The Fake Girlfriend

Chapter 16

Nick's strong hand gripped mine as we walked down the sidewalk to the New York gym that we attended to five days of the week. Or that is, whenever he was in town- he was gone pretty often.

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon that seperated the ground from the open dark sky, stretching it's rays and contagiously lighting up everything in it's path. Nick had to be in California this afternoon for some kind of press meeting, pulling me out of bed at 4:30 A.M to accompany him in his daily work out. My eyes were drooping as we continued down the street, I wanted to get a coffee on they way but Nick said, and I quote, "You are going to drink a thousand calorie coffee and then workout? I don't think so."

A few loitering paps were on the street, the flash of a camera coming from a block down. They didn't come up to us to demand questions, they were probably just about as tired as I was.

Nick pulled my hand up to his mouth, pressing his soft lips to the pale skin on the back of it.

My heart fluttered in my chest, but I knew it was just for show.

"Is that charming?" he asked as he opened the door to the gym. Eyebrow cocked.

"No, Travis did it better," I replied, my voice still groggy.

As we walked into the front lobby, Nick's' hand jerked me back to him, making me clumsily fall back into his broad chest. Wrapping his thick arm around my shoulders, he pulled me to him, pressing his lips to my forehead, letting them tingle there for a full three seconds too long.

"Hm. I'll have to change that," he said as he released me, his long strides taking charge in front of me up to the desk of the clerk to sign in.

I stood there still, my legs feeling too weak to move and follow him. My forehead still buzzing from where his lips has pressed against them. When he disapeared into the workout room, I dizzily shook my head and sauntered after.

Working out is difficult by itself- well for me at least- but adding to the fact that I had Nick Jonas benching in front of me, sweaty, arms like stone and viens pulsing like a bass drum was making my treadmill trot a hundred times harder. I drug my eyes away from him, trying to focus on the TV that was stationed above me on the wall. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.

It was getting harder though, controlling the way I felt about Nick. We acted in front of the cameras, we pretended to be this perfect couple. But when the glam was stripped away and it was just me and Nick, the playful buzz was still there, tingling between us like an electric current. And I couldn't be the only one who noticed it- could I?

Maybe I was overlooking things, I tend to do that. Going so long without a boyfriend can really mess with your head- every guy that smiles in your direction suddenly makes you feel weak in the knees. I had to be professional about it. I had to be the girlfriend when I need to be the girlfriend and just Rayne the rest of the time.

When Nick finally threw his towel over his shoulder, I pulled my switch from the treadmill, gladly hopping down, my chest falling and rising.

"I'm going to go clean up real fast then we'll leave," Nick said, his arm grazing mine as he walked to the back.

I stared at him as his muscles stretched underneath his skin, threatening to just pop out. He always looked so refreshed when he was done working out, giving off this awakened aura.

I shook my head. I'm not here to drool over him. Stop, it just makes things harder.

After taking a swig of my water bottle, I stood in the front lobby waiting for Nick to get back. The sun was finally above the horizon, morning New York bathed in it's spotlight.

Even though I had just worked out, chill bumps ran up my arms from the doorway outside- where the temperture was dropping daily.

"Here," I hear Nick say from behind me. I turned to see him draping his hooded jacket over my shoulder. "Bundle up, it's cold outside."

Grateful, I pulled it over my head. The sleeves used to bulky arms, falling limp around my wrists.

With a hand on my back, Nick opened the door and ushered me outside, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close to his side. I could see his puffy breaths through the cold morning air.

"My sweater just a bit big on you?" he asked absently, giving me a side smirk of his mouth.

I laughed through my lips, glancing down at the hem that was close to my mid thigh. "Just a bit," I said through breathy giggles.

Eventually we arrived back to my apartment, Nick walking me to my door.

"Don't worry about it," he told me, when I tried to grab the sweatshirt to pull off of my head. "Just give it back to me the next time you see me."

I smiled back at him, turning to grab my door knob. "Thanks," I told him, the door opening a crack with the nudge of my hand. "Have fun in L.A, don't meet any girls." I winked at him.

He held his hands up in mock surrender. "Oh no, no, no. I wouldn't dare. If they approach me I will just tell them my relationship status is complicated."

I rolled my eyes. "Bye, Nick."

The last glimpse I caught of him before I closed the door, was his serious expression as his trained eyes followed me, slowly blinking beneath thick eyelashes.