”
Daniel found a Taco Bell and pulled into a parking spot. This time, he paid for their food, even as she tried to hand him her card.
“You got the coffee. I got the food.”
Amelia huffed and put away her card. “Fine. If you insist.”
They found a table in the corner and sat to eat. Amelia tore into her food much like she had at the diner. She must have been starving. She was finished far before he was, but most of his time was spent figuring out how not to make a mess of the burrito he’d ordered.
“Okay,” she admitted, the stress gone from her voice. “Maybe I was hungry.”
“I’m glad it helped.”
“I always wind up at Taco Bell when I’m on vacation.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. One time, John had a meltdown in the car, and I mean a crying, screaming meltdown. We had to stop and get food because he’s such a baby when he’s hungry. It was this exact one, actually.”
“My sister’s like that.”
“Luckily, I don’t do all of those things, but I just get anxious. And sometimes cranky. Sorry you had to see that.”
“If that’s what you’re like when you almost get into a car crash while hungry, then I’d say you have a pretty level head.”
“I promise I usually don’t let myself get that hungry. Or into car crashes. I can usually stick to a routine, but vacations always mess me up.”
“I’ll remind you to eat,” he said. “That way, you don’t have to worry about it too much.”
“And maybe I won’t inhale it. I know it’s not the most ladylike thing ever.”
He shrugged. Her eating style didn’t bother him. “I figured you were hungry.”
“I’m also just a fast eater. I used to race my dad when I was a kid.”
Daniel couldn’t help but smile. It seemed like she had the kind of father she could do those things with. He only wished he did too.
He made quick work of his burrito, not wanting to keep her waiting for too long. By the time he was done, she was standing and ready to go.
“Are you still okay with driving?”
“Yeah,” he said, relieved he could help in some way. “I really don’t mind.”
“Thank God. The last thing I want to do is be behind the wheel right now.”
Chapter Seven
Amelia
It started to feel like a vacation after she gave up the wheel to Daniel. Her family had been right. She wasn’t good with driving, not in the slightest. Thankfully, he seemed to be able to handle it well enough that she wasn’t worried about letting him drive her car.
As they drove, she occasionally told him about certain sights or things to do, especially as they made their way through Charleston. They pulled into Folly Beach in the midafternoon, making good time despite the traffic and the earlier holdup with the accident.
Her family had just arrived too, and they were parked in one of the extra spaces, unloading the car. The condominium was right on the beach, next to the town center. In the summer, it was a busy area. Her parents joked that this was the busiest place they liked to be.
“That’s them,” she said, pointing to their car.
Daniel nodded and pulled up beside them. He took a deep breath, looking like he was preparing to go on stage at a show.
“Are you okay?”
“Just . . . getting ready to be a fake boyfriend.”
Before she could ask him what he meant, she heard her mother calling her name. She got out of the car and had only a moment to appreciate the windy, salty air before she was pulled into a tight hug.
Soon after, Daniel was in one too. He looked very uncomfortable for all of one moment before his face broke out into the same smile he had given the waitress back in the diner. Amelia blinked, still unused to seeing this side of him.
“It’s so nice to meet you! I’m Mandy,” her mom said, pulling away so she could better admire him. “You’re so handsome.”
Amelia expected him to awkwardly laugh or even ignore the compliment. That’s what she would have done.
“Thank you. I can see where Amelia gets her beauty from.”
She stared, trying to piece together the man she had just spent the car ride with and the man that was talking to her mother. She then remembered how he looked in the car. He had been preparing himself for this.
He knew exactly how to fake a relationship.
“Nice to meet you, son.” Her dad, Randy, walked up to shake Daniel’s hand. “Glad you could make it.”
Daniel nodded. His smile was still there, but his lips tightened almost imperceptibly.
“Why do you look so constipated?”
Amelia jumped and turned to her brother, who had snuck behind her.
“Is that my cardigan?” she asked.
“Is it?” John looked down. “How could that have possibly happened?”
“I wore it at Christmas. If you didn’t steal it, did you buy it to copy me?”
“Oh, my sweet sister. How I’ve missed you. Can’t we talk without all this discussion of clothing ownership?”
She shook her head. “Don’t play innocent. I know how you work.”
“And yet you still leave your things where I can find them,” he said.
John looked stunning, as always. He wore her baby blue cardigan with a pink tank top and fitted jeans. It was such a cute outfit; she wondered if she could take some inspiration from it.
“So, a boyfriend?” he asked.
“Yep.” She turned to Daniel, only to find him looking back at her. She waved him over. “Daniel, this is my brother, John.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Hey, man. I can’t believe you actually came,” John said, shaking Daniel’s hand. “I thought Amelia was faking it for a while there.”
