Tella Ashford's low-profile life takes an unexpected turn when she strikes a deal to fake date Pembroke's golden boy, Finnegan Reed. All she wanted was to get through boarding school with her two best friends and, maybe, catch the eye of Spanish roy...
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Finn's Pov:
January 12th, 11:30 am,
The morning had been, in a word, brilliant. It was more enjoyable than any morning I'd ever spent with Belize. There was something about Tells that made every moment more vivid, and I could feel myself hoping we'd become real friends. She didn't deserve the hand life had dealt her lately. Last night, I'd seen the notifications pop up on her phone—the hate messages flooding her social media. The thought of her going through all of that, yet still managing to show up with that unshakable smile, made me want to ensure that smile stayed real.
So, I'd taken her to a museum, hoping she'd find at least a shred of enjoyment there. Art was personal for me, something few understood. But Tells—she was different. She might not have fully shared my passion, but at least she got it. She was one of the few people I knew who could meet me halfway. Everything that had happened so far felt like it was meant to be, some bizarre twist of fate rather than a mess.
"You ready?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Absolutely. Just let me take care of the bill real quick." I placed a 50-pound note on the table, hoping it covered everything, and gestured for us to head out. The weather outside was perfect—not too cold, not too warm, a balance that made the day feel endless.
"So, Tells, what's next on the agenda?" I asked, grinning. She returned the smile. "Well, since you took me to a museum, I'll take you to my second home: Aldridge Book House." I laughed, raising an eyebrow. "Reading's your idea of fun?" "Well, it's better than staring at paintings all day," she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Touché." "And, since you're into reading now too, I thought I'd suggest a few of my favorites." "Fair," I said with a nod. "Always open to trying new hobbies."
We strolled through the lively streets, taking in the sights and sounds of London as she led the way. She took a few random turns, her sense of direction debatable, but eventually, we found it. "TA-DA! We're here!" she declared proudly. "Wow, that took some time," I teased, earning myself a playful nudge.
We stepped into the bookstore, the bell above the door chiming as we entered. The place was quiet and filled with the rich scent of paper and leather bindings. The moment Tella spotted the guy at the counter, her face lit up. He was about our age, though it was hard to tell with the hat and mask obscuring most of his face.
"Hey, Tells, fancy seeing you here," he greeted with a warm nod. "Hello, Seb... decided to go for a little morning stroll with my friend, Finn—" she froze, cutting off mid-sentence. Seb's face went pale, and I felt a strange sense of familiarity as I looked at him. Without warning, Tella looped her arm through mine, pulling me between two tall shelves, well out of Seb's earshot.
"What was that?" I asked confused. "nothing" "Uh-huh," I smirked, folding my arms. "Who's this Seb character, then?" "No one... just a normal boy, working a normal job, making a normal amount of money," she replied quickly, her voice tight. "Right... never question that but," I said, raising an eyebrow. "But then, why did we run off? And why does he look so familiar—super familiar."
