Lena checked her watch for the third time in a minute. Late. Again.<\/p>\n
She exhaled sharply, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she strode down the boutique hotel\u2019s hallway.<\/p>\n
The air smelled of fresh lilies, their floral sharpness mixed with the faintest trace of citrus and polished wood.<\/p>\n
It was the kind of scent that clung to weddings\u2014the kind that brought memories of champagne toasts, aching feet in high heels, and teary speeches that went on too long.<\/p>\n
A fitting reminder, considering her best friend had gotten married last week.<\/p>\n
Lena reached the elevator and jabbed the button, as if sheer determination could speed up the machinery.<\/p>\n
She bounced on her heels, fingers tapping anxiously against the strap of her bag.<\/p>\n
The soft chime of the elevator arriving barely registered in her brain before she darted inside.<\/p>\n
Just as the doors started closing, a blur of movement caught her eye. A man lunged in after her, his shoulder bumping into hers as her suitcase wobbled dangerously.<\/p>\n
“Sorry\u2014” he started, a breathless chuckle in his voice. He straightened, brushing an imaginary wrinkle from his crisp suit.<\/p>\n
Lena barely spared him a glance. “No worries.”<\/p>\n
And then, everything stopped.<\/p>\n
The elevator jerked violently. The lights flickered once, twice, then steadied. The hum of movement vanished.<\/p>\n
Lena\u2019s stomach clenched. A thick, loaded silence filled the small space.<\/p>\n
She pressed the button repeatedly. Nothing.<\/p>\n
“Oh, no. No, no, no,” she muttered, pressing her palm against the cool metal doors as if she could will them open.<\/p>\n
Beside her, the man let out a deep sigh and leaned against the wall. “Classic. Always when you’re in a rush.”<\/p>\n
Lena finally turned to him fully. Sharp blue eyes. Tousled blond hair. A suit that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover.<\/p>\n
A Hallmark movie hero, if she\u2019d ever seen one.<\/p>\n
“I take it you have somewhere important to be?” he asked, his lips quirking in amusement.<\/p>\n
“A dinner with a friend,” she muttered. “She got married last week. We planned this before I leave town.”<\/p>\n
“Ah,” he nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Funny coincidence. The wedding I\u2019m going to is tomorrow.”<\/p>\n
Lena blinked. “Wait. You\u2019re\u2014”<\/p>\n
“Dylan.” He extended a hand, palm up, as if this was the most normal introduction in the world. “Groom\u2019s best friend. And emergency wedding date seeker.”<\/p>\n
Before she could even process that, the intercom crackled overhead.<\/p>\n
“Uh, folks? Seems like we\u2019ve got a small power outage affecting the elevators. We\u2019re working on it. Might take a bit.”<\/p>\n
Lena closed her eyes briefly. “Perfect.”<\/p>\n
Dylan chuckled. “Look on the bright side. At least we\u2019re not alone in here.”<\/p>\n
She shot him a look. “Right. Because being stuck with a stranger is somehow better than being stuck alone.”<\/p>\n
He shrugged, flashing a lazy grin. “Depends on the stranger, doesn\u2019t it?”<\/p>\n
They stood in awkward silence for a moment. The hum of hotel activity beyond the metal doors felt distant, as if they were suspended in time.<\/p>\n
Then, out of nowhere, Dylan asked, “So, any chance you\u2019re up for a second wedding in a week?”<\/p>\n
Lena turned to him slowly, brow raised. “Excuse me?”<\/p>\n
“I need a date for the wedding.” He smirked, leaning against the wall like this was just another casual conversation.<\/p>\n
“My ex is going to be there, and I\u2019d rather not be the guy sitting alone at the singles table. Think of it as a fake date for a noble cause.”<\/p>\n
Lena let out a short laugh. Was this guy serious?<\/p>\n
“You\u2019re really asking a total stranger to be your plus-one while we\u2019re trapped in an elevator?”<\/p>\n
Dylan shrugged, completely unbothered. “So, is it a yes or a no?”<\/p>\n
Lena never thought she\u2019d actually go through with it.<\/p>\n
The whole thing had sounded ridiculous\u2014a fake date with a man she barely knew, just to help him save face at a wedding. And yet, here she was.<\/p>\n
She smoothed her hands down the fabric of her red dress, the one she had almost left hanging in the back of her suitcase.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t her usual style\u2014too bold, too eye-catching, too much.<\/p>\n
But something about tonight made her want to be someone else, even if just for a few hours.<\/p>\n
Dylan stood beside her, a glass of champagne in one hand, his other resting lightly on the small of her back. Steady, effortless, completely at ease. Unlike her.<\/p>\n
She forced a polite smile as yet another guest approached, throwing curious glances her way.<\/p>\n
Weddings were strange like that\u2014everyone wanted to know who you were, why you were there, if your presence meant something.<\/p>\n
Dylan, on the other hand, played the part perfectly.<\/p>\n
He leaned down, murmuring in her ear, \u201cThat woman in the blue dress has been trying to figure out if we\u2019re engaged for the past ten minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena barely stopped herself from laughing. \u201cShould I flash a fake ring just to mess with her?\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes twinkled. \u201cTempting. But then I\u2019d have to plan an even faker proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n
They moved through the ballroom like they had done this a hundred times before\u2014his touch easy, his words charming, his smile like a safety net.<\/p>\n
And then there was the dance.<\/p>\n
The moment his fingers laced with hers, the moment he guided her into a slow, fluid rhythm, Lena forgot for a second that this wasn\u2019t real.<\/p>\n
His grip was firm but gentle, the kind that told her to trust him. The warmth of his palm against her waist sent an unfamiliar shiver down her spine.<\/p>\n
This was pretend. She knew that. But something about the way he looked at her\u2014like she was the only person in the room\u2014made it too easy to forget.<\/p>\n
As the bride and groom swayed in the center of the dance floor, Lena tilted her head up. \u201cSo, tell me,\u201d she murmured, \u201cwhat\u2019s the deal with this ex of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dylan took a sip of champagne, and for the first time all night, his smile flickered. Just for a second.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaya,\u201d he said, rolling the name on his tongue like it was still a part of him. \u201cWe dated for a while. Things got\u2026 complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena raised a brow. \u201cComplicated how?\u201d<\/p>\n
