14. Chapter Fourteen #3
It shouldn’t be that hard, considering I’ve already built Prince Charming’s persona, and he was enticing enough that meeting him for a handful of minutes made his parents ask to bring him along. But there’s a part of me that feels like this—taking on this job—is dangerous. Not physically, but…
Because it means I’ll be with Mr. Perfect all week, knowing it’s fake. And I’m not sure my heart can take that kind of long-term pain.
One date is one thing. But seven days of looking at Aaron and pretending I’m in love with him? Seven days of kisses and dancing and laying out in the sun and being in love ? Can I manage to protect my heart while selling this man to his parents like a Disney Vacation?
When I get in, Noah’s in his pajamas on the couch, playing Zelda again, a box of half-eaten pizza on the coffee table. My books are scattered everywhere and I think there’s a piece of cheese hanging off my copy of Bre Rose’s Chasing My Bliss.
Gross.
“How’d it go?” he asks, not bothering to look at me. His gaze is intently focused on his battle.
“He offered me forty grand to be his boyfriend for the week.”
The controller falls out of Noah’s hand as he turns to look at me slowly, his mouth agape.
“Are you fucking serious?”
I nod as I sit on the couch next to him.
“Dead.”
Noah pauses the game and shoves the controller aside.
“You said yes, right?”
“Noah…” I groan, running my hands through my hair and over my face.
“You said yes, right?” he says, his voice kicking up a notch.
“I said I’d think about it,” I say, my heart dropping.
“What the fuck is there to think about, Jake? It’s fucking forty-grand. ”
“It’s a week!” I say. “I’m not even sure Foxy can give me a week off, with how booked I am, I’d need to call her and—”
“I’ll cover your bookings.” He says the words like they are the easiest thing in the world.
“Noah, no, you can’t, I have like—”
“It doesn’t matter. This is a gig of a lifetime, Jake. It’s your chance to live out your own Pretty Woman dreams, man. With your dream book boyfriend. And get paid for it.”
I consider his words.
“It’s insane.”
“Yeah, and when do you ever do anything crazy?” He shifts his position. I scowl at his words because the way he says them is like an insult. He’s right, I don’t do anything crazy. There’s a reason for that.
I’m not impulsive or spontaneous. I like knowing how things are going to go. It’s why I make sure to prepare in advance for my jobs, because I don’t like surprises. Yes, I can improvise and think on my feet, but I don’t like feeling out of control or like things are getting away from me.
Especially because those moments I did let myself “live a little” came back to bite me in the ass, and I believe in not making the same mistake twice. Or three times.
“It’s one week, Jake. I can handle it. Foxy can handle it.”
“Oh, really? You can handle it?” I bite. His eyebrows furrow.
“Yes.”
“And what if I get a gig with a guy? You know, last minute,” I say, pursing my lips.
While I might be into cock, my brother has never shown any inkling or interest in men.
Ever. Though he’s supportive of me and my shit, and he’s not a bad actor himself, I don’t think he could fake being gay or bi for a second.
“I said I can handle it,” he says defensively. “And there’s always the option to reschedule them with someone else. Like Scout or Bradley, or—”
“I don’t know, Noah… what if it backfires?”
His eyes widen. “How the fuck is it going to backfire?”
“What if they figure out we’re lying and he doesn’t get what he wants?” I say shakily. “And then tells me I’m not getting a dime because I didn’t do my job.”
“Not going to happen, Jake. You’re too good for that. If anyone can pull off this kind of thing, it’s you. You’re the best fake boyfriend, I know.”
His words are sincere. Genuine.
“You play pretend all the time for Bella. It’s no different than that.”
But it is different.
Bella never tells people I’m her boyfriend. She never shows me off to her co-workers and pretends she’s in love with me.
And I’ve never fucked Bella.
Okay, well technically I’ve never fucked Aaron, either, but I’ve definitely had his cock in my mouth and his fingers in my ass, so that counts. I think.
Noah grabs my phone, and I don’t have a chance to stop him before he’s punching numbers in.
“Hey!” I reach for it, but he leans away and I hear the ring tone.
“Who are you calling?” I bite, but the minute I hear Foxy’s voice, I panic and freeze.
“Hey Foxy, it’s Noah,” he says sweetly.
“I have a huge, huge favor to ask.”
She sighs on the other end. “Must be huge if you’re calling me after my work hours have ended, Noah.”
“So, I am planning a surprise vacation for Jacob,” he says, smiling at me. “You know the guy hasn’t been on a vacation in like… I don’t know, years.”
“He’s never taken a vacation since working for me,” she deadpans. He snaps his fingers.
“Precisely. Which is why I really really need you to give him the week off, starting—”
He looks at me. My mouth moves of its own volition as I whisper. “Tomorrow.”
He raises an eyebrow, shaking his head. “Tomorrow. There’s a last minute cancellation at this swanky lodge, and I need to know asap so I can book him.
It’s a… surprise.” He pauses. “Oh! And I can cover his dates while he’s gone, since I know it’s last minute and we can give some of them the option to select another date, if they don’t want me. ”
There’s silence before she speaks.
“You’ve given this some thought,” she says, and I can’t tell if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.
“Yeah, I mean… he’s my brother and I love him, and I just… the guy deserves a break, you know? He works his ass off.” His voice is steady and I hear the truth in his words.
She sighs. “He is a workoholic.”
A workaholic? Excuse me!
I open my mouth to object, but stop the minute her voice softens.
“One week. But only because he’s got the vacation time accrued, but this is it, Noah. Seven days is all I can give him on such short notice.”
Holy shit, she said yes. Foxy said yes.
Noah grins.
“You’re a fucking saint, baby.”
“Yes. I know. Clearly.”
A moment later there’s a hang up. All I can hear is my heartbeat, my heavy breath.
She said yes. I’m apparently going on vacation as of tomorrow.
“You’re welcome,” Noah says, wrapping his arm around me, pulling me out of my stupor. I hug him and the relief hits me instantly from what he’s done.
“Thank you,” I say, tears prickling the edges of my eyes.
Noah hugs me tight. “Don’t thank me,” he says humorously. Then his voice turns serious. “Just promise me you’ll have fun and enjoy it, okay? Be the best fake boyfriend there is, but enjoy it.”
I nod as his words hit me. “I promise.”
He slams my phone against my chest. “Better tell your boyfriend.”
I swallow hard at those words. It’s just a job.
Like any other job before. At least that’s what I tell myself.
I find my text thread with Aaron and change his contact info from Aaron Smith to Baby. It’ll be more believable if someone picks up my phone. It’ll also help with my method approach if I focus on pretending he is my boyfriend, I’ll sell the image better.
I tap out a text.
Me: Okay.
I wait for a brief moment, and soon enough, the text bubbles start to flash.
Baby: Okay? You’ll go with me?
I let out a deep breath and type my response, hoping I haven’t just made a grave mistake.
Me: Yes, baby. I’ll go to the beach house with you.
No time like the present to start preparing for my role as Aaron Everett’s romance novel-writing boyfriend who’s madly in love with him.
Aaron sends a string of text messages with happy emojis, heart emojis, and even a flame emoji.
I smile.
Baby: You won’t regret this. I promise.
I send him a thumbs up, hoping he’s right.