I miss him already. I missed Tate the minute he got out of my car at the airport. I missed him the second he told me that he got the call from New York.

But I couldn’t say it. No,—I had to be strong. I had to be there for him. Because this is Tate’s dream, and I would never stand between him and something he really wanted.

And he did want it. He had waited until we were cooking dinner to tell me his big news. I nearly dropped the casserole I was putting in the oven, but I recovered, practically tossing the dish onto the stovetop and throwing my arms around his neck in congratulations. This was huge news, life-altering news, and it deserved to be celebrated…

Which we had, well into the night. It was around 3am when we finally collapsed against the sheets, exhausted and sweaty from our lovemaking. Poor Tate had to catch an 8am flight, but he said he would never trade a second between my legs for sleep.

My phone chimes, interrupting my thoughts. I put down the script I’m trying to memorize and reach for my nightstand.

I’m slipping on my sandals when I hear the low rumble of Kelley’s car. I open the front door and start down the walk.

“This place is…is…” Kelley is standing in the middle of the driveway, her car door still open, as she gapes at the house behind me. “You get to live here?”

I nod. “I had the same reaction when I first moved in. But now I’m getting used to it, which scares me.”

“Why?”

“Because anywhere I go next will look like a Motel 6 in comparison.”

Kelley pulls me into a giant hug. “I know, but let’s not think about that right now.” She steps back and gasps. “Oh my God! I almost forgot!”

I’m about to ask what she means when she grabs my hand. “It’s gorge!” The sunlight glitters off the deep blue as she peers at it from all sides. “Ah. You’re going British.”

“Busted,” I admit. “I’ve had a crush on Princess Di’s ring my whole life.”

“Well, duh. It’s probably the most famous engagement ring in history. Doesn’t Kate Middleton have it now?”

I nod quickly.

“Whoa.” Kelley stares at me. “You have a princess’s ring, you live in this mansion, you’re dating a sexy prince charming…”

“Oh no. Don’t say it—”

“YOU’RE A PRINCESS!”

I shake my head as Kelley erupts in giggles. “I swear, Kel. Your imagination is off the hook.”

She waves her hand at me. “Silence, Princess Charlotte! I demand a tour of your castle!”

I laugh and take her arm. “This way, m’lady. May I offer you a beverage whilst we conduct the tour?”

I grab us a few beers for our tour through Tate’s “castle.” Kelley’s oohs and aahs reach a breaking point when we get to the ground floor.

“Does he even use this stuff?” she asks, gazing around the in-home theater.

“Nope,” I say, collapsing in one of the eight plushy leather armchairs. “We watch stuff in the living room or in bed.”

“Ooh la la,” Kelley coos, wiggling her eyebrows at me. “Which bedroom?”

“Um, none of your business!” I push myself up and head for the door. “Come on, the gym and pool are next.”

“Pool?” Kelley squeals behind me. “Oh my God, can we please lie out while I’m here?”

“Oh…I had hoped to go over my lines with you.”

“And who says we can’t do that while in our bikinis?”

“Well…”

“Please?” She clasps her hands together. “I haven’t been to a pool once this summer, and it’s almost September. Anyway, you said that this stuff never gets used. So let’s use it!”

I smile. “Okay.”

“Thank you! Uh, can I borrow a suit?”

Ten minutes later, we’re splayed out on beach towels under the glaring late-August sun. Kelley sits up, pushes her sunglasses up, and groans. “Lord it’s hot.”

I give her a once-over and frown. “I think you’re already burning.”

“Crap!” She darts up, grabs her towel, and hightails it for the table. “Maybe we could go over your lines from the shade of the umbrella?”

I roll my eyes behind my sunglasses and sit up. I thought we’d never get to rehearsing my lines—not like I’m worried or anything. My audition is tomorrow at 10am, and I’ve been preparing all week. Tate went over them with me, giving me some pointers on my inflection and arm movements during certain points, so I feel pretty good about it…

Still, you couldn’t over-practice, right? Besides, it’s all I can focus on. I am pumped for this audition. It’s my “break-out moment,” as Tate kept putting it.

Right. No pressure.

I head for the cool shade of the umbrella and get settled. I hand Kelley my script, point to her part, and wait for her to begin.

“Gemma,” she says in a ridiculously low, husky voice, “why didn’t you tell me you were planning on coming tonight?”

I break down in giggles. “Kelley, you sound like the Terminator!”

“Sorry!” She scowls. “My part is a guy so I thought I needed to sound, you know, guy-ish.”

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “Don’t worry about any of that. Gender doesn’t matter right now, just read them how you normally would.”

Kelley shifts in her seat. “You know, this is harder than I thought.”

I stare at her. Kelley’s a modern dance instructor, so I get that this is new to her, but still… “Where did you get the idea that acting is easy?”

“I don’t know! I guess I never really knew what it took.” She flips through the script in her hands. “This is a beast.”

