Faking It For Real ✔

Ch 16

Ethan just drove and drove. We honestly didn't know where we were going. We were just driving in the night, aimlessly around the city.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

With his brows raised, he glanced at me, "Doing what?"

"Why are you helping me? Why did you agree to fake date me?" I surprised myself by asking.

Ethan glanced at me again, his expression thoughtful. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "I mean, at first, it was just for fun, you know? A prank on everyone, something to shake things up." He paused, his gaze returning to the road. "But then..."

"But then what?" I prompted.

He sighed, a hint of vulnerability entering his voice. "But then I got to know you, Ava."

"So?" I frowned.

Ethan pulled the car over to the side of the road, putting it in park.

"Why did you call our deal off?" He asked me this time, totally avoiding my question.

"I didn't wanna act anymore. I didn't want you to act anymore." I sighed, "I wanted us off the fake hook, you know."

"It wasn't because of Emma?" He asked, turning to face me.

I fell silent. It was because of her. Partially. I didn't wanna admit it.

"I called it off so that we both could do whatever we want... with whoever we wanted."

Ethan watched me intently, his eyes searching mine. "And that's what you really want?"

"I don't know what I want," I admitted, my voice wavering. "All I know is that I don't want to keep pretending. It's not fair to either of us."

"But what if I don't want to pretend anymore?" Ethan asked softly.

My heart skipped a beat at his words. I turned to face him, finally having the courage to meet his eyes, "What do you mean?"

Ethan reached out, his fingers gently brushing against my cheek. "I mean, what if I want this to be real?" he whispered, his voice sending chills down my spine. "What if I want to be more than just your fake boyfriend?"

I gulped, my lips sealed.

My mind was racing, my thoughts a jumbled mess as I tried to process his words. This wasn't supposed to happen. We were just pretending, weren't we?

"I... I don't know what to say," I stammered, my heart pounding in my chest. "I didn't think that you..."

"You didn't think that I what?" Ethan asked, his voice gentle, encouraging me to continue. His hand moved from my cheek to my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. "That I would fall for you?"

I sucked in a sharp breath, the intensity of his gaze nearly overwhelming. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest, the weight of his words sinking in. "I... I guess not," I admitted. "I mean, this was all supposed to be pretend, right?"

"It was never pretend for me, Ava." He admitted, his voice sincere.

I blinked.

"Ever since I first talked to you, ever since I first laid my eyes on you, ever since then... I wanted you." He said, his fingers trailing down my jaw, "I wanted you to look at me and me only."

My breath caught in my throat.

His touch on my jaw sent shivers down my spine.

"What about Emma?" I asked him, trying to calm my heartbeat somehow.