16. Annie
Annie
I’m starting to like Zayn, which doesn’t bode well for this whole fake dating thing.
My career isn’t in a place where I can let someone else in.
I’d be worried I’d lose focus on myself and what I’ve been working on over the past three years.
Not to mention, I’m still not over the fact that his brother is the sole reason why I have a messed up relationship with my performance at work.
During our first year together, Dan was supportive and loving.
He helped me study for tests and attended local events with me.
It seemed as if he was rooting for me, but that all changed when we moved in together a year into our relationship.
He became distant, even with us living under the same roof.
When I tried to talk to him about my internship or ask if he’d come to an event with me, he’d make up an excuse or tell me he was busy that night.
Then, one day when I came home early from an event to surprise him for his birthday dinner, I found him with a coworker in our bed.
It was at that moment that I vowed to put myself first, to make sure I am proud of myself for the career I’ve made. It’s why my first real client is so important. It’s what will set me up for success in the future, and I don’t want feelings or whatever is going on to get in the middle of that.
The car ride over to the pumpkin patch is silent; not even music plays on the stereo. Just the sounds of the interstate and road noise echoes in the car. We’re in the back seat of a black sedan and sitting what feels like miles apart.
Zayn has his nose in his phone the entire time, never putting it down or sneaking glances my way. I, on the other hand, have my notebook out. Checking and double checking the agenda for tonight’s event.
When I researched Zayn after our initial meeting, I was shocked to see how involved he was with the Young Actors Association.
I’m not just talking about monetary donations.
He was a speaker at events, teaching classes to students, mentoring new actors that just landed roles.
Then, he just quit. It wasn’t a gradual stop either, it was as if he was never involved.
Tonight’s event is a fundraiser of sorts.
All I’ve told Zayn is that we’re going to pick pumpkins, which isn’t a lie, it’s just not the full truth.
Maybe I was scared that if I told him, he wouldn’t want to go.
When Logan reached out about the event, he told me that this fundraiser would be great media coverage.
After a few calls, and a good word from Todd, I was able to get Zayn an interview.
January Studios and the Association have a great relationship.
The Association is the reason why Zayn began acting at the studio.
Him starting there has helped evolve their partnership and this fundraiser tonight will help bring new classes and mentorship opportunities to kids who think they might want to be actors.
This interview comes at the perfect time because I need the media to talk less about our relationship and more about his acting.
Step one of this fake dating ruse was to get the media to notice Zayn again.
That was easier than I thought it would be.
Who knew that everyone both loves and hates that Zayn is in another relationship?
Teenage Annie would be freaking out, knowing that someone like Zayn is dating someone like me.
To the rest of the world, we look happy as can be.
Every photo that’s taken looks natural. I would have had a field day on gossip sites, trying to figure out this mystery gal and stalking their every move.
The sound of the tires on the gravel road fills the car, breaking my attention from my notes.
Looking up, I find the pumpkin patch in front of us.
There are people everywhere. Kids are running around, chasing each other.
When the car stops, I move for the handle of the door, getting ready to open it, when I hear Zayn from behind me.
“Don’t move.”
My chest tightens. When Zayn gets commanding, I don’t know how to handle it. I’m half turned on and half frustrated.
But I stay put. Knowing it would lead to some sort of argument or disagreement if I were to open the damn door myself, and I can’t have him getting mad before he finds out why we are actually here.
In mere seconds, Zayn has walked around the trunk of the car. Once he has my door open, he reaches for my hand.
I hesitate, letting him stew for a moment. Teasing him is my new favorite hobby.
“Don’t make me wait, Princess.” His eyes darken as he thrusts his hand out again.
“Or what?” I tease. “What if I want to see what trouble you incite, Z?” The driver is probably irritated with my flirty tone, but he’s being paid by the hour, so he can deal.
A growl escapes from Zayn when I call him by his nickname, or maybe it’s from the teasing.
“I didn’t know when I met you that you’d be so much trouble.”
