…
Finally. We make it to the house.
Calling it a "house" is not the right word. It’s a mansion. I’m hit with the smell of alcohol and we’re not even inside yet. There are lights everywhere, mostly blue. The music is so loud I feel it in my ribs.
Gio parks near the garage. He turns his head toward me. "You ready, pretty boy?"
I take off the helmet and throw him a glare. "Fuck you."
He grins wider. "Perfect. That’s the energy I need from my fake boyfriend tonight."
"Keep calling me that and I’ll make it real just to dump you publicly." He laughs like he loves that idea. "Make sure she’s watching when you do."
Her. Right.
That was the whole point of this. Sophia. I’m using this wall of muscle next to me to make her jealous.
Will she get jealous? I don’t know. I don’t care. It’s kind of entertaining.
We step through the gate together and Gio instantly drapes an arm over my shoulders. His fingers brush my throat as we walk.
He’s already spotting people he knows. Imagine being social. Imagine leaving your house voluntarily.
Every single person he greets looks shocked, like they’re thinking what are YOU doing here.
And meanwhile I’m just scanning the room, trying to avoid eye contact so no one asks me the obvious question: how the hell did YOU end up dating this maniac?
I tug him forward before someone traps us into conversation, because I’m not mentally prepared to explain my life choices to strangers, especially the part where I made out with Gio in his bedroom for strategic reasons.
"Play the part," he murmurs against my ear.
"She’s watching."
I don’t have to look to know he’s right. I can feel her eyes on us like heat on the back of my neck. I loop my arm around Gio’s bicep tightly.
I hate this. I know it’s fake.
But oh my God it’s worth it. Someone whistles as we pass.
"That’s new."
Tell me about it.
Gio doesn’t miss a beat.
"What can I say? I finally found someone who can keep up."
I laugh. He squeezes my shoulder in warning. "Don’t blow it now, lover."
We push deeper into the house and the music somehow gets even louder.
Some guy stumbles past us and nearly shoves me straight into the pool. I swear I see my life flash before my eyes.
My hand tightens around Gio’s bicep on instinct. He pats my hand twice.
"See? My arm saves lives."
I roll my eyes. "I wouldn’t die if I fell in."
