Candace claps in excitement. “Yay! Oh, I finished the first book on the list. It was so good, girl. I’m hooked. Is the next one available at the bookshop?”
My eyes widen. “You liked it?”
“Lovedit.” She fans herself while she gushes. “Oh my god, I was swooning. Then I needed to call my boyfriend when things got spicy.”
My face flushes, but I nod in understanding. “We have the whole series in stock.”
Someone in another room calls her name. She squeezes my shoulder.
“Text me tomorrow. You can come over as early as you want. I’m doing a full self-care day before the event.”
“Okay.”
I’m relieved that she gave me a time frame so I don’t get stuck wondering when to go there. It’s nice to have another friend besides Maya to talk to about books I’ve read. Alex doesn’t count since he’s been my new mental image for all the book boyfriends I read. I find myself looking forward to tomorrow, ready to enjoy myself after all my hard work on the dance.
Pouring myself a drink, I head back toward Alex with a tiny smile breaking free. I stop just outside the room when I hear something that turns my insides to stone.
“Keller, what’s the deal with you and Brainy? Why are you even with that nerd?”
Every muscle in my body stiffens and my throat closes. It’s Mike and his asshole friends on the football team.
I was so swept up in what’s happening with Alex that I forgot why he wanted to pretend with me in the first place.
“What makes you think I have to explain myself to you?” Alex’s usual easygoing tone takes on a hard edge. “I’m with her, end of story.”
My heart clenches. I want to believe he means that, more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. When he kissed me, I allowed myself to think two total opposites like us could work because the way I feel when I’m with him is so right.
But it’s not real, is it?
We agreed to play this act for two weeks and that’s exactly what he’s doing—making it appear like he’s really my boyfriend.
“I’m asking you straight up,” Mike continues. “You can have any girl you want. Why her—unless she fucks like a puck bunny? Oh shit, it is, isn’t it? Don’t deny it, it’s written all over your face. Does she let go of that uptight, bitchy attitude when she’s on her knees taking cock in her mouth?”
Puck bunny. The term makes my stomach sink. How could I forget this is how athletes talk about the women they sleep with?
Shaking my head, I abandon my drink on the nearest flat surface. I don’t need to stick around for this. There’s a shout, followed by a commotion. I don’t stop to find out what it’s about while I slip through the front door.
The first thought that cuts through the buzz overtaking my mind questions if that’s how Alex thinks of this thing between us, too. Before he decided to become my fake boyfriend his reputation for hookups was rampant across campus. Am I a puck bunny to him? Or maybe I’m not enough like one, too inexperienced to appeal to him.
Alex can get with any girl. So why would he want me?
I was kidding myself believing I fit in here. I don’t. I never will.
A thick lump clogs my throat. I swallow it, trying to get my strained breathing under control.
Embarrassment rakes down my spine. I felt so sexy and confident with him. Now those intimate moments are tarnished by what I overheard.
Nerds and jocks don’t belong together. The divide will always exist between us.
My eyes itch and sting on my walk through town. It’s not because of the winter air.
Our two weeks of faking our relationship are up. Time to get back to reality.
FOURTEEN
ALEX
One minute,I’m enjoying the party, waiting for Lainey to come back, then the next minute, I’m overcome by anger. My cup drops from my hand and spills on my shoes when I hear that idiot running his mouth. A dangerous, icy chill spreads through me.
