Lines and Lies

It had been ten days since Lucy signed the contract. Ten days of whirlwind texts from Marla, rehearsed answers to hypothetical interviews, and a lot of Google searches like "how to look casual next to a celebrity."Now, they were headed to a charity brunch in Beverly Hills. Tim's hand grazed hers as they walked into the garden-style venue, like it had the last few events — casual, supportive, practiced. But today it lingered a second longer.Lucy caught him glancing at her during conversations, laughing at her jokes a little too hard. He pulled her chair out for her. At one point, while sipping champagne and pretending to enjoy smoked salmon, she whispered, "Are you trying to win an Oscar for Best Fake Boyfriend?"Tim leaned in, grinning. "Maybe I'm just committed to the role."But when their eyes met, something flickered between them. Something unspoken.

Later that night, Lucy lay in bed staring at her phone.Celina: So... is he still hot when he's not saving you from aliens?Lucy: Hotter, actually. And funnier. And annoying, because I think I like him a little and I can't.Celina: Uh oh.Lucy: Yeah.She turned off the screen, but sleep wouldn't come.Because when Tim smiled at her today, it hadn't felt fake. And when she smiled back, neither had that.