Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
C ade
Macklin: Your fake girlfriend bumped into her ex at Black Jack’s. You didn’t hear it from me.
Me: What happened? Is she okay?
Aaron: Dude, I thought it was fake.
Macklin: Shit! I thought I posted the message on a personal chat.
Me: Nope, it’s our group chat.
Luc: Is the ex a problem?
Me: He wants her back
Aaron: Does she want to get back together with him or something? Is she using you to make him jealous?
I hadn’t thought of that option, but Annie doesn’t seem like the type of girl to play games. Even though I am clearly not a good judge of character because I didn’t believe Scarlett would cheat after everything I’d done for her.
Me: I don’t think so. Annie doesn’t seem like that kind of girl.
Macklin: You just met her. Don’t let your guard down.
Great. My friends are already worried about me and I’m not even in a real relationship.
My phone buzzes as I’m about to walk into class. It’s the first day back from break and campus is busy, since most students don’t start skipping classes until the third or fourth week of the semester. I check my phone to see a message from Annie.
Annie: Wanna meet for coffee? I think we should be seen on campus together
Me: Sure. I have a break in about fifty minutes. Does Cup of Java work?
Annie: See you there
During class I can’t help but worry I’m being used. It shouldn’t matter because Annie is helping me too, but it does. I think we’ve built a strong connection and I’m catching feelings for her, aside from the fact I want to rip her clothes off.
My class finishes and I head toward Cup of Java.
I bump into Annie at the entrance. I haven’t seen her since the farm and our meeting is awkward. We have a whole social media thing going where we’ve been tagging each other and sending cute messages, but being in person is different. The last time we saw each other we practically mauled each other. She took off and didn’t want to face what was really happening. At least that’s my take on the situation.
“Hey.” I wave. Do I hug her? Kiss her?
“Hey.” She leans in and she goes for the. . .I think it’s going to be a hug so I hug her, and she pecks my lips unexpectedly. The whole interaction is off.
“Do you want to go in and have a drink?” I ask.
“Yes, I need coffee,” she yawns. “I got used to taking it easy over break. I’m exhausted and it isn’t even noon.”
“Me too,” I agree.
We head over to the cashier. Annie orders a mocha latte. I go for a regular latte since the season is starting up again, I have to watch my sugar consumption.
She takes off her winter coat. She’s wearing a heather-gray Henley and a pair of tight jeans. The first few buttons on her shirt are open. The fabric hugs her chest like a glove. It also reveals her perfect creamy skin.
I insist on paying for our drinks. We take a seat at the back of the coffee shop, since it isn’t too busy back there.
“How was the rest of your vacation?” Annie asks as she gets herself settled at the table.
I place my jacket on the back of the chair and take the seat across from her.
“It was nice to see some of my old friends. Mom was kind of depressed, but I forced her out to a local party New Year’s Eve. She had a good time, and it lifted her spirits. And you?”
“Boring,” she chimes. “I met up with friends too, but Mom wasn’t around much. I started to convince my father he needs to leave her. It’s all very complicated.” She blows out a breath, and I watch her breasts rise and fall. Shit, I shouldn’t have done that.
“Did you see Ford at all?” I ask with nonchalance because I seem to be a glutton for punishment. I already know the answer.
“Not over break. I bumped into him last night,” she offers. She isn’t trying to cover up or lie like Scarlett used to do. I take it as a good sign.
“And. . .” I wait.
“He was being typical Ford. He’s set his sights on me again. Now I’ve probably become a mission for him. He doesn’t like failure,” she explains.
“Is his father still helping your dad with the lawsuit?” I ask.
“He is. Daddy thinks his firm takes on a certain amount of discount cases a year to show losses for tax purposes,” she explains.
“I mean, that could make sense.” I shrug.
“And have your feelings changed where Ford is concerned?” I swallow hard.
She doesn’t answer right away. “Can I share something personal with you?” she whispers, leaning over the table. I try to keep my gaze at eye level, even with the cleavage she’s showing me.
“We’ve already shared a lot about each other’s lives. I don’t see why not,” I reply and sip my coffee.
“Ford was my first. Giving him that part of me was important. I wasn’t the type of girl to jump from guy to guy. Ford was sweet and very handsome,” she says.
I shift in my seat, hating she thinks that ass is hot.
“He was a real charmer. Problem was, he kept getting drunk and acting stupid. He cheated on me a bunch of times. Then he’d apologized profusely, saying he was a young dumbfuck.” She giggles. “Trust me, it isn’t funny but looking back on the situation makes me feel so stupid.”
