𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲

𝐓 𝐖 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐘

Camden

The diner was a cozy little spot, with its red vinyl booths and the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. The warm light from the hanging lamps gave the place a comforting glow, but it did nothing to soothe the tension crackling between us. I glanced at Sofia as we slid into the booth, her hand subtly brushing against mine, sending a silent signal. We were here for one reason only, to make Mateo jealous. And we were going to pull it off.

I couldn't help but smirk as I noticed how Mateo's eyes narrowed when Sofia leaned into me, her head resting softly against my shoulder. From the corner of my eye, I could see Emma, an old friend of Sofia's from Denmark, watching us with a curious smile, completely unaware of the facade we were putting on.

"It's been ages since we've all hung out like this, Sofi." Emma said brightly, stirring the ice in her lemonade with a straw. Her voice carried an easy warmth that made me almost forget the brewing storm across from us.

Mateo, seated directly opposite us, was uncharacteristically quiet. He kept stealing glances at Sofia, his brow furrowing more and more each time she leaned into me. I felt the tension growing thicker between them, and it was working, he was jealous.

"Yeah." I replied, letting my arm slip around Sofia's waist, pulling her even closer against my side. "It's been great meeting you and catching up, especially now that I have this amazing girlfriend." I emphasized the word 'girlfriend' just enough to watch Mateo's knuckles turn white as he clenched the edge of the table. I had to hide my grin behind my coffee cup.

Sofia shifted slightly in my arms, tilting her head to look up at me. Her cheeks were flushed a soft pink, and for a moment, I hesitated. Was she actually blushing? It caught me off guard. She had always been such a great actress when we practiced this, none of this should've affected her. I pushed the thought aside and leaned down, pressing a small kiss to her cheek, close enough for Mateo to see every second of it.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mateo's jaw clench tightly, and his fingers gripped the edge of the table like he was trying to keep himself anchored. Camden, you genius. This was exactly the reaction I wanted. "I'm just so lucky to have her." I said casually, keeping my voice light, though I knew Mateo was hanging on every word. "Sofia's just... perfect."

Emma raised an eyebrow, glancing between us, the faintest trace of suspicion creeping into her expression. "You two are cute together." she said, but something in her tone hinted she wasn't buying it entirely.

"Thanks." Sofia murmured softly, her voice surprisingly shy. She shifted a little, her hand settling on my knee under the table as if needing some reassurance.

And that's when I noticed something, something that shook my confidence for just a moment. Sofia wasn't just playing along. That blush on her cheeks, the way her body seemed to tense slightly every time I touched her, it wasn't just for the show. My heart skipped a beat, confusion swirling in my chest. Was she... flustered?

I tried to refocus on the plan, on the reason we were doing this in the first place. Mateo's jealousy. He was watching us like a hawk, his gaze dark and simmering, but now all I could think about was the way Sofia felt pressed against me, her warmth suddenly more distracting than the drama unfolding in front of us.

"So, how long have you two been together?" Emma asked, clearly intrigued. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, and I could see she wasn't entirely convinced.

"A few weeks." I replied smoothly, squeezing Sofia's waist a little, hoping to keep her grounded. "It's been the best few weeks of my life." The words came out easily enough, but they tasted strange now. Why was I suddenly hyper-aware of Sofia's every movement, every tiny breath she took?

Mateo's fork clattered onto his plate, making us all jump. He cleared his throat, the tension in his posture almost unbearable. "I'm, uh... I'm happy for you guys." he said, though the strain in his voice betrayed his words. His eyes, however, flicked to Sofia, lingering for a little too long, and I could see the turmoil roiling inside him.

I leaned closer to Sofia, as if responding to some invisible pull, and whispered, "You okay?" It was supposed to be a part of the act, but the concern in my voice felt real.

Sofia blinked up at me, her blush deepening as she nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." she whispered back, though her tone was breathless, like something unspoken was hanging between us.

Emma watched the two of us intently, but I barely noticed her anymore. Mateo might have been a storm brewing across the table, but Sofia was the one consuming my focus now, and that was... unexpected.

I caught Mateo glaring again, and instinctively, I did the one thing that would push him over the edge. I laced my fingers with Sofia's, pulling her hand into my lap, holding it in plain view for him to see. "I've never been this happy." I said aloud, though it was more to myself than anyone else. Mateo's face twisted slightly, and Emma's brows shot up in surprise.

But Sofia didn't pull away.

Instead, she squeezed my hand back, her blush deepening as she looked at me, really looked at me. My heart skipped another beat, and I suddenly realized... maybe I wasn't just faking anymore.

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Is Sofia finally realising she has feelings for Camden? 🤔

~ R