Page 4 of The Fake Boyfriend Excursion

She gives me a half-hearted smile and pushes partway up, sniffing audibly. "Yes, that part is definitely his fault. I meant more that I had put myself in the situation to begin with, when I wasn't even that certain about the relationship before."

I move out of the way so she can sit up fully, lowering her legs to the ground, and her adorable nightgown hikes halfway up her thighs. She barely notices, rubbing sleep from her eyes, and then giving her hair a quick tousle.

To try to stop myself from staring at all that delicious-looking skin, I grab the table and move it back into place, pushing the to-go box so it’s closer to her.

I know it makes me a terrible brother to be happy about the fact she wasn't more invested in her relationship with him, but I just don't have it in me to care. He's fucked up and messed around too many times. And while there doesn't seem to be a limit on what my parents will forgive him for, I reached mine years ago.

"Why'd you come?" I ask, as she opens the container and makes an appreciative sound.

She takes out the disposable silverware I brought back and starts taking little bites of each thing, making a soft moan at the taste. It’s like she’s deliberately trying to drive me crazy.

"Mostly for selfish reasons," she says, glancing up at me and then letting her eyes drop back down to her food. "I'd always wanted to go on a cruise, and I didn't think I'd ever have another chance."

"Why not?" I ask, pulling a chair over and sitting down across from her, perfectly happy with watching her soothe her aching belly with food I'd brought her.

She gives me an incredulous look. "Not all of us can afford to go on vacations like this."

"Are you struggling for money?" I ask, surprised I hadn't heard about this since Chad isn't exactly great about knowing what to keep to himself.

She shakes her head. "Not struggling, but everything extra that I have goes into saving up for a house."

I nod and wonder if she would like mine. It’s on the edge of town, back in Stonewood Ridge, on a few acres of land. I'd bought it years ago because I'd loved the location and had updated anything I didn't like about the house or property.

Money isn't something I've had to worry about for a long time, but it does concern me that she does.

"Was dinner awful?" she asks, distracting me from my thoughts about what she would want to redo in my house.

"In what way?" I ask, not quite sure what she means.

She sort of shrugs with her whole body, and I smile at the absurd cuteness of it. "You know, when your parents found out that Chad and I couldn't even make it through two days on a cruise ship together."

"Oh, that," I say, leaning back in my chair and propping one ankle up onto the opposite knee. "Yeah, he didn't tell them."

She stops eating, eyes darting up. "What do you mean he didn't tell them? I think they're going to notice we're not together anymore at some point."

I shrug. "He told them you had a migraine and that that's why you weren't at dinner, but that you should be better tomorrow." I cock my head, studying her. "I wasn't sure if you wanted me to correct him or not, so I didn't say anything."

Virginia lowers her plastic utensils and raises her chin, a flush of color appearing in her cheeks. "Do you think he honestly believes I'll just get over him sleeping with another woman by tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure," I say honestly. "We aren't exactly close. But based on his attitude and what he said at dinner, I'd say it's very likely."

"How could he think…"

"Because in his eyes, this is his world and the rest of us just get to live in it."

She shakes her head, leaning back against the couch, completely forgetting about finishing her dinner. "How could anyone be so oblivious or delusional?"

"I'm no psychologist, but I would blame my parents." I lean closer so I can see inside the to-go box. She's eaten most of it, but I gesture at what remains. "You should finish this."

She makes a face but does as I say, heating the blood in my veins.

We don't really talk much more as she finishes eating, but she doesn't seem uncomfortable with my presence or the fact that I'm blatantly watching her. Maybe she doesn't notice. She seems lost in thought, probably wondering how she'd ended up in her current situation.

As much as I hate that Chad hurt her, I can't be mad at the results. I'll have five more days on this cruise to convince her that losing Chad and ending up in my suite was the best thing that ever happened to her as well.

Once she finishes eating, I collect the garbage and throw it away, tidying up the small kitchenette area as I do.

"Are you still tired?" I ask softly, coming back into the small living room.

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