The way Dustin asks me if it’s a date startles me and brings me back to reality. I can’t be dating Dustin. Not while I’m pretending to be Jera. It’s not fair to Jera or Dustin. Not that I wouldn’t date Dustin. At another time and place, I totally would.
“No,” I quickly say, sliding my hands back and forth. “Not as a date.”
Dustin takes a step back. “Oh. Then…”
I hadn’t thought any of this through, and now I feel terrible. But I need to get to that event. And if Dustin is going, maybe I can just catch a ride with him. That had to be okay, right? Jera would forgive me if I explained everything that happened with my phone, and how I had no way to get to the event.
“I’m sorry. That sounded so rude. I just have a situation right now that is hard to explain. Can we go as friends?” I twist my fingers together in hopes that he’ll understand.
Dustin slowly nods. “I get it. I read online that you broke up with Luke. Was it a painful breakup?”
“Yes,” I say, grasping onto that as an excuse. “I’m still very hurt. I can’t get into another relationship right now. I hope you understand.”
He pauses to look at me with his brilliant blue eyes, and I fear he can see right through me. He studies me, like I’m under a microscope. I give him a pained expression so he’ll know just how hurt I am by my breakup, but I suck at acting and I think I just look constipated. Still, he gives me a sympathetic nod. “I understand. I’ve had my share of breakups. My last one did a number on me.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I found out she lied to me about a bunch of stuff.”
Guilt swarms around me like bees. “Ouch.”
“I’ve had several girlfriends who just used me for things. That hurt me more than I like to admit.”
“I’m so sorry.” I don’t know what else to say. I scoop up Squint and put him in his carrier. “Thank you for all you’re doing to help me. You’re a lifesaver.”
Dustin turns to the front door and opens it. I step out onto his front doormat. He reaches out and gently grabs my arm. Tingles wash over my skin. “Jera…wait.”
I turn to him. “Yes?”
He lets go of me and scrubs a hand over his face. “Thanks for coming over tonight.” His gaze travels over me. “I enjoyed our time together.”
I smile, my insides fluttering again. “I did, too.”
“Is there anything else I can do for you?”
I bite my lower lip, thinking of my art supplies. I left all my old ones at home, and I need to get the next class filmed and uploaded. I can’t even call for an Uber without my phone, and I know Jera would kill me if I took her Ferrari anywhere. It’s her baby. She wouldn’t even let me touch it last time I was here. Plus, driving in California makes me crazy.
His brow furrows as I hesitate. “What is it?”
“I need something from a store.”
He raises one eyebrow, and my insides turn into a puddle of goo. “What do you need?”
“I need some art supplies. Would you be willing to drive me to the art store?”
He blinks for a second, like he can’t quite figure me out, but then smiles. “Just tell me what you need, and I’ll have my driver pick it up.”
Heat once again rises to my cheeks. Duh. Rich and famous people don’t go shopping. I should have known he’d have people for that. Jera probably has people for that, too.
I look down at my shoes, uncomfortable with sending someone else to pick out my paintbrushes. I’m quite particular when it comes to that. “I kind of want to pick out my own supplies,” I admit to him.
“Oh.” Dustin shifts. Again, he studies me, and I’m sure he’s going to blurt out that I’m not Jera, and he can tell because I’m totally not acting at all like her. But instead, he simply smiles again. “That’s fine, then. I’ll take you. Does tomorrow morning work?”
“Yes! Thank you. I really appreciate it.” I know I’m gushing, so I shut up.
“No problem. Come over when you want to go. I’m free all morning.”
I practically float back to Jera’s house. I’m so relieved that everything is going to work out, and I had such an amazing time with Dustin. I’m sure he has no clue, but he’s my knight in shining armor.
I hear a noise downstairs and can’t quite place it in the fog of my sleep. It sounds like heavy machinery. Or an engine of some kind. I roll over and realize it’s a vacuum. Jera must not have canceled her cleaning staff.
I moan and put a pillow over my head. Jera’s a morning person. I’m sure she doesn’t mind waking up at the crack of dawn. I wait another ten minutes before deciding I’m not going to catch any more sleep with that noise, and I get out of Jera’s bed. Squint lifts his head and watches me go into Jera’s bathroom.
Thirty minutes later I’m showered and feeling more like a human being. I open the window to let out some steam, and I smile when I see Dustin in his backyard. He’s at his grill, and I stick my head out of the window. “Hey,” I call.
Dustin grins at me. “Didn’t you learn your lesson?”
“I promise not to get stuck this time.”
He laughs. “You’d better not. I think I bruised my coccyx yesterday.”
I bite my lips together to keep from giggling. He’s flirting with me again. A smell wafts up from his grill and I salivate. “What are you making?”
“I’m smoking some brisket. Just checking on it.”
“It smells delicious.”
He raises one eyebrow. “Do you want to eat lunch with me?”
“Well, if you insist. I’ll eat your food any day.”
“Come over when you’re ready. We’ll go to the art store then I’ll make us lunch. The brisket should be done by then.”
“Deal.” I shut the window, my stomach already anticipating the heavenly meal. How did I get so lucky? Jera has an amazing neighbor and all she does is fight with him about a fence. She’s totally missing out.
I rush to get myself ready. With all the glitz and sparkle in Jera’s closet, it takes me a bit longer than normal to find something to wear. I’m just not a bedazzled kind of person, and she forbade me to wear any of my own clothes. I scoff. So I don’t wear designer clothes. Big deal. They don’t look dumpy or anything. But I finally find a simple pair of jeans and a cute shirt that fits nicely.
Jera left me strict instructions on doing my makeup, but all that is on my dead phone, so I sit down at her makeup counter and stare at all the products. Three different foundations? Does she use them all at once? I make a face at the mirror. Hopefully Jera doesn’t mind…I’m just doing things my way today. A little eyeliner and some blush. It’s the natural look.
