Chapter 10
MALIA
The alarm on my phone wakes me at eight a.m. I stir and wonder why my bed feels wrong. Too soft. Something is off. I draw in a long breath, then stretch an arm and open my eyes.
To find that I am snuggled up with Caleb Gallagher on the couch in his gaming room.
I give a little gasp. I don’t want to move from this beautiful place that is Caleb’s arms, but my phone is playing a soft wake-up song that’s going to get louder if I don’t find it quickly.
I sit up, pushing hair out of my face and scanning for my phone.
Despite the song getting louder, it’s still muffled.
A clue that it’s probably between the couch cushions.
I move carefully, hoping not to wake Caleb.
I’m not quite sure what to say when I’m sleep mussed, my hair is clearly on the path to being a bird’s nest, and I probably have makeup smudged around my eyes.
Let’s not even talk about what my breath smells like, given that I downed half a Vincenzo’s pizza last night and then didn’t brush my teeth.
I highly doubt I’m pulling off cute, sleepy girl like Eva Mendes did in Hitch.
I shove my hand down between one of the cushions and finally come up successful. I turn off the alarm.
“Do we have to get up already?” a husky voice asks, and I whirl to see Caleb eyeing me with groggy eyes, a half smile, and doing “adorable sleepy man” with flying colors.
“You probably don’t.” I try to smooth down my hair and end up just twisting it and pulling it over one shoulder. It will have to do. “I’m guessing that showering and putting on a suit is only going to take about twenty minutes tops.”
He chuckles and shifts to sit up as well.
“You would be right.” He rubs a hand over his face and through his hair.
And somehow he looks as though the messy look of his hair is entirely on purpose.
This isn’t fair, and also I’m going to melt into the couch at how much I want to lean over and kiss him right now.
“I, however, still have to drive home and do hair and makeup so we can get to the wedding on time.”
He pretends to study me seriously. “You’re saying you weren’t planning on wearing my hoodie?”
I laugh. “Not exactly.”
“I think it looks great on you.”
Heat floods my cheeks. “Perfect, I’ll wear it home, then.” Yeah, I sounded totally cool and a little flirty but not too obvious.
His smile widens. “Fine with me.” He stands, then offers me a hand to help me up. “How much time do you need before I pick you up?” he asks as I stand up next to him.
He’s still holding my hand. I don’t want to leave. I mentally calculate how quickly I can get wedding-guest presentable. “An hour,” I say reluctantly. “An hour and fifteen minutes counting the drive—Wait! Your car is still at my house. I’ll have to come and get you.”
“Then you’d have even less time to get ready. What kind of boyfriend does that to his girlfriend?” he points out, shaking his head.
Lots of guys, actually. But it doesn’t surprise me that Caleb is basically horrified by the very idea.
And I know, I know, I know that he means the fake kind of boyfriend and girlfriend, and still after waking up next to him, the words make me suck in a breath.
Especially after last night, I want it to be real.
The man watched an old romcom just because I mentioned it and then acted like it was no big deal. He’s freaking perfect.
“So,” I manage to say. “That’s what we’ve decided to call it.”
“Guess we had a talk about it last night after everyone was asking.” He grins at me.
“That was smart of us.”
“I’ll get a LetsRide over to your house,” he says, speaking of the rideshare app.
“Caleb—”
“No arguing.”
Ugh. He’s so good. I have no chance of not falling head over heels for him.
“I had a lot of fun last night,” he continues, not giving me another chance to argue even if I wanted to.
“So did I,” I say quickly. Also, please note we are still holding hands.
“Do it again?” he asks.
“Absolutely.” I nod so fast and enthusiastically that I’m in danger of nodding my head right off.
He pulls me into a hug, resting his head against mine.
I am in heaven. Total heaven. Maybe I will wear this hoodie to the wedding just so I can stay right here up until the moment we have to leave. It’s so much more convenient anyway! Caleb wouldn’t have to take a LetsRide anywhere.
“See you in an hour or so?” he says, voice still gravelly from sleep.
“Yeah.” I don’t move. He doesn’t either.
He chuckles and finally lets me go. “Sorry, guess I’m not fully awake. Hope I don’t fall asleep in the middle of the ceremony.”
I giggle. Then, because I’m going to humiliate myself if I don’t stage an intervention for myself, I step away from him.
“I really need to go if I’m going to be ready in time.
” I drag myself farther from him to gather my clothes, which I left on the stiff couch in the living room, and get my keys from the bookcase next to the door where Caleb dropped them last night.
He leans against the doorway of the game room, watching me when I leave. His hands are in the pockets of his sweats, and he looks … Mmmmmm. There is just no other way to describe it.
I wave as I pull open the door, and he waves back, smiling. I’m giddy right now, so I can’t even imagine how wide the grin is splitting my cheeks. I pull the door shut behind me and give a quiet squeal.
I cannot believe that agreeing to be Caleb’s fake girlfriend for a wedding totally worked.
Law
Saw Malia’s car at Caleb’s *very* late last night. It’s possible he isn’t lying about dating her.
Devin
How late
Law
Caleb
Bro
How in the world did you see Malia’s car at my apartment
Law
Saw it on my way back from getting chocolate for Carlie. That dark chocolate caramel stuff she likes from Target.
Caleb
My house is not on the way back from Target.
Jett
Caleb
Also you would have to drive THROUGH my parking lot to have seen her car.
Law
I was avoiding construction
Jett
Devin
Caleb
We were gaming.
Law
Caleb
Bro. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for a wedding or something.
Law
Carlie
For once, could you date a girl for longer than five minutes before she spends the night at your house?
Caleb
I take this to mean there is no bro code after all
And I *have* been dating Malia for longer than five minutes. A lot longer.
Carlie
Please
I’m your twin.
I believe that you and Malia have known each other a while but are not dating.
You brought her to the wedding to keep Mom from setting you up.
Caleb
We were gaming last night. Cross my heart.
Carlie
Then why was she leaving your house in your hoodie…
Caleb
Thought you had hair and makeup this morning early. When did you find time to spy on me?
Carlie
Ava saw her leaving when she went to get us all coffee.
Caleb
Did she have to drive through the parking lot to avoid construction too?
Carlie
Saw her at the light on Kirby.
Caleb
Carlie
I won’t tell Mom you tried to fake her out since I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be real soon.