He shakes his head. “Sociopath.”
“Yes, but there’s no way in hell I’ll let him fool me again. I’m trying to stay one step ahead of him. I’d love it if I could thwart whatever plan he has by showing him how I don’t give a fuck.”
A slow smile spreads over his face. “Maybe I can help you.”
My stomach does a little turn. “How?”
“Maybe tell him you’re trying to make someone jealous too.”
I burst into laughter. “You?”
He narrows his eyes playfully, lifting a hand and ruffling my hair. “Always know how to boost my confidence, don’t you?”
Laughter keeps bubbling from my chest, and Cody watches me, shaking his head.
“You already said I’m not a good actor,” I say, my voice choked, and Cody punches me in the shoulder.
“And anyway,” I say, “what would that do?”
Cody’s eyes grow intense. He leans forward, his forehead nearly touching mine. “It would show him that you’re not going to fall for him. No matter what he does, he won’t have any leverage over you. You want someone else.”
Tingles ripple over my skin. He’s right. He’s absolutely right.
“It’s a great idea,” I mutter.
The moment has come.
It’s our first real date, and I’m about to pee my pants I’m so nervous. Tristan’s already had dates with two other contestants, and the videos of them were posted on YouTube last night.
I couldn’t bring myself to watch either of them. It would have only made my anxiety off the charts.
A student ushers Tristan and I into one of Pacific Crest’s private courtyards, usually reserved only for professors. When I step out of the concrete building, I find that the area is lit with fairy lights wrapped around trees. They cast a warm glow over the outdoor table covered in sparkling glassware. A stream of water rushes from a small fountain in the center of the courtyard.
Damn. This is really fancy. I’ve never been on a date like this.
And here I am on a fake one. One the whole campus will see.
“Are you ready?” Tristan asks, grabbing my hand. I grit my teeth to resist the tingle rushing up my arm. He can’t know how unnerved I am.
Aloof, Amy. Be calm and collected.
Camera crew members bustle around us, setting up the equipment. At least for this long date, they finally have professional lighting and cameras. Maybe I won’t look as frumpy in this YouTube episode as I did in the five-minute date.
I take a deep breath and nod. “Let’s do this.”
After we sit down across from each other, the game director explains the plan for the evening. My head is so fuzzy I don’t catch all of it, except for two things that puncture my anxious daze. One, we won’t actually be eating, which is a relief given the current churning of my stomach, and two, we only have a half hour, so he recommends we start with an icebreaker.
“Truth or dare?” Tristan asks, leaning back in his chair.
I’m startled by the question, but then I realize this must be his icebreaker. Of course it would roll off his tongue as soon as the director gave us the signal to start. Tristan has already done this two years in a row. He’s a professional.
“Truth.” I lean back into my own chair, trying to mimic his relaxed demeanor. He’s such a natural on camera, like he was born for it.
“Have you ever been in love?” He lifts his gaze from the table, and those blue eyes bore into mine. He’s trying to unsettle me. It won’t work.
“Not quite in love,” I say, my stomach fluttering at this perfect segue into Cody’s plan. “But there’s a guy...”
Tristan narrows his eyes as he stares at me for a long moment. “Who was it?”
