“You know I can pick out my own dress, right?” I said with an annoyed sigh after he shook his head at the fifth dress.
“I know. But I’m paying, so I get a say,” he grinned. “Besides, I have excellent taste.”
He was enjoying playing Barbie with me.
“You have expensive taste,” I corrected him, eyeing the price tags that made my stomach drop.
“Same thing.”
I eyed the lilac dress that had been tucked near the back of the rack. I walked towards it and held it up. It was soft with a flowing fabric.
“That one,” Derek said, straightening in his chair. “Try that one.”
In the changing room, I struggled with the zipper, my arms twisted awkwardly behind me. A knock on the door made me freeze.
“Need help?” Derek’s voice muffled through the wood.
“I-um, yes, please.”
He stepped inside, and the changing room that felt spacious suddenly seemed tiny with both of us in it. His fingers felt warm against my spine as he slowly pulled the zipper up. I held my breath, watching his face in the mirror.
His jaw was clenched as he focused on the zipper as if it was a court document.
“There,” he whispered, his voice deep and rough. He cleared his throat, meeting my eyes in the mirror. “Perfect.”
The dress made my skin glow against the soft purple. But it was the way Derek looked at me that made me feel beautiful.
“We’ll take it,” he said to the assistant, not taking his eyes off me.
“This is too much,” I whispered, holding his arm. “This dress costs more than my monthly salary.”
He covered my hand with his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’re forgetting that you’re my girlfriend, Paige-bear. And I love spoiling my pretty girlfriend,” he said, tapping his index finger on my nose.
I glared at him and corrected, “Fake girlfriend.”
“Yes, yes,” he said, rolling his eye. “Fake girlfriend.”
Even though I didn’t know how to feel about him spending so much on me, I tried hard not to blush when the assistant commented on my boyfriend’s choice when he paid for the dress.
“There’s been a mistake,” I said to Derek, who was busy unpacking Lily’s things. “How can there be only one bed?”
I was standing in the hotel room, staring at the single king-size bed.
Why is the universe conspiring against my self-control?
He glanced at it, then back at me. “Couples usually share beds, Paige. We are supposed to be in a relationship, remember?”
“Yes. I know. I just—” I said, shaking my head. “I can take the couch.”
“You are not taking the couch,” he said, moving towards me. I held my breath at the intensity in his eyes. “We are adults. We can share a bed without—” He stopped and cleared his throat. “It’ll be fine.”
It absolutely would not be fine, but I nodded anyway.
We shared a bed when we were kids. Even when we were teenagers, without our parents knowing. All we had done was cuddle and teenage-Paige getting horrified at the concept of morning wood.
Derek left early with Lily, giving me time to get ready without a curious toddler trying to eat my makeup. I took my time with my hair and makeup, trying to quiet the butterflies in my stomach.
This was just another performance in our fake relationship.
