Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ASLAN
I have no fucking idea what’s happening right now.
Am I fucked? I don’t think that’s the right word.
I guess there were more holes than I thought in my plan. Still, I never expected that she’d back out of our agreement this fast.
I know the fast heart palpitations have nothing to do with my mother’s nagging.
I can deal with that. The girlfriend sham is just to avoid her.
The sheer panic isn’t about my family situation at all.
It’s the fear of losing the little time I have to convince Keaton that we can be more than just coworkers and friends.
And how am I supposed to fix that when she’s about to jump out the window? If I tell her the truth, she might quit or…what will she do?
“You won’t?” I croak.
I can’t force her to do it, but what if I kneel and beg her to give us a chance?
My eyes don’t leave hers as I try to figure out where I went wrong.
Everything?
Did I come on too strong?
Lysander’s stupid comments scared her. I take a deep breath, wondering what I’m going to say. Keaton gives me a pointed glare as if she’s issuing a warning. I hold my breath because what if I’m reading her wrong? Am I reacting to the unfounded fear?
“I can pretend whatever you want, but I won’t play this game with the rule that you have to fall in love with me.” My shoulders relax after she speaks.
Good, this isn’t a lost cause. I just need to tread carefully. “They can go. I just added them to make things more interesting. I know how much you like challenges.”
Her nostrils flare. “You’re making things weird to make me feel better?”
My intention isn’t to piss her off, but it’s obvious that I’m failing.
“Think of this as The Amazing Race . Our team needs to fly to Hawaii. We participate in all the events that my cousins organized.” I grin at her before I continue, “Some of them might be competitions so we’ll have to be ready.
We’ll share pleasantries with some of the annoying family members—we all have them.
You’ll enjoy hanging with others. The end goal is to convince everyone that we’re madly in love. Do we have an understanding?”
I don’t even know what we’ll be faking in this game anymore. That I’m with her. That I’m not falling in love—or discovering that I might’ve fallen long ago.
“That sounds more like the deal I’m willing to establish.”
“Good, should we shake on it or?—”
I’m about to say kiss on it when she interrupts me. “We follow the few rules that we set up. No sex?—”
I have to stop her right there. “Kissing has to be part of the agenda. We should be practicing it to make it believable.”
She huffs, pulls out her tablet from her tote. “Fine. I’ll add moderate PDA to this agreement.”
The way she says moderate makes it sound sterile. It’s as if she’s saying, ‘We’ll go to the lab, wear gloves and use special tools—make sure to disinfect your mouth and other parts. There’ll be no contact. We’ll be wearing surgical masks, and if I’m lucky, we might share a flirty look.’
As if I’m going to follow her nonsense. There has to be a way to break her rule.
I want to explore every inch of her, not only her mouth.
Make passionate love to her. Grind our naked, sweaty bodies against each other as we break into a million pieces while reaching the stars.
She’ll have the most powerful orgasm filled with intense pleasure.
“You’re a tough negotiator, Nealy…” but I can still win this round.
“I feel like you’re mocking me.” Her focus is on whatever she’s scribbling on the tablet.
Smirking, I lift my arms. “I wouldn’t dare to do such a thing.”
“Sign this contract.” She hands me the tablet.
If she weren’t all worked up, I’d tease her about her handwriting and how unofficial this document looks. I feel like the verbal agreement is plenty. Why does she need me to sign this contract? Is she having doubts? Should I stop this before we fail?
“So, we’re still doing this? Are you sure? If you’re going to change your mind, do it now. We’ll abide by your decision.”
She stares at the tablet for a few seconds and then looks at me.
“As long as you don’t add more preposterous clauses to this agreement, I’m good.
We will end it once I move to Arizona. You can just tell your family that long-distance isn’t for you and that you’re too brokenhearted.
Your mother might get off your case for another ten to twelve years. ”
I don’t correct her and say fourteen. Does it even matter?
This doesn’t have to end. I have enough time to attempt the impossible—make her fall in love with me.
We spend several hours of the day together.
Mostly working, but sometimes we just hang out while having a meal together.
If everything fails, before she leaves, I’ll tell her the truth.
I can’t imagine my life without her in it.
And though this realization is new, it’s true.
For the past couple of years, she’s been the person I reach out to when I have good news or need to vent because I’m having a fucked-up day. Until yesterday, I never thought about why I was always looking for her. Now, I know that she became my right-hand because I trust her more than anyone else.
I rub my chin while pretending to read her contract one more time. “It seems like everything is here,” I say, reaching out for her digital stylus to sign it.“Are you emailing me a copy?”
“Of course.”
I set the tablet on the table. “Okay, now that we settled everything, I think we need to start breaking the ice.”
“What ice? We’re already well acquainted.” She fidgets with her fingers while sucking on her bottom lip.
She’s so damn adorable when she’s edgy. It makes me want to kiss her. I shouldn’t do it, but I can’t fight the craving anymore.
I take a step closer to her. “Have you noticed that you get nervous when I’m nearby?”
“I-I don’t.” Her voice sounds like a screech.
Should I tell her that every time she squeaks, or screeches, it’s because she’s either anxious or lying? I choose not to upset her even more. Instead, I lift my hand, cupping her jaw in my palm.
“Do I make you nervous, Keat?” I trail my thumb lazily along her delicate skin.
“N-no,” she stutters.
I bend, gently placing my lips against hers. She releases a breathless giggle. “What are you doing?”