Fauxmance
-- EXCERPT: “Want to know the worst part?” Hayden nodded, and I laid my head against his shoulder. There was no way I’d be able to say this next bit while looking at him. Even without eye contact, I didn’t know if I’d be able to admit it out loud. “He’s the only guy I’ve ever kissed,” I whispered. “Seriously?” Hayden asked. I gave a short nod. “Yep. We were so young when we got together. I thought he was the one. But today, when he let me go, there weren’t any tears. There was no regret in his voice. He just looked relieved.” It was silent for a moment. “I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. Kissing is overrated.” Hayden leaned away, lifting my head so I had to look at him. “Why do you say that?” he asked. “People always make it sound so amazing,” I said. “Kisses are supposed to cause fireworks, make you hear symphonies, touch you on a soul-deep level. I used to believe all the hype. I was a hopeless romantic through and through.” I shrugged. “But my first kiss wasn’t like that. Actually, no kiss I had after was like that either. Like I said, it’s overrated.” Hayden shook his head, his eyes suddenly serious. “That’s awful,” he said. “No, they were pleasant enough, just nothing to write home about.” “I kind of want to find Sean, so I can kick his ass.” I laughed. “Oh, it wasn’t him. Sean liked kissing fine. I always figured it was me. That I was defective or something.” Hayden put a hand on my cheek. “It wasn’t you, Magnolia.” I nodded but didn’t really believe it. Hayden couldn’t know that. He was just trying to make me feel better. “I’m serious,” he said. “Yeah okay.” “Let me prove it to you.” My brows pinched together. “How are you going to do that?” “I’m going to kiss you,” he said. Anything I was about to say left me. My brain went totally blank. What were words again? “If you still think kissing’s overrated after that, okay. I’ll retire my player card for good.” Hayden’s eyes went to my lips, and they tingled in response. “That won’t happen, though.” I swallowed to clear my throat. “How can you be sure?” “Because I’m going to do my best to please you.” He nodded. “And between you and me, Magnolia, I’m a very good kisser.” I sent him a soft smile. “You’re so conceited.” “Not conceited if it’s the truth,” he said. “Some of the things you say should annoy me, but for some reason I find it charming.” “That’s good. You have to be at least a little attracted to me, or this won’t work.” No problem there, I thought. Hayden seemed to be reading my mind, but I hoped he didn’t know just how attractive I found him. It was way too much for the short period of time we’d spent together. And I was pretty sure the attraction was one-sided. Although…he wasn’t opposed to kissing me. That meant he must’ve found me somewhat desirable, right? Still. He might just be doing this because he saw it as a challenge. “Well, I wouldn’t get your hopes up,” I said. “Sean once told me I wasn’t very responsive.” Hayden scoffed. “Don’t worry. Unlike your ex, I actually have skills.” I felt my breath hitch as he slowly leaned forward. “I just don’t want to disappoint you,” I breathed. Hayden’s gaze locked on mine. “This isn’t about me. It’s about you.” The air between us grew thick as his eyes went back to my lips. “And you could never disappoint me,” he said. “I’ve wanted to kiss you ever since we got on this elevator.”
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