“There’s a few games set up in the back if you’d like to play, Willow,” Aaron suddenly says, reaching out his hand for mine.
I stare at it stupidly for a moment until Kia nudges my shoulder, smirking into her cup with approval. She knows this is the chance I’ve hoped for, and she’s happy for me to take it.
“Um, well–” I look up at an oddly quiet Freak for some sort of guidance as to how I should respond, but I’m not sure what I’m expecting him to say. Do I want his direction or am I looking for his approval? I mean, this is his damn plan and we’re supposed to be fake dating. A little guidance would be appreciated right now.
“Do you want to check out some of the games, Freak?” I ask, hoping he’ll throw me a life preserver. I’m drowning here.
“I don’t play beer pong,” he says grumpily. “Not anymore.”
Aaron drops his hand, looking curiously at the two of us.
“Wait… are you two more than study buddies?”
Willow
I hesitate to respond because I’m the worst liar on the planet, but before I can muck this up any further, Freak wraps his arm around my waist and speaks for the both of us.
“Yeah, but I had to work a little harder to convince her to say yes than I had to with the Tri-Gammas,” he says to Aaron with a hard edge to his voice. Clearly, he’s still pissed by that dig Aaron made about how Freak got into the frat. I’ll have to remember to ask him about that later.
Aaron searches my face for confirmation of Freak’s declaration, but Kia saves me from making a complete fool of myself.
“Can I talk to you for a minute, Willow?”
“I’ll be right back,” I say to no one in particular and walk off with Kia to another room in the house.
“What the hell is going on?” she asks. “I’m totally confused.”
“I know it seems crazy, but everything that happened tonight is part of the plan.”
“To date, my guy?” she angrily whispers as we watch Freak and Aaron exchange inaudible words in the middle of the room.
“Kia, you’ve literally liked Freak for twenty-four hours. You don’t know him and you don’t even like football.”
“And what’s your point? You don’t know Aaron and you’ve never been to one of his parties until tonight.”
“You know that wasn’t in my control.”
“You tried to get into three of his parties in three years. Does that seem like trying to you?”
“What are you saying, Kia?” I throw my hands on my hips, not particularly liking what she’s insinuating.
“I’m just saying, Willow, that this is your moment. Don’t fuck it up now. You’ve wanted Aaron for three years and you think the way to get him is by dating the most popular athlete on campus?”
“I’m playing a role.”
“So that kiss that the entire room witnessed–“
“Was just part of the act.”
“That was one hell of a performance. Wait, excuse me, two performances. You kissed him twice!”
I roll my eyes because I have no other response. She’s a hundred percent right and I don’t want to admit it.
“He kissed me.”
“Seriously? That’s what your answer is? Listen, are you sure that you don’t want Freak for yourself?” she asks.
“I’m sure.”