“Ha,” Amelia replied dryly. Daniel raised an eyebrow at her. “You think you’re so funny.”
John beamed. “I could be a comedian.”
“I should get our things,” Daniel said into her ear. “Be right back.”
He returned shortly with the two bags, and her mom trailed behind him. After Amelia grabbed her suitcase from him, her mom asked, “How was your drive?”
“Oh, you know. We just narrowly avoided being sandwiched in between two cars.”
Her mom stopped, eyes wide with worry. “Are you okay?”
“Amelia’s quick thinking saved us from crashing,” Daniel said. “She pulled to the side of the road when someone stopped too fast. The driver behind us didn’t react as quickly.”
“Oh my God,” she muttered, but Amelia was too busy feeling the warmth grow in her cheeks at his compliment. She repeated, “Are you okay?”
Amelia waved her off. “I’m fine. Daniel drove the rest of the way.”
“That’s good to hear,” she said. “I’m glad you had your partner with you to help.”
The words felt pointed, as if Amelia needed to learn something from it. She could only fake a smile, trying to keep her nerves at bay.
She was fine being single. She knew that.
“Do you want us to hold the elevator?” her dad called. He’d made it across the parking lot and was waiting for them.
“I’m coming, honey!” Her mom worked her way over to the building.
The bottom of it was on tall wooden beams, with some tenants parking their cars in the empty space. Amelia had learned after many years of coming here that the area often flooded during hurricanes. The condos began on the first floor, and their particular accommodation was on the fourth, at the very top.
The elevator was tiny, and with her three family members and Daniel, plus their luggage, it felt even smaller.
“We can get the next one,” she said.
“There’s room,” her mom assured them. “Come on.”
Daniel went in first, and Amelia knew she couldn’t easily make an excuse as to why she couldn’t join.
It was crowded and hot. She and Daniel were crammed into the front of the space. She had no choice but to lean into him. At first, she thought that she might die from embarrassment, if the hot, sticky hair didn’t get to her first. Daniel felt stiff underneath her.
But then his hand settled on her back, and he wound one of his arms around her, pulling her in closer.
Her skin tingled from where she could feel his hand through her shirt.
At least Amelia could claim it was the heat in the elevator that made her cheeks burn, even if it was because of him.
She was glad when the elevator doors finally opened, but as Daniel pulled away to exit, she missed having him nearby. The cool air hitting her skin wasn’t anything compared to the feeling of having him close.
Their condo was near the elevator and was always picturesque in the ocean air. The ceilings were tall, with walls painted a light blue. The carpet under her feet was slightly worn from all the families that had stayed here, but Amelia didn’t mind.
She was sure the beach decor was gorgeous, but as usual, Amelia’s eyes were caught by the balcony. She loved the ocean, and this was her first time seeing it in a year. The water glistened in the sun, pushing waves to the shore. People were either hiding under umbrellas or venturing into the water.
“Which one is our room?” Daniel asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
“I want the one with the bathroom,” she announced.
“Aw, come on,” John complained. “I usually get that room.”
“There’s two of us and only one of you,” she said, shrugging.
John muttered something to himself but didn’t say anything else. She led Daniel to where they’d be sharing a bed for the next week.
“Yes,” she muttered. “He didn’t fight me on it. If I had to guess, it would be because you’re here.”
Save for the master, this was the best room in the condo, with its queen-sized bed and en suite bathroom. The bigger mattress was going to be far more accommodating than the full one that John would be using.
There was a knock at the door, followed by her mom poking her head in. “Sorry to ask so soon after we arrived, but do you two want to go to dinner with us? The three of us are going to walk to the burger place down the road. We discussed it in the car.”
Amelia turned to Daniel, who was already looking at her, as if trying to figure out what she wanted.
“We can go,” Amelia said. “As long as it’s okay with you.”
“I’m fine with that,” he replied. She scanned his features for any sign that he wasn’t fine, just like she used to with Andrew. But she couldn’t read Daniel the same way.
This thing they were doing was already a ludicrous, unthinkable thing. The last thing she wanted to do was push him too far. She couldn’t handle it if he snapped at her and then she had to sleep next to him at night.
“Let me just get John and we’ll go.” She left the doorway as Amelia tried to calm down.
“Are you feeling up to going?” Daniel asked.
“I’m good.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Of course I am. None of this is weird at all.”
It was very weird.
He sighed but then said the last thing she expected. “Am I doing something wrong?”
“No!” she quickly reassured him. “You’re doing great. Better than I expected, actually. I guess I’m having a hard time shifting into pretending to be in a relationship.”
