Page 73 of Things We Fake
I wasn’t ready for him to pull away, and I was still dazed as he whispered a gruff “Goodnight” and rushed out the door.
“What the—”
I stared at the closed front door, feeling his warmth dissipate along with his footsteps.
Damn it! I leaned back against the sink, frustrated and confused. What the hell? One moment he was all business, the next moment he was kissing me like there was no tomorrow and driving me insane. And then he just leaves?
“Shit. I need a Xanax or ten minutes with my vibrator.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sue
I was in a foul mood the next morning, and it didn’t help that my phone rang several times in response tomy ad. I supposed I should feel flattered by all the attention. If the teaching career didn’t work out, I might have a future on OnlyFans. And I wouldn’t even have to leave my home.
Cam messaged me around lunch to tell me his legal team had issued a letter to the website to take down the ad.
Mom messaged me to remind me of the little countdown we had until Thursday, when they would arrive. Only two days left until the gates of hell opened.
Jesse stopped by my place in the afternoon carrying a large bag of pretzels.
“Hi.” I gestured her inside. “You’re back early from the shop today.”
“It was a slow day, and I have to open at seven tomorrow morning. Workers are coming over to replace my heaters. They are decomposing.”
She took off her shoes and headed to the couch, tearing open the bag of pretzels and stuffing a handfulinto her mouth. “What’s up with you, Suzy Q? How’s your fake fiancé?” she said between crunches.
I scoffed, bringing two beers from the fridge and handing her one. “How come everyone wants to know how Cam is doing? What about me? At school, everyone wanted to know how my fiancé was doing. Obviously, he’s the star in our fake relationship. I wonder how things will be once webreak up. Probably no one will give me the time of day, and I sure as hell won’t see Mrs. West smiling ever again.”
Jesse cocked her head and studied me. “You’re not having sex, are you?”
She said it as a statement.
I deflated, shaking my head. “Not even a little.”
She pushed the bag of pretzels into my lap. “Why not?”
“I don’t know.” I crunched a pretzel. “He hasn’t initiated anything. I can’t just jump the man.”
“Why not?”
I rolled my eyes. “For Heaven’s sake, Jesse, you know I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t even know if he’s interested in me. He says he is, but he doesn’t show it—not the way I want him to.”
Jesse took a sip of her beer. “I think he has the hots for you. Maybe he’s not sure you want him back, or he’s not sure how to act in this weird situation you two have going. I’d be confused in his place, too. He put a huge rock on your finger. Maybe he’s worried you’ll sleep with him out of obligation, and he doesn’t want that.”
“Obligation? I’m not a hooker. And this is just a loan.” I glanced down at the ring. “I’ll give it back when we end this charade.”
“I’m just tossing around ideas here. But I do think that if you want him, you should try making the first move. Guys have it hard enough these days, you know? Some women will scream sexual harassment if a guy even looks at them.”
I sighed, taking a long sip of beer. “That’s true. So what’s up with you? I’m abstinent by circumstances. What’syourexcuse?”
She was about to reply when her eyes narrowed and she peered out my window. “Ooh, someone’s getting a package.”
“Everyone but me,” I muttered sourly.
I strained my neck to look at the delivery guy trudging up the stairs outside, carrying an enormous cardboard box. The thing was massive, large enough to comfortably fit me, Jesse, and probably a small pony.
“That’s a big box.” I watched the poor guy struggle with the monstrosity, his face red and popping with sweat.
