“Yeah, but I’m not going to be in a relationship.” I frown.
“I’ll see you later, Royce.”
With that, she closes the door and I am left standing outside. I need to speak to Athena, and suddenly, I’m worried because I have no idea how she is going to take this.
Chapter Ten
Athena
A rushed knockon the door pulls me from my film, and I scowl. Pausing, I rush from the bed just as the door bangs again.
“Hold up!” I shout out as I walk towards the noise.
Unchaining the door, I tug it open to see a well-dressed Royce. He’s wearing a fitted polo and smart jeans.
“Er?” I furrow my brow as I sweep my eyes over him.
“I need to talk to you.” He glances at my pyjamas.
I have changed from earlier. These have cute little pastries scattered over, the soft blue and white stripe background printed behind. He walks over the threshold and heads straight for my bedroom.
“Sure, come in.” Sarcasm drips from my tone before I close the door and follow a pacing Royce.
He looks at me, mutters something under his breath, then begins pacing again.
“Please, for the love of God, stop pacing. You’re going to put tread marks in the carpet.” I move towards him and grab his arms. “Stop, Royce.” My tone is assertive and he nods, nibbling the skin around his thumbnail. I push him towards the bed and he sits, eyes bouncing all over me. “What the hell is wrong?”
“You need to get changed; we have dinner plans.” The words tumble from his lips.
“Right?” I place my hands on my hips. “Why?”
“Because you got me thinking earlier with your playboy shit.”
I blink.
“This will work well for both of us, so just hear me out.” He is cautious.
As soon as someone says, ‘hear me out’, you know they’re about to drop some bombshell that you would never agree to.
“Me, you… date.”
My eyes widen.
“Not like, real dating, just fake… you know, pretend.”
“I know whatfakemeans, Royce,” I snap, my hand pressed to my forehead. Now it’s my turn to pace. “Why…” I whisper, pausing as I turn towards him.
“I don’t want to be what they perceive me as.” His vulnerability echoes around the room.
“Then get a girlfriend,” I snap.
“I don’t want a girlfriend, I just want someone to be with me, when I need them… stop the stupid stories and rumours.”
“You just need to keep the monster in the cage.” I point towards his groin area, and he drops his head to look into his lap.
“You think I have a monster?” A stupid boyish grin spreads across his lips and I stamp my foot.
“Not what I was insinuating, it was just a term.” I roll my eyes.
