Book 1: It's Just Pretend

Chapter 5: What Have I Done

 "What?" I asked, not quite sure I heard correctly. Somehow he managed to inch even closer.

"Be my fake girlfriend." The heart-pounding attraction I had just felt for him turned into disbelief; I blinked a few times in utter confusion.

"Okaaayy... I think a couple screws got knocked loose in that noggin of yours. Lemme clarify what you just said to me 'cause I don't think you know what the fuck you're saying." I cleared my throat and leaned my head to be directly next to his ear.

"You just asked me to be your girlfriend, idiot." He flinched at the loudness of my voice. Oh good, he should suffer a little bit. I looked at the permanent smirk etched on his face as I pulled back.

"Oh, I'm quite certain of what I said," he assured me. I blinked and at him a few more times squinted.

"What the fuck?"

"Okay here's the deal," he leaned back on his heel and crossed his arms, "my dad wants me to stop fucking girls and you know... "

"And breaking their hearts." A pinkish hue tainted his cheeks.

"Yeah, that. And this is pretty much the only way to get him off my back."

"What," I broke in, "so you can still be a fucking dick?"

"No, Tiger." His voice got quiet and he couldn't quite make eye contact with me.

"Deep down, I always knew it was wrong and after Friday, I just... I can't. I- I'm so-"

"Hey," I spoke gently and I lightly touched his arm, "I forgive you. I can't speak for anyone else, but you don't have to apologize to me." He looked up at me with huge eyes and he seemed at a loss for words. Shaking his head, he cleared his throat. I quickly pulled my hand away from his arm.

"So, as I was saying," his voice cracked a little- yes, I totally laughed- and he flushed in mild embarrassment.

"As I was saying, I'm gonna stop getting people's hopes up for a relationship and I'm gonna be straight forward in my expectations. But I do need help getting my dad off my back. So that's where you come in." I arched an eyebrow.

"I do what now?"

"Look, Tiger. I need to ask you for a favor and I promise I'll come through in return." I pursed my lips.

"Go on."

"If you pretend to be my girlfriend, I will drive you to work with me every day and you don't have to get up at ungodly hours of the morning to bike there." I paused, processing the information he was feeding me. I sighed after a moment.

"I have to admit, the offer sounds quite tempting, but I need a little more information. What exactly do I do as your girlfriend? And your dad's met me. Won't he know we aren't dating?"

"Yeeeaaahhh. So that's why we're gonna go on a few dates before you become my official fake girlfriend. And all we have to do is go on dates, hang out, and go to a couple family events. See? Fool proof." He grinned like a child proud of his finger-painting.

"Well, genius. How long are we gonna do this?"

"Just for like, a month and a half. Then you can "break up" with me and have the rest of the summer to yourself."

"Hold on, why am I breaking up with you?" He rolled his eyes.

"So I can be so broken hearted, I don't want to date again. See? It's perfect. So... Do we have ourselves a deal?" He held out his hand. I narrowed my eyes at him before standing up a little straighter.

"Okay." I reached out to shake it, but pulled away last second.

"But we have to have an end date and we have to set some boundaries. Deal?"

"Deal." I shook his hand. What have I done?