Page 62 of Mountain Bean Dream
“Yeah,” I managed, my voice steadier than I felt.
Together, we worked through the clues, his pencil scratching rhythmically against the page. He breezed through the tougher hints while I filled in the truly random knowledge questions.
“Did you ever watchShadowed Realms?” Jeremy asked, his eyes still focused on the crossword puzzle in front of him.
My stomach tightened into a knot. My throat followed suit, but I forced a shrug, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Not really my thing. Why?”
He circled the clue, his pencil scratching against the paper. The sound made my heart do a triple flip before splashing into a pit of dread.
28 across – Actress who played the High Sorceress on Shadowed Realms (2 words, 14 letters).
I froze, my macchiato halfway to my lips. My stage name fit perfectly, and the realization hit me like a punch to the chest.
Jeremy tilted his head, his long waves brushing his forehead as he glanced at me. “You sure? You seem like you’d make a great High Sorceress.”
I blinked, nearly choking on my coffee. My heart thundered painfully against my ribcage. “I don’t know about that,” I said, aiming for nonchalance, but my voice came out slightly higher pitched. My hands gripped my mug tightly enough to make my knuckles ache. “Pretty sure that kind of role calls for someone taller.”
He raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “Hmm.” He stacked his mug on his plate and folded the crossword puzzle neatly. “Well, since I haven’t figured out the clue yet…guess I’ll just have to do my research when I get home.”
NO!
Panic surged through me. I needed to destroy that crossword—fast. With a quick glance at my mug, I saw justenough coffee left to act. Rising abruptly, I “accidentally” knocked the mug over. The liquid spilled across the table, but barely grazed the corner of the paper.
“Oh, Jeremy, I’m so sorry,” I said, flustered as I grabbed napkins to blot the mess. “I’m so careless.”
Jeremy’s gaze sharpened, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face, though he kept his tone light. “Careless? No. Never. But accident-prone? I might give you that.”
I forced a laugh, trying to steer him away from the puzzle. “So, when do you need to get to school?”
“In about ten minutes,” he replied, glancing at his watch. His fingers laced with mine, grounding me with their warmth. “Where do you want to go while I’m there? And where do I pick you up afterward?”
“Thought the fake boyfriend gig didn’t start until after four?” I teased, trying to keep the mood casual despite the panic still buzzing beneath my skin.
Jeremy smirked, his voice dropping just enough to make my pulse quicken. “Well, we’re out in public, so it’s best if we keep up appearances. You never know who we’ll run into.”
I glanced around the coffee shop, scanning for familiar faces. Thankfully, no Derek in sight—just a couple chatting at the far end of the shop. “Ah, I see,” I said, playing along. “Got to maintain the charade.”
“So,” he pressed, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles, “where am I picking you up?”
“I need to pick up some pantyhose for tomorrow,” I said, grateful for the excuse. “Meet me at the drugstore?”
“Sounds like a plan.” He studied me for a moment, his expression softening. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”
I swiped at my forehead instinctively. “I feel fine,” I lied. But the rapid thudding of my heart betrayed me. If he only knew what I was really panicking about...
“You sure?”
“Positive.” I smiled, though it felt shaky. “You’d better get going. Don’t want to be late.”
Jeremy didn’t budge. Instead, he cupped my cheek in his hand, his touch soft but firm, grounding me in the moment. Before I could think too hard about it, he leaned down, brushing his lips over mine in a kiss so casual it could have been mistaken for habit. But there was nothing casual about the way it left me buzzing, my lips tingling with the ghost of his touch.
“See you in about forty-five minutes?” he asked, his voice warm and easy, as though the kiss hadn’t just set my world spinning.
“Absolutely,” I managed, my voice softer than I intended.
I watched as he disappeared out the door, his hand raised in a casual wave. The moment he was gone, I let out a breath. My lips still tingled, but my thoughts were racing ahead.
Jeremy was clever—too clever for my comfort. If he dug into that crossword clue, it wouldn’t take him long to connect the dots. And then what?