CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LENA
“How didI forget aboutPrincess?!What a sweet baby.” I can hear how shrill my voice is, though it’s hard over the panting and slobbering of the pooch in my lap. “She’s so much squishier in person!”
“Baby? She’s eleven. She’s a grown woman. Pay her some respect.”
I shoot daggers at him over my shoulder before turning back to Princess. “Don’t listen to him. You are a beautiful young lady.”
This earns me a sloppy kiss right over my mouth and Princess a scolding from Decker. I can’t help myself. I pull out my phone and snap a quick photo of her squishy little pitbull face. As she stares up at me, I stroke her velvety head, my nerves finally fully regulating from our run-in with the pushy fans earlier. There’s something so therapeutic about loving on a dog. If I ever have a chance to stay put somewhere longer than a few weeks, I’d love to have one of my own.
Decker extends a hand to me, his eyes warm as they catch on mine. I grip his hand and push to my feet. Suddenly, I’m closer to him than I’ve ever been, and the gravity of it all hits me full force. I’m alone for the first time with my new fake boyfriend. I take a step back, just far enough that I haven’t lost sight of hisdeep green eyes, but enough space that the heady scent of his cologne has some room to aerate. Surveying my surroundings, I realize how clean the place is. Most of the guys I know struggle to keep anything straightened up on the home front. I wonder if he has a maid. He’s handsome, clean,andhas a sweet pup? Before Callum, I would have been all over a guy like this. If he weren’t a pro athlete. And if Callum hadn’t ruined men for me forever.
“What?” Decker asks.
“Nothing. This place is just like… super clean.”
“Are you surprised?”
“Kinda. You have a maid, right?”
He shakes his head and walks toward his expansive kitchen, Princess clipping his heels. Everything is stainless steel and creamy marbled surfaces. Dropping the bags of food on the counter, he says, “Nah. Why would I pay someone for something I can do myself?”
I raise my brows, a little surprised by his answer.Why? Because you can afford to, is what I want to say, but I don’t. It’s none of my business. As long as he doesn’t treat me as his maid, who cares?
“Doggy daycare is all the hired help I have, with the exception of my days off. I’m not here long enough to make a mess usually.” Reaching into a bag, he pulls out two hoagie-shaped wads of paper and drops one in front of me. “Besides, Miss Princess here is the messy one. It took me almost an entire year to teach her to put her toys away.”
“Youtaughther to put her toys away?”
He takes a huge bite out of his sandwich and nods. “She’s a smart girl.”
I reach down from the stool I’m perched on and pat her blocky, gray head.
Decker picks off a piece of ham and tosses it to Princess before standing and leading her toward the door. She bouncesand barks as he hooks a leash to her pink collar. “So the real reason we’re eating here is because Miss Princess needs a potty break. Wanna join?”
“Miss Princess.” I smirk and check my watch. “I don’t have long, so I think I’ll stay and eat.”
He nods, guiding Princess out, and locking the door behind him with a click. Gotta love a guy who protects his home.
And his woman.
I take a huge bite of my sandwich, stuffing the sentiment down along with the urge to roll my eyes. I am nothis woman. I’m disappointed that I’d even let the thought cross my mind. Even for a split, sarcastic second. I take another bite. I have to admit, this sandwich is good. Likereallygood. When I’m sure they’re both gone, my curiosity gets the better of me. I grab my hoagie and set off to peruse my new surroundings.
I traipse across the dark hardwood floor, my footfalls echoing with each step. The place is nice, though it could benefit from some warmth. Everything is cool shades of gray and black, glass and metal, and concrete. Even the floor is stained so dark it might as well be modeled after a blackhole. It’s not that I don’t like the industrial feel, it just isn’t my first choice. If we were actually dating, I’d have an interior designer in here in no time with some curtains and paint, and some velvet throw pillows at the very least. Continuing down the hall, I finish off the last few bites of half my sandwich.
It was never my intention to snoop, but when I find his bedroom, I can’t help but peek inside. And then I’m at his window, peering out into the courtyard, straight down at him playing with Princess. I never imagined someone who seems to treat their dates so coldly could be so warm to an animal. I have to admit, it’s a little bit endearing. He pats down her sides, which sends her into a spiraling frenzy. She barks at him, jumping at his face as though she can reach it. Even from here, I can see hiseyes crinkle as he sinks to the ground beside her, raining kisses all over her head. Then he stands and faces his window. I duck behind the wall, dropping to the ground to crawl from the room. I don’t know if he was looking up here, but if he was, I won’t be caught spying. That’s the last embarrassing thing I need right now.
His bed is made, his comforter a frosty white. I wander over the thick black and gray rug to his closet. As I pop open the door, I’m immediately met with a scent that is just so… Decker. It’s like he’s standing here with me right now. Whatever cologne he uses, it’sgood. Woodsy and bright and masculine. I back out of the closet and click the door shut, moving on to my next mission: find said cologne. A girl has to know what cologne her boyfriend wears, right? Even if it is all a lie.
His bathroom is attached to the master bedroom, and when I enter the room, it’s in a state of disarray. Dirty clothes litter the floor, towels are hung over knobs and shower rods. Nowthisis what I was expecting from his entire place. It’s nice to see he isn’t some weird male drone at least.
Decker is human, after all. Look! He’s dirty too!
I pop open the mirror. Behind it is a little cavern housing bottles, lotions, and cotton swabs. I pick up a cologne bottle, one of many, and read. It says something about the vetiver on it, and I give it a sniff. The title is etched green glass with gold details, and it looks expensive, but smells even more so.
I move on to the drawers—I’ve never been able to help myself when left alone. Besides, I need to know what I’m working with here. If there're any concerns I should have, I need to know now. Those concerns come in the form of a junk drawer, but not just any kind of junk. It’s all pink and gold and shiny and looks distinctlyfemale. Upon closer inspection, I find used lashes and lip glosses, concealers and powders, all of which are different shades of God’s brightest rainbow. Little gold earrings and silverbracelets rattle around in the bottom. These things belong to women. Yes, women.Plural. He’s made a lost and found for all of his… companions.
It might as well be a time vortex because suddenly I’m pulled back to the moment I realized my ex was being unfaithful. One crystal-encrusted earring that I’d never wear, floating aimlessly in a kitchen drawer. For some reason, I believed him when he said his maid had lost hers, and I allowed him to gaslight me for another few months. Never again. If I could go back in time and smack myself—and him—I would. This drawer is just the reminder I need.
