2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Logan
After overhearing Addie talking to Cole about needing a date for her parent’s party and the way she’s going about it, makes me sick and protective. This can’t be safe. Who the hell knows she could meet? I don’t care if she’s on the Perfect Plus One matching site. She could get hurt.
I head to my truck like a man on a mission and open up my phone to scan for the app I uploaded a year ago to get my sister off my back. It has only been accessed and opened the one and only time I signed up, but the peace I received from my sister since joining has been worth it.
Now though, I’m going to get my sister the biggest bouquet the world has ever seen while I type in Addie’s username in the search engine. I took a peek at the monitor while speaking to Cole to make sure I can find her on the site.
Her bubbly face appears on my screen with her soft brown eyes and cheeky smile. My heart beats up into my throat as I gaze over her picture. She’s stunning. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and it pains me I can’t be near her. For the past eight months, I’ve been admiring and watching her from the sidelines.
The moment I walked into Carter’s Gym and saw her learning how to work the system on her first day on the job, I’ve been a goner. So much so I attend the gym five days a week instead of the usual three. I’m getting more fit without her even noticing, but I can’t go without seeing her. The weekends are brutal when she doesn’t work and I have to go forty-eight hours without one glimpse of her, but damn straight I’m in the gym at the earliest part of her shift on Monday morning so I can say hello to her.
I scroll through her profile and smile at her goofy comments, because it’s her. In the whole time she’s worked here, she doesn’t say more than a handful of words to me, but I’ve more than listened to her as she talks with her bosses, co-workers, and members. I understand she’s not interested in me, but I can’t help admiring her. She’s adorable and owns who she is.
I frown when I scroll over her age, twenty-two. Fuck, she’s twenty years younger than me. Leaning my head back against the seat, I wipe a hand down my face.
She’s far too young for me. I knew she was, but I didn’t realize that much. The smart thing to do is to step away and let her be. The last thing she needs is a bike mechanic who has already lived his youth. She needs to be going out, making mistakes, dating around.
I clench my fists at the mere thought of another man getting anywhere near her. The image of her worried face and sad eyes penetrates my mind as I recall how she looked when talking to Cole.
She’s desperate for a date, and not even a real date, a fake one–for a few weeks. Just to show her parents she has somebody. I would hate for some asshat on the internet to take advantage of her generous sweet nature. I can’t handle the idea of seeing her hurt.
The note about needing a fake relationship pops up in the category of service. The site is used for multiple types of dating–matchmaking, hiring a fake relationship, exchanging for a fake relationship. She’s marked under hiring or exchanging.
The idea of her having to meet this ass’s family and friends makes it far too real. I hit on the interested to connect button to make my interest known. The visions of her with so many guys and having them drool over her is too much and I can’t face it. I need to be her white knight.
After I request for us to match, I have to wait for her response. Risking it, I peer into the front window at the counter of the gym, but Addie isn’t there, so I let out a breath. I have some time before she sees my request and would probably be best if I’m not sitting in the parking lot gazing toward the gym looking for a glimpse of her. It’s creepy and will make her decline my match. Which she might still do anyway since I frequent the gym.
Best if I leave and wait. Starting the car, I head back home to take a shower before heading to the shop I co-own with my buddy Elijah. With jumbled nerves, I keep looking at my phone to see if I have a notification—nothing.
Today’s going to be the longest day in history as I wait for a response from sweet Addie. I hope she accepts, because I’ll take fake anything with her if I have to. It’s all I’ll get and I want to enjoy it.