“Is this the moment that we kiss?” Jily prompt.
When Lily asked James to pretend to be her boyfriend at Petunia’s wedding, she had it all figured out.
Petunia had been completely fucking unbearable all summer, bragging about Vernon like the ignorant walrus was something to be proud of. Bragging about her shiny ring and pretty wedding and not being alone. Making snide comments about what a shame it was for the bride’s sister to attend the wedding on her own. So naturally Lily had corrected her. She would, in fact, be bringing a date. And she knew just who to ask.
James was a good friend and always up for a party, even if that party was to celebrate the union of two of the worst people he knew. So of course he instantly said yes. Free booze and an opportunity to irritate your sister? Why the fuck not?
Never mind that Lily had a bit of a crush on him. If a bit meant a massive, rapidly developing, all consuming infatuation that had taken over her entire life. Real inconvenient for that to start when James had already moved on from his a good two years ago, and was perfectly comfortable being Lily’s friend. Inconvenient and painful. Pretending to date him, even for a night, was probably was not the soundest idea… but it was the best she had, and it fed into her fantasy, so she went with it.
Now, though, with James’ hands on her waist and his cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol and the dancing and the warm August evening, his hair mussed and his eyes bright… she’s not sure she should have done this. Not sure she can bear to leave this fantasy when the night ends and they go back to being friends and she makes up some excuse to explain away their breakup two weeks from now.
“They’re watching us,” James whispers, leaning his head in close, and Lily’s breath catches in her throat.
“Your parents. Your sister.” James smirks and raises an eyebrow. “Should we put on one final show to end the night?”
We’re better off as friends. We tried and it doesn’t work. Some generic bullshit of that sort should work. The song changes to something slow and romantic, and the couples around them who had been taking a break and chatting at their tables offer each other inviting smiles. Soon enough the dance floor is packed again.
“Perfect timing,” James murmurs, pulling Lily closer.
They’ve had so much fun. Drinking and dancing and judging Petunia and Vernon’s awful friends. They always have fun. But it’s a different kind of nice when James pulls out her chair and gushes over her to her family and gets her drinks and holds her close for the slow songs. Lily’s heart aches and her stomach twists. She wants this to be real so bad.
“Do you think they believe us?” Lily asks, just for something to say to keep her from spiralling into her traitorous thoughts.
“Hm. Dunno. I feel like I’m quite a good actor.” James nudges Lily’s nose with his and smiles playfully, unaware of the damage he’s just done to her heart with that one small gesture. It’s just acting. He's playing a part. Relax. “You’re a bit rusty though, can’t you pretend to be a little more in love with me?”
Lily laughs, and it’s actually genuine even if it’s a bit painful. God, if he only knew. Pretend to be in love with him, it’s really quite funny. “What do you want from me, director?”
As if on queue, the song swells and rises, that moment when the music wraps around your heart and the couples around them feel an unseen force pull them closer to one another.
James tilts his head and raises an eyebrow again. “Is this the moment that we kiss?”
Lily’s eyes widen. “What?”
“What?” James says innocently. “Everyone else is doing it. We’re supposed to be a couple at a wedding and we haven’t kissed once.”
“Because we’re not a couple.”
“But don’t you want them to think we are? Now’s the perfect time.”
He’s right. She asked him to do this and he’s trying to help and he’s absolutely right, they’re at a wedding and they haven’t kissed once, how convincing is that? But she can’t. Not like this.
“I… no. I don’t want to.”
“I mean, okay.” James shrugs. “It’s just a kiss.”
“I don’t want a fake kiss with you,” Lily admits, and she wants to clamp a hand over her mouth, because who even asked? Certainly not James.
James snorts. “Why? Would you prefer a real one?” And he’s obviously joking, because that’s James’ way. But Lily freezes up like she’s been caught stealing, her heart racing and jumping into her throat and her face burning up.
She laughs a few excruciatingly long and silent seconds too late, but it’s strained and feels like it’s being ripped from her throat. James’ smile is gone though, and he stares at her in… confusion? Concern? …Belated understanding. And finally, shock.
“No fucking way,” he breathes, his smile creeping back onto his face, and Lily wants to melt into the floor. Pathetic. She’s absolutely pathetic. She couldn’t even last one day, all it took was one joke to crack her.
“Shut up, please. Just… shut up,” she begs. She can’t bear the jokes right now.
James laughs, and the sound of it is beautiful and elated. “Why don’t you make me, Evans?” He leans in close. “Kiss me for real,” he dares.
Lily scowls and shoves him away, heart lurching. “Don’t be an asshole.”
James pulls her back instantly, weaves his arms back around her waist. “I’m not being an asshole. I don’t want a fake kiss either.”
When she says nothing, only stares at him quiet and lost, James sighs. “You’re so daft, Lily. How much more obvious can I be?” He cups her face in both his hands, calloused and gentle, and Lily melts. “Kiss me.”
There’s sincerity in his eyes and his words sound earnest even if they’re whispered and he’s really not that kind of asshole. So what’s a girl to do when the man of her dreams insists she kiss him?
Lily can’t help laughing in some mix of disbelief and delight even when their lips collide.
Thank you for the prompt! I had fun with this one. Clearly keeping it short is not my strength, you got 1,054 words out of me! I'll do more tomorrow :)
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