Page 8 of The Cupcake Standard

“Done that to a lot of guys, huh?” He pushed his spoon around in the gray mush, not meeting my eyes.

I shook my head with a small laugh. “No, that was most definitely a first for me. But your tie was just begging to be grabbed. Not to mention your eyes had glazed over like donuts while you were locked in your doom scroll.”

“You got my attention. I’ll give you that.” A hint of a smile played on his lip as his eyes found mine. Then his face grew pensive as he spun his mug around, pushing the handle from one hand to the other. “Maybe we could help each other.”

The very definition of interested, I leaned forward to prop my chin on my palm.

“I’ve already told Yolanda you’re my girlfriend.” He spoke slowly, as if thinking aloud. “And having a girlfriend would get Rhonda off my back.”

Is he asking me out? Alarm trickled through me.

He met my eyes, then looked right back down at the table. “Not for real. It’d be a fake relationship, just as a front, and it’d benefit you, too. You could use me as an excuse to get out of family dinners and events, or as a buffer at ones you have to attend.” One corner of his mouth tipped up. “I’m a great date, and I’ve got a whole closetful of ties just begging to be grabbed.”

I let out a little laugh as I turned his words over in my mind. Dating Derek Elgin…my mother would kill to have his kind of upper-class panache to lord over her friends.

“Assuming you don’t already have a boyfriend. I mean— I-I just thought… With you kissing me…like that…well, you probably didn’t.”

Aww, he’s cute when he stammers. “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.” I gave the standard excuse, not wanting to go into the whole ‘I don’t believe in true love’ spiel. “I don’t really have the time. I’m a junior with a full class load. I have a scholarship to maintain, plus a part-time job at a coffee shop.” I frowned. “Why don’t you have a girlfriend?”

He snorted. “Well, contrary to my track record with you, random girls aren’t lining up to be with me.”

When he ducked his head, his black hair nearly obscured his blue eyes, and I realized he hid behind it. On purpose. The question is, why?

“Rhonda’s the popular one. Most people don’t notice me.” His tone had an edge to it.

Not quite bitter…maybe wistful?

I studied him, wondering how many times I’d walked by without seeing him. SMU was a small campus, catering to a fairly niche set of students. Part of me wished he’d asked me out for real, wondering what it’d be like to be more than just a cover. I mulled over his words, uneasy at committing to anything.

The pull of using him for cover at Mother’s dinners was strong, plus I did want to help him out. Unease hit my gut as I met his assessing gaze. I got the feeling if I agreed to this arrangement, I’d be getting way more than I bargained for. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d reacted to a guy like this. Could I agree without putting my heart at risk?

“How about I let you know tomorrow?” The disappointed look that swept over his face sent an arrow through my chest. I slid my phone toward him as a conciliatory gesture. “Put in your number?”

He quickly bounced back with a dazzling grin. His thumbs flew, then he snapped a selfie with an audacious smirk, sliding the phone to me.

I fell in love with the pic. After gawking at the way his tie made his blue eyes even bluer, I mentally kicked myself back into gear. I hurried to send him a text, wanting him to have my number as well.

His phone hooted. Like an owl. And he waited, staring at me expectantly. When I didn’t move, he swiped, showed me the camera app then held up his phone to take a pic.

Rolling my eyes, I gave him my snarkiest look as I waited for him to snap the photo. I heard the click, surprised at his self-satisfied grin, then I glanced at the clock. “Crap! I’m going to be late for psych!” I pushed back from the table, frantic to gather up my dishes only to find Derek’s hand on mine.

“Go on. I’ve got this.”

“You sure?” He’d already bought me breakfast. I didn’t want to make him clean up after me, too.

He nodded. “Just text me tomorrow, okay?”

I smiled my biggest smile. “I will!”

Chapter Three

I lied. I hadn’t meant to, and I’d had every intention of texting Derek. But Gina had wanted to try the new Greek joint downtown. Of course, I was the one who ended up in the hospital with food poisoning. Not her. I was still there when Derek texted me.

So where are you?

Almost immediately another text came through.

Ignore that. Yolanda stole my phone.

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