“I can relate. Scarlett and I were together since sophomore year. Her dad is an absent retired football player. Her mom is too busy for her, so I would bring her home with me for the holidays. It worked out well because, as you know, my parents aren’t big on celebrating. She went away with us on trips. She kept me busy but then her dad started drinking again and Scarlett started acting out,” I share. It isn’t the whole story, but no one knows the whole story. “I tried to be there for her, but it was like she was bent on screwing up her life. Not just our relationship but school stuff too. Her marks dipped. She was hanging out with people who were up to no good. I tried to steer her right. Sometimes I thought it was working, but I was very wrong.”
“Tough,” Annie says.
“Yeah, Scar keeps texting me. I have a soft spot for her because of everything she’s been through. She uses it against me. I’ve told her repeatedly to leave me alone. She knows I’ve moved on,” I relay to Annie, staring into her blue eyes. An omission isn’t a lie and I’m leaving certain facts out.
Annie swallows. “I told Ford the same thing.”
“Doesn’t seem like either of them are getting the memo,” I deadpan as a group of students come to sit beside us. Most of them are girls. I catch them checking me out.
“I see you have some admirers,” Annie whispers.
“That happens a lot around here. It sounds conceited but it’s an occupational hazard,” I explain.
“Which is why your dad was talking about puck bunnies because he thought I was one,” she states.
“That’s what he thought. I don’t understand him. You’re nothing like them,” I tell her.
“What does that mean? Tell me what they’re like,” she insists. The conversation is getting weird, but I roll with it.
“For starters they like to say they slept with a star athlete,” I whisper. “They’ll do anything to date one of us. They’re easy and usually pretty. This all sounds bad,” I apologize.
She stands from the table.
“Uh, did I offend you? Sorry,” I say but then she’s walking over to me.
“I’m not offended, Cade.” She moves to sit in my lap unexpectedly. “We need to put on a little show. If we are a hot new couple, we need to act the part. Everyone here knows who you are. We want word to get out,” she whispers against my lobe. Her hot breath sends shivers down my spine, but having her ass in my lap gives me a semi. She shifts a little and wraps an arm around me.
“Annie,” I say a little breathless.
“We should kiss,” she suggests against my lips.
My gaze falls to her lips. My body responds to how close she is. I haven’t hooked up with anyone in months, because Scar and I stopped sleeping together for a while before we broke up. Then I went home with Annie for Christmas. I got propositioned back home but I was still thinking of Annie, so I didn’t take those girls up on their offers. Right now, I’m horny as hell and her shifting around in my lap isn’t helping my situation.
I can’t deny her. She seals our lips. Familiar heat crawls down my spine, causing my cock to harden. Her lips are warm and pliable, and she tastes like her strawberry lip gloss. We’ve become quite good at this. I want to say it’s our previous tries, but our chemistry has been off the charts from the start.
She slows the kiss. This kiss felt different than the others. It was for show. Annie is clearly in control. When she pulls back, I know she feels my cock pressed into her legs. I’m rock-hard and I’m a big guy.
“Is that. . .”
“Annie, I haven’t been laid in a long while. I have a pretty girl pressed up against me. I’m only human.”
She swallows and stands.
I shift in the chair and adjust myself, using my hoodie to hide my situation.
“Are you okay with continuing this ruse, Cade?” she whispers.
“Yes.” I don’t need to think about it. I’m done with Scarlett. I won’t be anyone’s doormat.
“Okay, good. So can we meet for coffee again tomorrow?” she suggests.
“Sure,” I say to her.
“Good.” She slips on her jacket and places her backpack on her shoulder. She walks up to me and gives me a quick kiss. “Have a good rest of the day, lover.”
She makes me laugh. “You too, baby.”
Her cheeks flush at the endearment. I like that she can’t hide what she’s feeling.
Annie walks away. I catch the girls at the next table watching us. I wave to them, but I don’t dare get up because my cock is still hard. I think of my grandma back in Korea. We’ve only met a handful of times but she is a very sweet person, and that’s all it takes to cure my situation.
I grab my bag and head to my afternoon classes. I can’t help but think of how much I like talking with Annie and sharing what’s on my mind. I’ve never done this with a girl before and it feels different. It’s nice and Annie is sweet and so pretty. I go down the rabbit hole, thinking of how badly I want to take Annie to bed. My dirty thoughts spiral. A crazy idea hits me head-on. Annie doesn’t want a relationship but since we are fake dating, wouldn’t it make sense if we at least got some friendly benefits from the situation? Yes, it’s perfect. Now to convince Annie.