boy of my dreams- JESS MARIANO

CHAPTER5:

It was 10:30 a.m. on a warm Saturday, and the plan was set: Tom, Rory, Jess, and I were heading to the lake together. I spent the morning getting ready, choosing a dark blue long sleeve square neck crop top that paired perfectly with my denim shorts. After adding a bit of blush, mascara, and eyebrow gel, I finished off with a swipe of lip gloss. I slipped on my black Converse and took a deep breath before heading out to meet Tom.

Tom was already waiting outside my house, leaning casually against his car. "Ready to make some waves?" he joked, flashing me a grin as I approached.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied with a laugh, my nerves fluttering in anticipation. It was our first real test to see if this whole plan would work.

We stood there, chatting and laughing as we waited for Rory and Jess. A few minutes later, their car pulled up, and Rory hopped out, waving energetically. "Hey!" she called, her smile bright.

"Hi!" I replied, waving back as Jess stepped out of the car beside her. I couldn't help but glance at him, trying to gauge his reaction. He gave me a brief nod, his eyes flicking to Tom, who had already draped an arm casually around my shoulders.

"Looks like we're all set," Jess said, his voice a little cooler than usual. I noticed the way his gaze lingered on Tom's arm around me, and a tiny flicker of hope sparked inside me. *Is he... jealous?*

"Yep! Let's get going," I chimed, my heart racing. Tom played his part perfectly, opening the car door for me with a playful smile.

The drive to the lake was filled with light conversation. I could feel Jess's eyes on us occasionally, especially when Tom would say something sweet or make a joke that had me laughing. I leaned into Tom a bit, playing along, and I noticed Jess tense up slightly in his seat. *It's working,* I thought, feeling a strange mixture of excitement and nerves.

When we finally arrived at the lake, Rory and I spread out blankets while the guys unpacked the cooler. Tom was attentive, handing me a soda and casually brushing his hand against mine as he did. I glanced at Jess, catching a brief frown on his face before he quickly turned his attention back to what he was doing.

As the day went on, Tom and I kept up our act, joking around and even splashing each other playfully in the water. Every now and then, he'd wrap an arm around my waist or pull me close for a photo, his eyes sparkling with amusement. I could tell he was enjoying the game, and it made it easier for me to get into character.

Rory seemed completely oblivious to the underlying tension, chatting happily as she leaned against Jess, who had grown more quiet and withdrawn. I caught him glancing our way a few times, his jaw set and his expression unreadable.

Then came the big moment. We were all sitting on the blankets, drying off from a swim, when Tom turned to me, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You know," he began, his voice smooth, "I'm really glad we're spending time together like this."

"Me too," I said, playing along, my heart pounding. I could feel Jess's gaze on us, burning with intensity.

Tom leaned in closer, his face just inches from mine, and before I could fully register what was happening, he kissed me. My eyes widened in surprise, but I knew I had to play it cool. *Stay in character,* I reminded myself.

So, I leaned into it, letting the kiss linger for a moment before pulling back with a soft smile, my cheeks flushed. "Yeah, me too," I managed to say, glancing briefly at Jess out of the corner of my eye. His expression was tight, his lips pressed into a thin line as he looked away, his hands clenching slightly on the edge of the blanket.

Tom grinned, clearly pleased with himself. He gave me a quick wink, as if to say, *Nice job.* I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. This was all part of the plan, but I couldn't deny that it felt a little strange.