❝ Ṡ𝗶𝚗cₗǟ𝗶ℝ❞

Snow.
Viola.
Kiss.

I brushed my finger over my lips.

It had been three days, and my head was still at that damn school reunion. I had texted Vie a couple of times to check up on her and make sure she was okay. I felt for the girl but I wasn’t sure I should get too involved.

I was just hired to play a role.

I had decided it was better to let Mars deal with her friend and any aftermath.

I should contact her again, or maybe Marcelina. Just to put my mind at ease.

“Sin. Hey, Sinclair.”

I raised my eyes and stared at Rhoda, who was sitting opposite me.

“Sorry, what?”

With a sigh, Rhoda said, “I asked if you have any questions about tomorrow?” she pressed her palms to my desk, resting them on either side of the paperwork we had been discussing.

“Tomorrow?”

“The charity fundraiser. The job you’re working with Lydia,” she said.

The run-up to the holiday season was always hectic, but somehow it seemed more so than usual this year.

Well, I did say I’d take anything, as long as it was over and done the same day.

“Right, right, the fundraiser.”

“Lydia is going to be arriving late, so you need to cover the... Sin?”

“I’m listening, Lydia is going to be late, so I need to cover the... cover what?”

“She will message you when she’s ten minutes out, and you need to... seriously, are you even listening to me, Sinclair?” Rhoda quirked an eyebrow. She leaned across the desk and snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Focus, Sin.”

“I am.”

I am not.

The day was dragging as if it might never end. I was tired and distracted and I wanted to go home so badly.

Leaning forward, Rhoda sniffed. “Have you been drinking?”

“What?” I sat back. “No. Of course not.” Then I paused. “Oh. Actually, I did have a couple of glasses of wine.”

I had been on a job through lunch and into the afternoon. There had been an orchestra, a buffet—which had the tiniest gourmet hamburgers I had ever seen—and free wine.

All very fancy.

“Only a couple?”

What was she implying?

“Yes, a couple. It was paid for so...”

Rhoda narrowed her eyes.

“I was just following the client’s lead. I’m not drunk if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“Did I say that?” she leaned back in her chair. “Is something worrying you? Did something happen earlier? Everything was signed off and ready to be filed, so I assumed it went well. You’ve not pulled a Lincoln, have you? You didn’t touch a T-Rex’s toe, and the whole thing collapsed or something?”

I laughed.

“No. I kept my hands firmly in my pockets.”

My date had been to a private function held at a museum. I hadn’t needed or been given the specifics but I was aware the party was for someone who had made a large monetary donation to the restoration of one of the exhibition wings.

I met Rhoda’s eyes and doubt was etched on her brow.

But I insisted, “Everything is fine. Honestly. My mind wandered, is all.”

“Hmm,” she squinted. “Are you worried about working with Lydia? I know she’s new and has a reputation for being a workaholic, but she’s good at his job, and she can switch from one to another fast.”

“No, I like Lydia. She’s... yeah. It’s not her.”

“Okay, so how’re your parents? Everything okay there?”

I nodded. I appreciated Rhoda being concerned about me.

“They’re well. Thank you, Rho.” I cleared my throat. “It’s probably the time of year. Dark and cold and busy. Or, maybe, they were bigger glasses of wine than I thought” I chuckled softly. “Sorry.”

“Okay. If you’re sure” she shuffled the papers in front of her. “So, do you have any questions?”

“I don’t—” I raised my hip when my cell phone vibrated and smiled awkwardly at Rhoda because of the interruption.

Guilt crept through me as I pulled out my phone, but I couldn’t ignore it.

What if it was my parents?

So I checked. It wasn’t my parents, but someone else who seemed to be taking up a lot of real estate in my thoughts.

Viola.

“Do you need to answer that?”

I considered what to do. Vie would have to wait. So I ignored the call and rested it screen-down on my thigh.

“Sorry about that. I’ll call them back. Where were we? Oh, right, no I don’t have any questions. At least, I can’t think of anything.”

“Okay. The car will pick you up at two, go on to the client’s home, then to the venue.” Rhoda slid the sheet containing the day’s itinerary across the desk and tapped the corner of the page. “A copy of the main points to take away with you. If you do think of anything, you know you can call or message me at any time.”

“Any time?”

Rhoda huffed a breath. “Within reason, obviously.”

“I know. And thanks.”

I took the paper, glancing at it before folding it in half. The job for tomorrow was straightforward. My role was to link arms with the client and look handsome at their side. I was just there to be shown off.

“Is that everything?” I asked.

Rhoda tidied the remaining papers into a pile.

“For now. We’ll discuss your current block of bookings in our next meeting” She opened her pink diary and flipped between pages. “That will be on Wednesday.”

“I remember—” I clicked my tongue when my phone vibrated again.

I turned over my phone.

Viola?

I ignored the call again. I felt bad, but I wanted to finish the meeting properly. I’d been distracted; I couldn’t deny that.

I should at least end on a professional note. I’ll call her back as soon as I get out of here.

“I’m really sorry,” I uttered.

Rhoda smiled.

