Fall For You

(33)

I knew accepting Kiera's invitation to coffee was a bad idea the second I saw her grin. The kind of smug grin that tells you she's holding something over you and is loving every second of it. It's the same grin she wore that night at the party when she set up the bet to make Alex fall in love with me in the first place.

Still, what was I supposed to? Just not show up? She is my friend after all.

Kiera sips her coffee, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, spill. How is the Alex project going? Any closer to a confession yet?"

"Surely, you didn't invite me here just to talk about Alex," I say as I take a slow sip of my own drink, trying to buy myself a second of time so that I can figure out what to say that won't give away how much I don't want to have this conversation right now. 

Kiera's grin widens. "Come on, Gemma. This is me you're talking to," she presses. "You know you want to tell me."

"It's fine," I say, trying to sound casual, but it comes out sharper than I meant it to. "I'm doing fine. I'm just doing the usual, playing the part and sticking to the plan."

As I say it, I can feel a knot form in my stomach. It's not just the usual. It's more than that.

Kiera gives me a sceptical look. "Hmm," she hums, slightly tilting her head to the side. "You know," she says, leaning closer, "the way you keep avoiding my question makes me wonder if there's something else going on."

"Something else like what?"

"I don't know, but you've been dodging me for days, and now you're telling me that things are simply fine."

I shift in my seat, running my finger around the rim of my cup. "There's nothing to dodge, Kiera. I told you. It's fine." My voice comes out a little too defensive, and I mentally kick myself for it. 

"Alright, geez. No need to get so snarky," Kiera teases. "I'm just saying that the clock is ticking for this whole bet thing, so if you wanna win, I'm here for advice."

"Advice?" I scoff. "From you? How exactly is your relationship status with Harley working out?" I tilt my head to the side.

Kiera lets out a laugh. "Okay, okay, so maybe I'm not the best relationship coach. But I am your best friend. I'm invested in you."

"Invested in me, or invested in the bet?"

She pauses. "Same thing, isn't it?"

It's not. It's really not. But I don't say that. Instead, I nod slowly, forcing a smile as I bring my cup to my lips again. 

If I say what I'm really thinking. That, maybe, this whole game was a bad idea right from the start, then I can't keep pretending. 

I can't keep playing it cool. 

Can't keep lying to Kiera. 

Or to myself.