Page 39 of Mr. Aster
“Bravo, for you, Casanova,” I said. “Real names only, and no cutesy, made-up bullshit. We’ll both give ourselves away.”
“True,” he said, and I smiled to see that we agreed on something. Rule number two or not, we both should’ve received an award for getting along, even if it was for a few seconds. “Rule number three: we cancel the interview with your boss. Nice try, by the way, and great effort to get your prize early, but I will not meet with that man. I promisedyouthe story about my personal life, not Juniper. Also, my family will stay completely out of it. I will clear up their image, which Mark is systematically working to destroy, but that is between me and them, not you.”
“That seems like it falls back into rule number one, the whole meddling wife thing?” I smirked.
“Rule number four,” he said. “You are not to interfere with anything between my parents and me,especiallywhen shit hits the fan upon their arrival.”
“I feel like you’re making up rules as we go,” I said, crossing my arms and challenging his smile as he poured another glass for himself.
“I simply have no other option with you, Darcel,” he said with a smile while I glared at him.
“Darcel? Really, dick?” I answered.
“You saidrealnames and no pet names, remember?”
“Darcel isnota name I answer to. I never have, and honestly, I’ve heard that name more times since you’ve been here than ever before.”
I watched him chuckle in humor. “I’m quite fond of it, actually,” he said, choking back his laugh at something only he thought was funny.
“Rule number five: Darcel is off the table. In all honesty, that should’ve been rule number one.”
“Darcel only gets pulled off the table if I get to call you a believable name, and trust me, you’re going to want me to because I might slip?”
“No Darcel. Jesus Christ, nowI’meven saying the damned name.”
He chuckled, “Very well. No Darcel.”
“Thank you. Are we done?”
“No,” he answered, “I prefer to kiss you only when it’s appropriate, but if you pull away from me again, you’re showing everyone we can’t stand each other, and that raises red flags. So,especiallysince we’re not using cute pet names, no pulling away if I greet my newtrue lovewith a kiss on the cheek.”
“No,” I answered. “And that’s a rule I’m not bending on. Nice try.”
“We’ve got to make this believable, and tonight’s display was a horror show. The Mitchells will see right through us. Our agreement calls for you to be obsessedwith me,which means that you’ve been longing for the gesture all?—”
“Do you realize how sick you sound right now? Blackmailing me into being an obsessed girlfriend and insisting I show everyone I want a kiss?—”
“Rule six: stop fucking interrupting me every time I’m speaking,” he snapped, and I smiled.
“I knew that annoyed you,” I chuckled. “I bet no one dares to interrupt a powerful man like yourself, right?”
“Most people have more manners than you,” he said.
“Well, Rule seven, then,” I said with a smile. “Don’t act like a controlling husband who cannot tolerate being interrupted when I’m right and he’s wrong.”
“Rule nine: I’m always right.”
“Making shit up again?” I said, knowing now we were going to get into a pissing match over made-up rules.
“Listen, we are way off track,” he said, flustered. “No, I’m not using this situation to get attention or steal kisses from you. I’m not trying to be some sick fuck about it, but itwillbe believable. And mostnew and in-lovecouples can’t keep their hands off each other. You and Imustfall into that category, or everyone will see through our façade.”
“Fine,” I had to agree with the dick. “Why am I doing this again?”
“You’ve gone so far out of your way to notify my parents and do all these silly things behind my back that you’ve forgotten there is no way around this. That is unless you want Tiffany Beaumont and her lovely husband to destroy what reputation you have with?—”
“Right,” I snapped. “Any more rules?”
“Last rule: stop going behind my back and doing things you think will upset me. It’s going to land you in some thick bullshit if you’re not careful.”
