Chapter 11: Testing Boundaries
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"Remember, we're madly in love," Jack reminded me, adjusting his bow tie.
"Newlyweds who can't keep their hands off each other," I confirmed, smoothing his lapel with practiced intimacy.
The evening was a masterclass in controlled performance. His hand at the small of my back, my laughter at his whispered comments, the way we gravitated toward each other across the room—all carefully choreographed.
Until it wasn't.
Dancing beneath crystal chandeliers, the practiced moves gave way to something genuine. His hold tightened imperceptibly; my breath caught as he pulled me closer.
"Everyone's watching," I whispered, my excuse paper-thin.
"Good," he murmured against my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
Back at home, the performance should have ended. Instead, we lingered in the hallway, the air between us charged with unspoken possibility.
He leaned forward slightly; I tilted my face up. For one breathless moment, the line between pretense and reality blurred.
Then Jack stepped back, clearing his throat. "We should get some rest. Big day tomorrow."
I nodded, ignoring the hollow disappointment in my chest. "Just acting," I reminded myself. "This is all just acting."