“I only have to memorize a few pages for my audition.”

“Still…” She trails off as she flips through it. “Ooo, it’s a romance!”

“I know! I feel really lucky to have landed this opportunity. Although I kinda feel like a fake.”

“Why?”

“I dunno. I’ve been in L.A. for a year with absolutely zero leads, and then suddenly, I get this. I feel like being Tate Gunner’s girlfriend—sorry, fiancée, helped.”

“You totally deserve it, Char.” Kelley flips back to the earmarked page. “But just to ease your mind, we’ll practice until perfection…”

Ten minutes later, Kelley sits back in her chair with a grin. “That was great! You didn’t miss a single word or mess up a line. They’re going to love you.”

I take a sip from my water bottle, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. “Thanks, Kelley. I have a good feeling about it.”

“Uh, okay. Then why do you sound like someone’s died?”

“I do? I’m sorry, I really am excited.”

“Then what’s the matter?”

I shrug. “I wish Tate could be there tomorrow.”

Kelley screws up her face. “Why?”

“It would mean a lot to me. He gives me strength.”

“Why?”

“Because…a small part of me wants him to be proud of me. To see all the hard work I’ve put into this audition.”

“Why?”

“Stop asking me why, Kel. I don’t know!”

“Oh, I think you do.”

“I swear I don’t,” I answer, avoiding her gaze.

“Fine.” She crosses her arms. “I guess I’ll spill the beans: you love him.”

“W-what?”

“Deny it all you want, but it’s written all over your indignant face.”

“Not true!”

Kelley wags a finger at me. “Yes, true! I’ve been noticing a change in you lately. You seem distracted, moony.”

“Moony?”

“Yup, and it’s called love, sweetheart. You’re drunk on it.”

“Yeah, right,” I scoff. “I think I’d know if I was in love with Tate.”

Kelley shrugs. “Usually you’re the last one to figure it out.”

“Okaaay. What are you, the love doctor?”

She stares at me. “How long did it take for you to start missing him?”

“Oh, um, a couple of hours…”

“Right,” she snorts. “I bet it set in the minute you drove to the airport.

Now it’s my turn to stare. She’s a mind reader.

“Does your heart hammer in your chest every time he walks into the room? Do you rush home because you hate being apart? Do you count down the minutes until you get to see him again?”

Good Lord…am I in love with Tate Gunner?

“I’d say it was hormones,” Kelley continues, “especially since you’ve done the deed, and then some.”

My jaw drops. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Come on, Char. You’re literally glowing.”

“Okay,” I admit, heat rising up my neck. “We did…and are.”

Kelley frowns. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know. I guess I was afraid you’d think I was crazy for giving myself to someone like Tate.”

“What? Why?”

“Well, you told me not to get involved, and then there’s the recent scandal…”

“Char—” Kelley reaches over and takes my hand. “I would never sex-shame you. In fact, I’m jealous.” A wicked smile plays on her lips. “Is he as good as the world thinks?”

I grin back at her. “You could say that.”

“Ha! I knew it.” She goes quiet for a moment. “Look, I can see how much Tate means to you and how happy you are. I never saw an inkling of this with Jay.”

Jay? Yeah, there’s no comparison.

“Plus you two look so happy in all the articles coming out. That one in Star Magazine?” She sighs. “Adorable. I mean, sure, some of it could be for the cameras, but I don’t think you’re that good of an actress.”

“Thanks, Kel,” I mutter.

“Seriously! You two look as in love as two people can be! I think you need to face the facts and quit running from your feelings.”

I rub the bridge of my nose, trying to ease the headache that’s settling in. “You have to help me, Kel. How do I deal with this impossible situation?”

“You mean falling for your fake fiancé?” She leans back in her chair. “The way I see it, you have two options. You can either keep on doing what you’re doing—enjoying each other in more ways than one…”

“Kelley!”

“…or tell him.”

I consider this. “Tell him?”

She nods. “I think that’s your best option. At the rate you’re falling for him, you’re not going to be able to handle the ‘friends with benefits’ zone for much longer.”

“We’re not just friends, though. We are going out now.”

“Well, I still think this will never be the relationship you want it to be without telling him how you feel.”

“So…be honest about my real feelings in a fake engagement?” I sigh. “Lord, I think my head might explode.”

“Yeah. Mine, too.” Kelley looks at me. “Why are you so nervous, anyway? Do you think Tate’s going to dump you the second you say ‘I love you?’”

“Maybe…well…” I shake my head. “No. It’s more that I’m afraid of opening up. This is all new territory, Kel. I’ve never gone this far with a guy before. I’ve never said ‘I love you.’”

Kelley laughs. “That makes two of you.”

“Two of us?”

“You and Tate!”

“What?”

She tilts her head down and meets my confused gaze. “I doubt that lover boy has ever said those three words together to anyone but his reflection.”