Finally, I place my hand in his. “There’s a lot more than meets the eye, Zayn.”
He tugs hard. It’s enough to send me flying into his chest. Using my free hand, I brace myself on his bicep. Being this close to him, I can feel his chest moving, his breathing deep from the tension between us.
“You need to stop.” Zayn takes a step back, increasing the space between us and dropping my hand. It’s the same warning I gave him when we were first in his apartment.
I shut the door, letting the poor driver leave. When I turn back to face Zayn, he’s still staring at me with his darkened eyes.
“I don’t know, I kind of like pushing you. I like seeing how far you bend.” Taking a play from his book, I lean toward him and stand up on the tips of my toes, my hands finding his shoulders. I hover my mouth right below his ear and whisper, “I want to know what it takes to break you.”
Zayn’s hand moves to my hip, lightly gripping me in place.
He slowly guides my heels back to the ground, then turns his head toward mine, echoing my previous move.
His breath is hot, leaving chills down my spine.
“Annie,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper, “you alone are enough to break me.”
Zayn takes a step back, his hand moving from my hip to my hand. He interlaces our fingers and turns around. “Let’s go,” he says.
I’m still trying to come back down from the high his words gave me.
“You alone are enough to break me.” My stomach is in knots.
The line between us has blurred, and even though I know it’s not what my brain wants, I can’t help but follow my heart.
At least give in a little bit because I’m painfully attracted to him and when he says things like that, I don’t know how to respond.
We walk toward the entrance of the patch. I give my name to the lady working and she lets us know where to find the tent for the event.
As we walk, the sun reflects off of the metallic playground equipment randomly dispersed into small areas for kids to play on. Various birds, goats, a horse or two, and some chickens are grouped together in a small petting zoo. Ahead of that is the tent where we are supposed to go.
Before we get there, I pull Zayn to a stop.
“What?” He turns to me, tilted head and all.
“I need to brief you on what we are walking into.”
“Right… work… okay, lay it on me.”
“This event is for the Young Actors Association, which I know you’re familiar with. And, you have to do a small interview.” I grimace, bracing myself for his response.
His eyes narrow and he turns to fully face me. “An interview?”
I nod, my bottom lip disappearing under my teeth. His eyes snap to my mouth for a moment as he follows my actions before he meets my eyes again.
“Okay.”
“That’s it? You’re not mad?” I ask, wondering why he’s suddenly okay with this. The thought of him not agreeing was the whole reason I didn’t tell him ahead of time.
“If you think this will help, I trust you. But next time, you need to tell me.” Zayn tugs on my hand once again, pulling me into his chest. His free hand grips my jaw, moving my face closer to his.
At the last moment, he turns my head slightly to the left, bringing his mouth to my ear.
I have never been so turned on in the middle of a pumpkin patch.
“Otherwise, this partnership, as you like to call it, won’t work.
We need to be on the same page. Got it?” He hovers. His breath feels hotter than the sun.
“Yeah, Z, I got it.” I call him by his nickname again, knowing what it does to him.
The grip on my jaw tightens by a fraction before he puts the slightest bit of pressure for my face to be aligned with his.
We are so close, our noses almost touch.
With the small height difference, Zayn is looking down at me, his forehead resting on mine.
Just when I think he may kiss me again, we’re interrupted.
“There you two are!” A man’s voice comes from behind me.
Zayn peers up. Whoever he sees causes his eyes to briefly close and a heavy sigh to leave his mouth. The moment is over as he removes his forehead from mine but not before giving my hand a light squeeze, which I perceive as him feeling whatever tension is between us too.
Turning around, I find Logan grinning, walking toward us from the opening of the tent.
“It’s almost time for the interview,” he says, handing us both a sheet of paper with an agenda on it. We missed some of the earlier activities, but we still have the interview, followed by a small photoshoot, and then free time to do any activities here.
“Here, this has a few of the specifics on it,” I say, turning to Zayn and handing him a piece of paper from my bag.