Chapter 15
Marissa
I lie in bed, the early morning light filtering in through the curtains, radiating a soft glow on the room. But despite the peacefulness of my surroundings, my mind is anything but calm. I toss and turn, my thoughts consumed by one thing and one thing only: Bryce.
The events of the previous day whirl around in my mind, leaving me feeling dizzy and disoriented. The fake marriage plan, the ground rules, the innuendoes ... it's all too much to process, especially since I'm harboring feelings for Bryce that I can't seem to shake.
I groan, burying my face in my pillow as frustration bubbles up inside me. Why did I agree to this insane plan in the first place? What was I thinking? I know I should have put my foot down and refused, but something about the desperation in Bryce's eyes, the susceptibility in his voice, made it impossible for me to say no.
But now, as I lie here in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I think that maybe I've made a huge mistake.
The notion of pretending to be married to Bryce, of putting on a charade for the world to see, fills me with a sense of dread, unlike anything I've ever experienced.
And then there's the other issue: my feelings for Bryce. It's no secret that I've always had a crush on him, ever since we were kids. But now, with this fake marriage hanging over my head, those emotions have amplified, morphing into something deeper and more complex than I ever thought possible.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Why does the heart have to be so damn complicated? Why can't I just shut off my feelings and pretend that Bryce is just a movie star who happens to be my best friend’s brother and nothing more?
How did I let myself get into this mess? And more importantly, how am I ever going to get out of it?
As I close my eyes and try to push aside my worries, the ringing of the doorbell pierces through the fog of my sleep-deprived mind.
Dragging myself out of bed, I stumble towards the door, my limbs heavy with exhaustion. It's a Saturday. Who in their right mind would be ringing my doorbell at this ungodly hour?
Swinging the door open, I'm met with the sight of Cindy standing on my doorstep, her arms crossed, and a look of concern etched across her face.
"Cindy? What are you doing here?" I mutter, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
She fixes me with a stern gaze, her expression indistinct. "I saw the news, Marissa. It's all over social media. You're getting married to my brother."
Oh dear.
My heart skips a beat, a ripple of panic streaming through my veins. "What? No, that's not ... I mean, it's not what it looks like," I stammer, my mind racing with a gazillion thoughts at once.
Cindy raises an eyebrow, her lips pursed in a disapproving frown. "Oh, really? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're about to make the biggest mistake of your life."
I shake my head, feeling the frustration welling up inside me. "You don't understand, Cindy. All of this is just a plan to help restore his image."
"Really? And you agreed to be involved in this craziness? What has gotten into you?"
"Nothing. I just want to help. Bryce is just ... he's misunderstood. He's not the person everyone thinks he is."
She scoffs, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, please. Spare me the sob story, Marissa. I've heard it all before. My brother is a grade-A jerk, and you're just setting yourself up for heartbreak if you think otherwise."
"You don't know him like I do. He's not as bad as you think. And besides, I can take care of myself."
Cindy shakes her head, her expression softening slightly. "Look, Marissa. I get it. You care about him. But you need to be careful. Bryce has a way of getting under your skin, and making you think he's something he's not. Just don't let your guard down around him, okay?"
"I won't. I promise."
I know Cindy is only saying all of this because she cares about me. I'm scared of plunging into this, but I have to do it. It's the only way to help Bryce dispel the gossip ruining his reputation.
"You have to be careful. Anyway, I have to be somewhere in a few minutes, so I'm leaving. Just make sure you take your time to really think about this."
I don't say anything because I don't exactly know how to respond. Sensing that the conversation is over, Cindy turns to leave, and I follow her down the stairs.
"Thanks for stopping by," I say, offering her a weak smile.
"No problem. Just remember what I said. Be careful."
I nod, grateful that she's looking out for me, even if her overprotective nature can be a bit much at times.
I watch Cindy walk down the steps and onto the sidewalk. Just then, the front door across the way swings open, and Bryce strides out. Cindy and I both startle at his sudden appearance. Talk about perfect timing.
Great.
He offers us a casual wave and a friendly greeting.
"Hey, ladies. What's up?"
"Bryce," I mutter, my voice coming out as little more than a whisper as I glance up at him. He flashes me a warm smile, his eyes glinting like a troublemaker, but Cindy's icy glare cuts through the air like a knife.
"Hi, Bryce," she says, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Fancy seeing you here."
He chuckles, unfazed by her hostility, as he steps closer. "Hey, sis. Long time no see."
Cindy rolls her eyes, her lips twisting into a scowl. "Cut it. I know what you're up to, and I won't stand for it. Marissa is my best friend, and if you so much as think about hurting her in any way, you'll have me to answer to."
"Relax, Mama Bear. It's all just an act. Marissa and I are just playing our parts."
I didn't need another reminder, but thank you very much.
No matter how much I may wish otherwise, Bryce will never see me as anything more than his sister's best friend. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but one I've come to accept.
"Right," I mutter, forcing a smile onto my face as I meet his gaze. "Just an act."
But as Bryce flashes me a knowing grin, butterflies erupt in my stomach. Living with Bryce and trying to pretend that I'm not insanely attracted to him will be the most difficult thing I've ever had to do.