Chapter 7
Marcela
B e my fake girlfriend.
I play the words on repeat in my mind, trying to be sure that I heard them correctly. Because there is no way Theo is asking me to fake date him, like we’re in some kind of romance novel.
Absolutely no way.
“Theo …” My voice trails off, because I don’t even know how to respond to that.
“Hear me out,” he holds his hands in front of him. “If we pretend to date, it’ll drive them crazy seeing how happy you are, but more so how much it doesn’t even bother you that they’re together, because you’ll be with me.”
I run my fingers through my hair as a stress headache blooms across my forehead. I don’t hate his suggestion when he puts it that way. It would be so satisfying to walk by Hunter and Ruby with Theo on my arm, showing them that what they did didn’t break me.
It’s all I want.
“What would you get out of doing this?” I question him, because why would he want to do this?
“Other than getting to fake date the girl of my dreams, it would help get girls off my back,” he shrugs, always saying the sweetest things like it’s nothing.
I roll my eyes at that. “I’m not the girl of your dreams, and I highly doubt you haven’t been with anyone since you came to RLU.”
Theo steps closer to me again, his fingers resting under my chin as he tilts my head up. “That’s where you’re wrong. I may joke around, but I don’t lie.”
Shocked by his confession, I back away from his touch. “But, Theo … that could be a problem. The fact that you have me on this pedestal and flirt with me … it would make this fake dating thing complicated, and I don’t want to hurt you. Because if we do this, all of it would be fake.”
With a seriousness I never see from Theo, he nods, eyes intently on mine as he speaks. “If the only chance I get to be with you is a fake one, then I’ll take it. I’ll take anything you give me.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I whisper.
Theo’s lips morph into a lopsided grin. “Yes, I flirt with you, because you’re beautiful. It’s hard not to. And yes, I think you’re an amazing person, but that doesn’t mean I have feelings for you. I can do this. Let me do this for you.”
We stare into each other’s eyes, not knowing what we are looking for. I need to know that he’s being honest. Because how could he have feelings for me to begin with? It never would have made sense, and he just confirmed it.
He’s just a natural flirt, that’s all.
“Okay.”
His bright blue eyes bounce between mine, lips parted slightly. “You’re saying yes? You’re gonna be my fake girlfriend?”
For whatever reason, excitement races up my spine as I say, “Yes.”
Theo wraps his arms around me as he lifts me into one of his famous Theo hugs.
Once I’m back on the ground, I take a few steps away from him. “We need some ground rules, to make sure lines don’t get blurred. I don’t want to lose our friendship.”
I finally feel like I have a good person in my life, and I’d hate to lose him over this.
Theo takes my hands in his, his thumb running gently on top of them. “We will always be friends, okay?”
I nod, and he continues. “Tell me what you’re comfortable and not comfortable with.”
My eyes dart to our joined hands. “I don’t think we need to touch unless either of them are around.”
He releases my hands instantly. “That’s fine, but remember that we’re not just faking it for them. We’re faking it to the entire school, otherwise word will get back to them.”
Shit, I didn’t think of it that way.
“Okay, what are we telling … the squad?” My voice is unsure, because I don’t know if I’m in the friend group enough to refer to myself as a part of it.
Theo smiles, “We can tell our friends the truth, because they’ll never believe for a second that we’re actually dating.”
I want to ask what he means by that, but he speaks again.
“So, no touching when we’re alone is our first rule. What about when we’re in front of people, specifically Hunter and Ruby? What are you comfortable with, PDA-wise?” he asks, ever the gentleman.
Heat rushes to my cheeks. “Uh … we can hold hands, hug.”
“That’s all?” Theo raises a brow. “Could I do this?” he asks, wrapping his arm around the small of my back, tugging me closer to him.
“T-that’s kind of like a hug, so yes,” my voice is breathy, and I don’t know why. We’re friends practicing how to fake-date. No big deal.
“What about this?” His voice dips lower as he spins me so that my back is against his chest. His muscular arms wrap around my stomach, holding me close, as his face nestles into my neck. “This okay?” His lips brush against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Yes,” I mumble softly, unable to think straight. I’m blaming it on the emotions of tonight, and not on any other reason. Like, that I may be attracted to him.
Theo draws back, coming to stand in front of me. “How do you feel about kissing?”
My mouth goes dry at the idea of kissing him, because of course he’s hot, but that would make our friendship hard to get back to once this is over.
“No kissing. I want to be able to be friends after this.”
He grins, that lone dimple appearing. “Afraid you’ll kiss me and fall in love?”
I shake my head and scoff a laugh. “Not at all.” I redirect the conversation to another topic. “How long do we do this for?”
“I say the entire school year, unless you want to stop at any point. This is all on your terms.”
“If you want it to be over at any time, that’s fine. You have a say in this too, you know,” I remind him, because it’s not just me who’s benefiting from this. He’ll be off the market and girls will leave him alone. So if he wants to go back to that, he can.
“Okay, I think that covers just about everything. But one last thing.” He swallows, looking serious once again. “While we do this, you’re mine and I’m yours. I can promise you I’ll be loyal, but I expect the same from you.”
