Page 10 of Fake Rocks
“Thanks. You don’t have to wait on me,” she said. “I’m perfectly capable of coming downstairs to get it myself.”
“Jonas asked me to bring it up.”
Saff let out a hard, heavy breath. “Yeah, I bet he did.”
There was a small space on her bedside table, so I crossed the room to place the mug there. “Right, I should get back to work.” Turning back towards the door, I made as if to leave.
“Tris, wait.”
Something in her tone made me backtrack, and I noticed she was nibbling on her thumbnail. It was rather endearing, showing a vulnerability I hadn’t seen before.
“Can you sit down for a minute?”
“Um.” My gaze went to the door, then back to her. “I guess…” I perched on the end of her bed, trying to keep a reasonable distance between us and averting my eyes from the mess of clothes and underwear on the floor. Her room was much like her, colourful and chaotic. I wondered what she thought of Jonas’ idea to paint the room magnolia.
She appeared to be nervous, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “So, you came in when Jonas and I were talking.”
“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. What were you talking about? Actually, it’s none of my business, sorry.”
“Stop apologising.” Saff gave me a small smile. “It sort of could be your business.” She paused, taking a deep drag of her joint before holding it out to me. “You want some?”
“No. Thanks.” It wasn’t that I was against drugs, but it wasn’t even midday. Plus, Uncle Col would kill me if I went back to work stoned. “What does your conversation have to do with me?”
Saff’s fingers tapped against her leg. “Look, I’m going to come out and say it. You don’t have to say yes now, say you’ll think about it.”
What the hell was she going to ask me?
“You might know I’m, um, a bit of a liability when it comes to men. I tend to go for the unsuitable, the inappropriate, themarried.” She paused, biting her bottom lip. “And Jonas has told me it’s becoming a problem for the record company and that if I don’t get my act together, they’re going to drop me.”
“Right.” I couldn’t think of a better response. “And what does it have to do with me?”
“Jonas seems to think you’re a nice, normal, sensible guy who would be good for my image.”
“He does?” My eyebrows shot up.
“And you know how sometimes people set up fake relationships to hide stuff or improve their reputation.”
Mutely, I nodded.
“So…” she drew out the tension. “Jonas was wondering if you’d be able to step in.”
For a moment, I thought the pot was having a major impact on me. Had Saff Barnes asked me if I wanted to be her fake boyfriend?
“Say that again.” I had to be sure.
“Jonas wondered if you’d be my fake boyfriend.”
What about you? Do you want me to be your fake boyfriend as much as your cousin does?
Time froze, until Saff leaned over and tapped me on the arm. “What do you think?”
“You said I didn’t have to say yes now.” I stalled, honestly not knowing what to say. “I need to think about it.”
Her chocolate brown eyes studied me, and I saw sadness reflected in them. I assumed any guy would usually jump at the chance to be with her and someone turning her down was a new experience. She blinked and I noted the glassiness in her eyes. Sad or stoned, I couldn’t be sure.
“Don’t take too long,” she said, so softly I almost didn’t hear her.
I nodded, then stood up and walked back down the three flights of stairs to the kitchen. With each step, I contemplated her offer. And with each step, I came up with a different answer. When I finally reached the bottom, the steps told me ’no’.