“We’re done anyway” She picked up the paperwork and tapped them so they lined up. “Good luck tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Rho. You're a doll.”

I stood and winced as my cell vibrated and Viola’s name popped up on the screen.

“I should probably get this.”

Rhoda waved me away. When she was out of earshot, I answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Oh finally! Thank goodness” Viola blurted.

“I was in a meeting.”

“I know. Mars told me.”

“Then why... you know what, whatever” I made my way downstairs. “So, what’s up?”

“It’s an emergency, Sin. You have to help me” Viola spoke quickly, a slight whine in her tone.

“Help you? Has something happened?” my thoughts immediately went back to the school reunion and the scene I had walked in on in the restroom. “You’re okay, right?”

“No. I’m not. It’s terrible. She tagged me, and they saw them.”

I stopped as I reached the building’s main door. I struggled to fasten my coat with one hand and tilted my head to one side, staring through an advertisement poster on the wall as I tried to figure out what Viola was talking about.

“Tagged, you?”

“Yes. And it’s too late to undo it. They saw them already.”

“Huh?”

I was starting to think maybe she was drunk after all. Because Viola wasn’t making sense. I opened the door and left the building.

“Vie, you’re going to have to use all your words today because I have no idea what you are talking about.”

I made my way down the steps to the sidewalk.

“Vie?” I waited. “Hello? Are you still there, Viola?”

“Sin” Viola’s voice echoed in stereo.

I looked over my shoulder when someone gripped my arm.

“Help” Viola appeared beside me.

I lowered my phone.

What the—?

I didn’t know what to say. Viola was right there. Her blue eyes were wide and desperate, and her cheeks puffed out and flushed from the cold.

“What are you doing here?” I gave a quick shake of my head, regaining my focus. “How did you even know I was here?”

“I already told you. I asked Mars. She said you had a meeting, so I came here.”

“Oh yeah,” I pulled Vie to one side. “That still doesn’t answer my question. Why are you here? Has this got to do with that Vinny guy at the reunion?” I peered past her as if I expected Marvin to be right there.

I flinched when I realized my hands were curled into fists. Violence was not the answer.

Never.

But the kiss in the snow and the fear Viola had been feeling were both moments that had permanent residence in my brain.

Viola huffed, “As I said. Sia tagged me in her silly photos, and now, everyone wants to meet my boyfriend.”

No, you didn’t say that at all.

“Okay,” I had a slight handle on what was going on. “So, you’ve been tagged on social media by Anastasia in the photos she was taking at the reunion, yes?”

“Yes.”

“And I’m there, too, labeled or assumed to be your boyfriend?”

“Yes. That’s what I said.”

I looked at her.

You really didn’t.

I took a deep breath.

“So?”

“You need to be my boyfriend again” Viola grabbed me and held me tightly. “Please, Sin.”

***

“—and then, suddenly, they all started talking to me about things that weren’t work or to do with the lab. It was so weird and kind of scary. They stood so close, and everybody was looking at me.”

I leaned my head in my hand and listened to Viola’s rant. We had taken our discussion indoors, ending up in a bar.

“I don’t even remember accepting friend requests from any of them. But now they all think you’re my boyfriend and want to meet you” She waved her hands around. “What do I do?”

“You could tell them I was just a friend you invited to tag along.”

She chewed on her lip. “I already confirmed you were my boyfriend. I just wanted them to leave me alone. I had work I needed to do. My paper’s not going to write itself. But then Elizabeth said I should bring you to the department’s Christmas party.”

“And what did you say?”

“I was so flustered by people talking to me, I might have agreed to go and that I would bring you with me.”

I scratched the back of my head.

“Fine. Then tell them you asked, but I’m busy. Tell them I’m out of town because of work or something on that day.”

“Plus, Lady’s engagement party in the New Year.”

“That day, too.”

“And the celebratory drinks because Denzel got published in a journal.”

Seriously?

I clenched my teeth.

“Then how about, I’m out of town for the rest of the month? January as well” I eyed Viola.

“All year?” she diverted her eyes. “Then, should we go with I’ve moved across the country, you didn’t want a long-distance relationship, so we split up?”

“Doesn’t that seem a bit farfetched?” I sat back.

“Then, what do you want to do?”

I was pretty sure I knew the answer and was ready to curse Mars and her favor.

“Could you please pretend to be my boyfriend for a little longer?” Viola clasped her hands together as she begged, “At least for the Christmas dinner, as that’s really soon. I’ll figure something out for the others, promise” She reached across the table and took hold of my hand. “I’ll hire you like last time. Keep it all proper and through Rhoda and stuff as long as it isn’t too expensive. Not that I want you to do it for free, but money...” she paused, and then smiled. “Please?”

Her eyes were bright and her expression hopeful. I glanced at her hand on mine. The same light and fluttery feeling from the school reunion, and any time I remembered the moments we had shared through the night, rose in my chest.

“Okay,” I finally said. “I’ll do it.”

Viola’s expression softened and her shoulders dropped in relief. “Thank you, Sin.”

I nodded.

“Sure.”

After all, what could go wrong?