I put on my sling carrier that I painted with a floral design and put Squint in it. I love this carrier when I go shopping, because it looks like a purse with a cute little dog peeking out of it. Squint and I head over to Dustin’s house.
The gate is open when I get there, and Dustin waits in the driveway as I approach. He stands next to a sporty looking convertible that probably costs more than the state of Colorado. It’s electric blue and goes well with his fancy house. “Hey,” he says.
“Nice car.”
Dustin’s gaze travels over my bag. “That’s such a unique carrier. Where did you get it?”
I blush as I pet Squint. “I painted it. I wanted something pretty to carry him in.”
“Wow. I had no idea you can paint like that.” He opens the car door for me.
I slide into the seat, the buttery softness enveloping me. Is this what luxury is? No wonder Jera loves being rich. I could get used to this.
Dustin pulls out a baseball cap and pair of sunglasses and slips them on. I’m so stupid. I didn’t even bring anything to shield my face. After he slides into the driver’s seat, I lean toward him. “I forgot my hat and glasses. Can I borrow some from you?”
“Sure.” He runs into his house and comes back several moments later. He hands me a canvas bag with several things to choose from. I pull out a grey cap with “Swiftie” on it and turn to him with my eyebrows raised. “You’re a Swiftie?”
He grins. “Don’t tell anyone.”
I laugh and put it on my head. “Don’t worry, I like her music, too. Your secret is safe with me.”
Dustin starts his car and I barely hear the purr of the motor. I love the way the wind whips my hair and how the sun warms my skin as we drive. Squint must like it too because he happily barks at the wind.
We turn a corner and Dustin glances at me. “What kind of music do you like? You mentioned Taylor Swift. Do you mostly listen to pop music?”
“I like all kinds of music. I can jam out to pop music, or just as easily rock out to old school rock and roll. I enjoy a good country song as well.”
“What about Broadway?”
I smile. “I like those, too. Especially the old Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals.”
“Nice.” He slows for a light. “Who in Hollywood have you been most excited to meet?”
I can’t answer that question, so I turn a cheesy grin on him. “You.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “No, seriously. Who?”
He’s pinning me down, and I can’t think of anything to say. And then a conversation I had with Jera once pops into my head. “Actually, there is someone I’d love to meet, but sadly, it’s impossible now.”
“Oh? Who?”
“Cary Grant.” My sister loved all the old movies he was in. She would have loved to meet him when he was alive.
“Ah, yes. He was a legend, that’s for sure.”
I see the art store ahead, and I point it out. Dustin pulls into the parking lot. My anxiety ramps up as we get out of the car. I’m not a shopper or a crowd person. But luckily, the parking lot seems fairly empty. I tell myself it’s going to be fine.
As we walk into the store, Dustin leans close to me. “Do you do this often?”
“Do what?”
“You know, go out in public.” He whispers it like it’s some deep, dark secret.
I laugh before I can help myself. I grab a shopping cart as Squint peeks out at the other shoppers. “Only when I have to.”
He nods like he knows what I mean, but it’s funny because he doesn’t know at all.
“I think we’ll be fine,” I say, my voice low. “I don’t know too many paparazzi that hang out at Blick Art Supplies.” I grin at him as we turn down the watercolor aisle.
A young girl squeals as we approach her, and Dustin hides his face, but the girl points to Squint. “Where did you get him? He’s so cute!”
“He’s a rescue.”
The girl coos a bit at Squint before going off to find her parents. Dustin slowly nods at me. “I can see now why you carry your dog with you. Brilliant.”
That’s totally not why, but I nod and smile anyway. I fill the shopping cart with my dream set of paints, brushes, and watercolor paper. It’s going to be a hefty bill, but Jera said she’d buy me all new ones. I only feel slightly guilty about it. I am, after all, going to this gala for her. And doing some kind of photo shoot thing. I pray my phone works soon so I can get those details from her.
Dustin peers into my cart. “Why do you need so many brushes?”
“I teach—” I cut myself off, but it’s too late.
“You teach? Like painting classes?” He raises his eyebrows.
I silently scold myself. Yes, I, Mackenzie Davenport, teach online watercolor classes. But I’m not supposed to be Mackenzie right now. I’m Jera. JERA! I yell at myself in my head.
“Um,” I say out loud, to give myself time to think. But no matter how hard I try to twist what I said, I can’t do it. I obviously said the word “teach.”
“It’s this little online thing I do. Don’t tell anyone. I’m not revealing who I am.”
He shakes his head. “I won’t say anything.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I push the cart toward the check out.
We pass by a teenager who openly stares at us. “Is that Dustin Sawyer and Jera Davenport?” she asks a woman that looks like her mother. Dustin flinches. I totally ignore the girl, like I usually do when I get mistaken for Jera.
“Of course not. What would they be doing here?” The mom grabs her daughter and tugs her down another aisle.
Dustin gives me a secret smile. I put my art supplies on the counter so the checkout girl can ring them up. I use Jera’s credit card to pay for them, and Dustin grabs all the bags, carrying them for me to the car.
My anxiety lifts as I slide into the passenger seat. “See, that wasn’t so bad,” I say to both myself and Dustin.
“You’re right,” he says as he closes my door. “We didn’t get mobbed or anything. Only one person recognized us, and no one will believe her.”
I laugh. “Poor girl.”
Dustin sits down and buckles his seatbelt. “The brisket won’t be done yet in the smoker. Mind if I take you home and look at some of your work?”
Jera has a few of my paintings on her walls, and I did bring a couple of my watercolor sketch books. It makes me warm inside to know Dustin cares enough to want to see my work. “All right.”
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