Page 14 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

“I did,” I say, then quickly correct myself. “I do.”

“Are you insane?” Jessy shakes her head. Today her hair is loose, those silky, perfectly straightened strands moving from side to side. “No way.”

No way.Just like that, short and to the point.

Her rejection hurts more than it should, but I push it back, and cross the distance between us, putting my hands on her shoulders. “Just listen to me.”

Jessy meets my gaze. Up close like this I can clearly see amber speckles in those deep brown eyes. Her chin tilts up, eyes narrowing in a glare. “If it’s more gibberish about us dating, then I’m out of here.”

“It’s not gibberish.” I take a deep breath to calm myself. Because if she doesn’t stop being annoying and doesn’t let me speak for longer than a few seconds I’m going to strangle her. “Half the school already thinks we’re dating because of that photo.”

“A photo that wouldn’t have been taken ifyouhadn’t kissed me in the first place!”

“Well, it’s done, and they do. Might as well use it to your advantage.”

“What exactly would be the advantage of dating you?” she challenges.

“Except being in my company?” I joke, but the only thing it earns me is another unamused glare. That’s all Jessy ever does, glare at me. I’ve seen her laugh and smile with Evie, but that has never been directed at me. I wonder what it would be like. Being the one responsible for her happiness. “Well, for starters, nobody would say that you’re still pining after your ex.”

She jolts back like I slapped her. And if my hands weren’t holding her in place, I’m sure she would have bolted right this second just like she did yesterday.

“I’m not pining after anybody,” she grits. Her voice is low and composed, but I can see her fingers clenching into fists by her sides, indicating she’s anything but. “As a matter of fact, I decided to give up on boys completely.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “You’re switching to girls?”

“Ha-ha. Funny. No, you dumbass. I’m giving up on relationships.”

“Even fake ones? Because that’s exactly what this would be. We both know people will start to talk. Hell, most likely they’re already spinning ten different stories as we speak. By saying we’re dating, we control what they’ll say about us.”

“We?” She narrows her eyes at me. Her distrust is not only annoying but also offensive. Then again, it’s not like we know each other all that well. “And what doyouget out of this, anyway?”

Oh, I should have known she’d ask that, it was just a matter of time. Jessy is too smart for her own good not to.

“I’m just helping a girl out.” I shrug, playing nonchalant. “Think about it. What do you have to lose?”

“What little is left of my dignity?” She lets the question hang for just a moment before continuing. “Let’s say we do this, then what? How long will this scheme go on for? What happens when we ‘break up’? Because as you say, peoplewilltalk, and I’ll once again be the center of attention, left to pick up the pieces.”

Her voice quivers at that last part, if only slightly.

“You can be the one to break up with me. Hell, make it as messy and as public as you want, I don’t care.”

If possible, this only makes her even more suspicious. “Why are you doing this?”

I look away. “I told you, I just wanna help a girl out.”

“Why me?” Her finger slides under my chin, beckoning me to turn around and look at her. Those brown eyes are watchful, as if she’s trying to figure me out, put the pieces in place. The tip of her tongue slides out, swiping over her lower lip. “Does this have anything to do with Evie? ‘Cause I’m her friend? If so, I don’t…”

I stop her before she can finish. “It doesn’t have anything to do with Evie, this is all me, trust me.”

The last thing I need is to think,talk, about Evie. Especially with her best friend.

“I can’t trust you. I don’t even know you.”

“Get to know me.” I wrap my fingers around hers. Her skin feels soft underneath my touch, warm. A zap of…somethinggoes through my arm from the touch. Her eyes seem to grow soft, but it’s gone in a second, exchanged for a skeptical expression as her walls come back in place.

I make sure to school my expression too. “Or don’t. Whatever you want. But think about it. And think fast, because people are already talking. Be my girlfriend from now until homecoming, then we can break it off. It’s just a few weeks, how bad could it be?”

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