While I don’t think I’ll ever truly believe that statement from a man anytime soon, I nod anyway. “I promise you that’s nothing you need to worry about. I know how awful it feels, so I’ll never do it to someone else. Fake relationship or not.”
Theo holds out his hand to me “So, we have a deal? You’re gonna be my fake girlfriend, Marcela?”
I put my hand in his, shaking it. “We do, but I have one final question.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you going to give me a silly nickname like you do for everyone else? Like AV baby, Jay bay bay, Millie moo…” I trail off, listing what he calls the girls in our friend group. He’s known for his silly nicknames, and a part of me has been curious as to what mine will be.
“I give them silly nicknames … but you’re different. You’re my girl.” He smiles shyly.
I can’t help but smile back, because even though it’s a part of our charade, it’s my favorite name in books. There’s something so soft, yet possessive about my girl that hits me right in the chest every time I read it.
“But I like the sound of Celly too, if you do,” he adds.
“I do, both are good.” I smile, liking their simplicity.
“You ready to go back in there?” Theo asks, concern edging in his voice.
I stand tall, feeling more confident than before. “Yes. I have to go back to waiting tables, so I’ll see you around.”
I debate hugging him after what we just agreed on, but I get too flustered and end up leaving him outside without another word as I hustle back to work.
It’s my job that forces me to be way more social than I’d like, but it also lets me meet so many different people, which helps when it comes to my writing. When you’re an author, anything or anyone can become inspiration. Suddenly, the stranger in the booth is the villain of a story.
As I round the corner, I see my boss and Aurora’s brother, Nate, at the end of the bar, who signals me over.
“I’m so sorry for running out like that,” I apologize to him once I’m close enough.
“Don’t worry about it. You’re my best server. I know you wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t have a genuine reason. I covered your tables while you were taking a break,” he tells me while wiping down the bar.
I sigh a breath of relief. “Thank you so much.”
Taking a glance around the space, I look to see who needs drink refills then head behind the bar to fulfill them. While I wait on my tables, I purposely ignore the area the team is sitting in as I get through the rest of my shift.
All of the worry about running into Hunter fades as I busy myself, so much so that I forget anything except for the tables I’m serving. Until I run square into him with a tray full of drinks.
“I’m …” I can’t find it in me to say sorry, because I don’t feel bad. He deserves a lot more than being soaked in beverages.
Hunter’s eyes don’t leave mine as we look at each other for the first time in five months. Unease prickles my spine at the fact that we’re partially hidden from anyone else. I don’t want to be alone with him.
“Marcela,” he drags out my name, making my skin crawl. “Still clumsy as ever I see. How’ve you been?”
I want to tell him off. To scream at him. To make him feel exactly how he made me feel. But my mom raised me better than that.
“Never better.” I smile widely, and thumb behind me to the bar. “I have to go remake these drinks, so …” I turn to do just that when he grabs my hand, turning me back to him.
Before I can tell him to let me go, Theo steps between us. “If I see you touching my girl again, we’re going to have real problems. And not just on the field.”
Hunter chuckles, looking between Theo and me. “This is why you don’t like me, huh Miller? Over some lame puss—”
Theo has Hunter pinned against the wall in seconds. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”
“I’m just saying, bros before ho—”
“We’re not bros. If you want any chance of playing this season, I suggest you walk away. Now .”
I watch with bated breath as they stare at one another with clenched jaws as anger radiates off the both of them.
Theo lets him go, and Hunter scoffs as he walks right out of the bar without another word.
Once he’s gone, Theo turns to me. “You okay?” he asks softly while his hand gently lifts the one Hunter grabbed, inspecting it.
“Yeah, I’m good,” I say as I let out a relieved breath. “You didn’t have to do that, you know.”
A puzzled look crosses Theo’s face. “You’re my girl now. I’m not allowing anyone, especially not Hunter, to manhandle you like that.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, giving his hand a squeeze before letting it drop. “I really need to get these drinks to their tables.”
“Did you drive here tonight?”
I halt and look over my shoulder. “Yes, why?”
“I have to get going and get a good sleep in before the game tomorrow, but I wanted to make sure you weren’t walking home alone. I can make sure Nate walks you to your car.”
I want to tell Theo he doesn’t need to do that, but knowing him, it’s pointless. “Okay, good luck tomorrow.”
“I better see you there with my number painted on your cheek,” he winks, shooting me a boyish grin.
I’m his fake girlfriend now, so I guess I have to act like it.
“My ass will not be out for people to see,” I joke, making his eyes widen as he laughs.
“Oh, you’ve got jokes now too? Listen, I’m the funny one in this relationship,” he says, making me laugh.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I smile, giving him a wave and then return to the bar.
As I finish up the remainder of my shift, all I can think about is how good Theo is at faking his enthusiasm for football, but I really hope he’s also good at separating real feelings from our fake relationship too. Because if one of us falls without the other to catch us, this could turn out very poorly.
And I make a silent prayer to the universe that it won’t be me.