“I-I have to go,” I whispered, grabbing my bag and sliding out of my seat. I vaguely heard Rachel call my name behind me, but I didn’t stop.
I had to get home.
The thought caused me to stumble.
No, it wasn’t my home, was it? It was Drew’s.
Oh God.
I was so, so stupid.
I’d fallen for all of it.
I had to talk to him—to hear the truth from his lips.
The whole way to the house, I kept replaying every moment, reanalyzing every conversation through this horrifying new lens.
The night he’d first told me he loved me, when he’d been so vulnerable and real—was that part of the performance too? The morning after our first fight when he’d cooked me breakfast and we’d talked about our future—had he been laughing internally the whole time?
“Was any of it real?” I whispered to myself as I pulled up to the house.
I could see Drew through the living room window, bouncing Rory while he talked on the phone, probably to his teammates about how well his plan was working. He looked so normal, so genuinely happy, and that somehow made it worse.
He glanced toward the window as I walked up the front steps, his face lighting up in that smile that always made my heart skip. Now it just made me feel hollow.
“Hey babe!” He opened the door before I could even reach for my keys, Rory babbling happily in his arms. “Perfect timing. I just got off the phone with Liam about dinner plans, and-” He stopped, studying my face. “Hey, what’s wrong? You look pale.”
The concern in his voice sounded so genuine. He was such a good actor.
“I know,” I said quietly.
“Know what?” Drew’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“About the bet.”
The color drained from his face instantly. Rory gurgled and reached toward me with her chubby hands, but I couldn’t look at her. I couldn’t bear to see the baby I’d fallenin love with, knowing she’d been used as a prop in Drew’s game.
And it had worked.
He’d not only gotten me in bed. He’d made me fall in love with him—with both of them.
My bottom lip quivered—the tears were so close—but I couldn’t break yet.
I wasn’t safe here with him. I couldn’t fall apart until I was safe.
“Harper, let me explain?—”
“Okay, explain.” My voice came out steadier than I felt, but it was cold. I crossed my arms over my chest as I waited for him.
Drew blinked, clearly not expecting me to actually give him the chance. He shifted Rory to one arm and ran his free hand through his hair.
He let out a heavy sigh. “Yes, there was a bet. But it’s not what you think. I never made a bet about you.”
“No?” My voice was eerily calm. “Then what exactly happened, Drew?”
“I was in the locker room, exhausted and frustrated. The guys were giving me shit about our psych project, saying there was sexual tension between us. I told them they were crazy—that there was no universe where we’d ever hook up. I said I’d bet everything I had on it never happening.”
I tightened my arms, hoping it would hold in the insides that felt like they were about to spill out, and I waited for him to continue.