“I’m sure our near accident didn’t help. It’s been a long day.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“But it wasn’t great. Things don’t have to be the worst-case scenario to affect someone. And I feel like I should check on you. It’s what any good boyfriend would do.”
Would her cheeks ever cool? Even when they didn’t have to pretend to be a couple, he was good at finding the right thing to say.
“You’re not wrong . . . about any of it. I guess I just hoped this would go smoother.”
“We’re here in one piece and settled in. I would say things are going well.”
“Are you guys coming?” John asked, opening the door. “I run off of delicious food and I’m on empty right now.”
“Then we definitely need to go,” Amelia said, walking out of the room. “Where are Mom and Dad?”
John groaned. “No idea. They disappeared after saying they were just grabbing something.” He turned toward the back of the condo. “Mom! Dad! You coming?”
Their parents came out of their room only moments later, and they began the short walk to dinner. Twice, Daniel’s hand brushed hers, and she tried and failed to work up the courage to grab his. Hers would feel so small in his much larger ones . . .
“Daniel, I’m so glad you could join us,” her mom said as they got to the sidewalk.
“Me too,” he replied. “I’ve been needing a vacation for a while now.”
“Oh, we all do! I worked in customer service for years and I can’t stress the importance of a break.”
He nodded. His lips pursed and his eyes narrowed, as if he were trying to figure out what to say. Amelia had seen this expression before in meetings that he was told to lead.
“So, how was your drive?” Amelia asked, eager to get the conversation flowing again. Daniel gave her a smile, melting her brain into a puddle of incoherent thoughts about how attractive this man was when he did something as simple as smile. She fought to keep herself composed and focused on the question she’d just asked.
Even if she’d already forgotten what it was.
“Boring,” John said. What was boring again? His job?
Right, their drive.
“Oh, stop.” Her mom rolled her eyes. “It was uneventful. We were able to drive straight here.”
“That’s good,” Amelia said, nodding. “But you guys didn’t have to try to beat us here. We would have been fine had we gotten here first.”
“But we were the ones who were told the new entry code for the door,” she reminded. “Or at least that’s what your dad said. I tried to tell him that we could just text that to you, but I think the rush was actually because your dad was excited to meet Daniel.”
“And be relatively near you on the drive, in case something happened,” her dad added. “Like a near car wreck.”
“Everything was fine.”
“Thanks to your quick thinking,” Daniel added.
Wow, he really wasn’t going to let that go, huh?
“Dad had this idea that your car was going to break down like mine did when I tried to drive myself,” John explained.
It had not been pretty. That particular year, John wanted to drive himself so he could skip being stuck in the car with Amelia and their parents. After four hours on the road, his car sputtered to death and gave up on going any farther.
“And that was very nerve-racking,” Amelia said. “But I do also change the oil in my car.”
“It didn’t need more oil! The car kept leaking it out!”
“That’s . . . not how cars work,” Daniel said.
“I mean, I know that now.” John sighed. “I’m far too pretty to have to worry about changing oil.”
Amelia opened her mouth to inform him that it still wasn’t how the world worked, but her dad opened the door to the restaurant, stopping her before she could even start.
“Okay, my beautiful son, let’s go inside and eat. And the rest of us can be grateful you no longer have a car.”
Their group piled into the restaurant, and Daniel pulled out a seat for Amelia. Her cheeks exploded in heat. When was the last time anyone had done that for her?
“So, John, how is work going?” she asked after they had a moment with the menus. “I feel like I haven’t heard one of your stories in forever.”
“Oh, yes. Let’s hear about it,” her mom encouraged.
John could talk about his job for hours. Amelia used to tire of hearing his wild stories about being a fitness instructor, but she’d been so busy with work lately that she barely had time for anything else—including catching up with her brother—that she welcomed them now.
He began talking about one of his clients, and she was able to listen for the first half of it. Then, a loud family came in, and it was all she could do to keep looking at John. No one else at the table seemed to be bothered.
It didn’t get better as time went on. The restaurant only got louder, and she wasn’t able to remember a thing John said. She wasn’t able to focus, and she knew she couldn’t use the earbuds stashed in her purse without Daniel noticing.
Her mind buzzed as they finally left after the meal, and her social skills had rapidly dwindled. She needed to grab Daniel’s hand. She needed to pretend to like him so her family would see how happy they were.
And yet, she was stuck.
“Why don’t you two go for a walk?” her mom suggested when they returned to the condo. “It’s a pretty night. Very romantic.”
“I’m not sure,” Amelia said.
“The beach has always helped you unwind.”
She wasn’t wrong, but Amelia also didn’t know what Daniel might want to do.
