“Do I need a white dress?”I ask, when the silence gets too loud.
“Do you want one?”
“Do Iwantone?” I blink at him, letting out an unamused laugh. The nerve of this guy. “I don’t know the protocol for a fake relationship and fake wedding.”
I feel movement and his warmth at my back, before he speaks. I brace myself for it.
“It’s not fake,” he says, a low growl, his breath on the shell of my ear. “It’s real.This,” He wraps an arm around me and pulls me against him, “is real. You have every fucking right to be upset, I’ll give you that, but don’t you dare say that what we have is fake.”
“Whatever, I don’t really care anymore,” I whisper, even though my entire body is betraying me.
He lets go of me, turns the other way, and growls so loudly that both men in the front seat look back to see if he’s okay. I keep my eyes on the flowers we’re driving by — blooming new, colorful life into this gray, dark world.
* * *
We end up at a place called Cindy’s Rooftop, where the view of the city is spectacular. I can only see it partially from inside, so I’ve been waiting until the socially acceptable moment to excuse myself. I don't even know why we're here, mingling with people who work for his absent father's company, but I don't ask. Maybe I'll ask him when he's done charming people. He’s had that fake ass million-dollar smile of his plastered on his face the entire time we’ve been here, but I know he’s brooding. He’s upset about my fake comment, and I really don't care. I said what I said, and I stand by it. Despite that, he took a sip of my drink before handing it to me, which seems like a small gesture, but it means a lot to me.
After forty minutes of small talk, I've reached my limit. I take the opportunity to excuse myself and head to the glass doors. As I step outside, I revel in the cool breeze and make my way to the edge, where a surface wraps around the rooftop. There's a clear view of The Bean, the surrounding park, and a beautiful skyline backdrop. I set my drink on the surface and text Marissa a picture before putting my phone in my purse. I smell men's cologne and feel someone stand beside me as I pick up my cup. I take a sip of my drink and keep my eyes on the view ahead, hoping they'll get a clue and leave me alone. It's a networking event, though, so I don't have high hopes of that happening.
“Nice, right?” the man asks.
My eyes snap to his. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s even nicer at night.”
“I bet.”
“Are you new with the company?”
“No. I’m just. . .visiting.”
“You sound unsure,” he says with an amused smile.
I look at him again. He has kind dark eyes and a genuine smile. Both rare things to come across, these days.
“I’m visiting,” I say with more conviction.
“That was me last year, and look at me now.” He widens his arms.
“I’m guessing that means you love it here,” I say, taking a sip of my drink. “You work for Duke?”
“Yep. Just got promoted.”
“To what?”
“Head of Cyber Security.”
“Fancy.” I raise my eyebrows and look back at The Bean. “Does that mean you can hack into anyone’s computer?”
He laughs. “I can but I don’t.”
“Have you done it?” I turn to him.
“I was a nerdy teenager once.”
“And now?”
“A nerdy adult.” He chuckles.