He exhaled slowly, eyes flicking down to the golden liquid swirling in his glass. \u201cShe thought I wasn\u2019t serious enough. That I didn\u2019t have time for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd did you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dylan paused, then let out a dry chuckle. \u201cMaybe not. But I was trying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Lena could respond, someone called Dylan\u2019s name.<\/p>\n
She turned just in time to see her.<\/p>\n
Maya.<\/p>\n
Lena didn\u2019t need an introduction to know exactly who she was.<\/p>\n
Tall. Poised. Beautiful in that effortless way that made other women feel like they were trying too hard.<\/p>\n
Her presence filled the room with a quiet kind of power\u2014like she knew she belonged anywhere she went.<\/p>\n
And when she reached Dylan, she hugged him.<\/p>\n
Not a casual, polite hug. Not an awkward, we-used-to-date hug.<\/p>\n
Something in between. Something that made Lena\u2019s chest tighten in a way it shouldn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t supposed to care. This wasn\u2019t real.<\/p>\n
And yet, it sure as hell felt like it was.<\/p>\n
The reception was in full swing\u2014laughter, clinking glasses, music that vibrated through the floor\u2014but Lena barely heard any of it.<\/p>\n
Her fingers gripped the stem of her champagne glass a little too tightly as she watched Dylan and Maya across the room.<\/p>\n
Too close. Too familiar. Too much. Their voices were low, their expressions unreadable. Whatever they were saying, it wasn\u2019t for her to hear.<\/p>\n
And yet, she couldn\u2019t look away.<\/p>\n
This was supposed to be a game. A favor. A night of harmless pretending. But now, her stomach twisted, and she hated the feeling.<\/p>\n
A shadow moved beside her. \u201cEverything okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dylan.<\/p>\n
Lena blinked, dragging her gaze from Maya. She forced a smile, the kind that didn\u2019t reach her eyes. \u201cGreat. You and Maya catching up?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dylan\u2019s frown was subtle but there. \u201cNot really. She just wanted to check in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Check in. Right.<\/p>\n
\u201cLena,\u201d he started, voice softer now, careful. \u201cYou know this isn\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot real?\u201d she cut in, her heart hammering. \u201cYeah. I know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words felt wrong.<\/p>\n
She swallowed hard. She needed to leave before she made a fool of herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks for the night, Dylan,\u201d she said, turning on her heel. \u201cBut I think I\u2019m done playing pretend.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then, she walked away.<\/p>\n
Lena had her bag packed before the sun had fully risen. She had spent the night convincing herself that walking away was the right choice. No messy feelings. No unnecessary complications. Just a clean break.<\/p>\n
But as she slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped into the hotel lobby, her chest felt heavier than it should. Maybe it was just the lack of sleep. Maybe it was something else.<\/p>\n
She headed toward the caf\u00e9, craving caffeine and distraction, but fate had other plans.<\/p>\n
She turned the corner too fast, and suddenly\u2014collision.<\/p>\n
Hot coffee sloshed dangerously close to her dress as Dylan stumbled back, gripping his cup to stop the spill.<\/p>\n
“Lena?” His voice was a mix of surprise and something else\u2014something unreadable.<\/p>\n
She cursed under her breath. Of course. Of course, she had to run into him now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just\u2014\u201d she started, but Dylan wasn\u2019t buying it.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeaving?\u201d His eyes locked onto hers, sharp, searching. \u201cWithout saying anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena exhaled, torn between pride and something that felt a lot like longing. “It was just supposed to be a one-time thing, right?”<\/p>\n
Dylan was silent for a beat, then let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair.<\/p>\n
“Yeah,” he admitted, voice rough. “That\u2019s what I thought, too.” He hesitated, then took a step closer. “Until I realized I didn\u2019t want it to end.”<\/p>\n
Lena’s pulse stumbled. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLast night,\u201d he said, his voice softer now, steady, \u201cI watched you walk away, and all I could think about was how much I didn\u2019t want you to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her heart thudded against her ribs. “Dylan\u2014”<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care about Maya,\u201d he cut in, his tone firm, certain. \u201cI don\u2019t care about anyone else. I care about you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena wanted to believe him. But doubt\u2014fear\u2014clawed at her. \u201cWhat if this is just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not,\u201d Dylan interrupted, seeing right through her hesitation. “You feel it, too. Don\u2019t you?”<\/p>\n
She swallowed hard.<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
Yes, she did.<\/p>\n
So, for once, she stopped overthinking.<\/p>\n
She stepped forward, reached up, and kissed him.<\/p>\n
A kiss that was warm. Real. Nothing like pretending.<\/p>\n
Dylan smiled against her lips. \u201cDoes this mean you\u2019ll stay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena laughed softly. \u201cMaybe. But only if you promise to stop getting us stuck in elevators.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dylan chuckled, his hand slipping easily around her waist. \u201cNo guarantees.\u201d<\/p>\n
And with that, Lena finally let herself fall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lena checked her watch for the third time in a minute. Late. Again. She exhaled sharply, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she strode down the boutique hotel\u2019s hallway. The air smelled of fresh lilies, their floral sharpness mixed with the faintest trace of citrus and polished wood. It was the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":6795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tales"],"yoast_head":"\n