Chapter 27
SELENA
I’m still shaken by everything Grayson revealed. I can’t believe Lila would use and hurt Big Mike like she did. Why would anyone do that to another person?
Revenge has never been my style, but Lila, she needs to go. Big Mike deserves some peace and if the only way he’ll get it is by me and Grayson Rhodes pretending to be together, then that’s what we’re doing.
“We going in or what?” Letty asks.
“You guys go ahead. I need to talk to Grayson first.”
My words are a surprise to me too.
“Segura?” Jess asks, wanting to check that I’m sure I want to do this.
“Segura,” I reply. I’m very sure.
Both Letty and Jess exit his car. He’s glaring at me from behind the wheel. I’m hyperaware of all the people walking past us, trying to look inside. I don’t start talking until both doors are shut.
“I wish you would’ve told me all this before. It’s a lot to process.” Almost too much. I glance down at my hands and I realize I’m wringing them. “If I’m angry hearing all this, I can only imagine how you feel about someone mistreating your friend so horribly.”
I take a deep breath and prepare to meet his cold stare. But when I look up, the blue in his eyes has melted so much I almost don’t recognize him. They’re light and soft, like blueberry cotton candy. That can’t be right.
I lose my train of thought and need to look away before I can continue.
“Alright so I know you don’t like me,” I say, watching people looking our way, whispering.
“I know we’re never going to be friends.
And I know you don’t want be here with me.
” When I glance at him, he’s arching his left eyebrow but doesn’t contradict me.
“However you feel about me, however I feel about you, we’re putting that aside for tonight because we’re going in there to convince her and everyone else that I’m your girlfriend and she doesn’t stand a chance at being with you ever again. Understand?”
One corner of his mouth twitches and I don’t know if it’s because he’s going to laugh at me or argue with me. He does neither of those things and simply nods once.
“Good. Okay, since we’re doing this, we should set some rules.” That’s what usually happens in my favorite romance books.
“Why?”
Ugh, why can’t he just agree?
“So there’s no confusion,” I reply
“About?”
“What if...I mean, PDA or no PDA?”
“PDA.”
He sounds so confident, my lips part and my heart starts beating out of rhythm.
“Okay,” I swallow. “Then, um, things might happen.”
“What things?” he asks, straight up smirking at me now, but I won’t let him trip me up.
“Well, I might...um, I might touch you or hold your hand or maybe even...you know.”
Please don’t make me elaborate.
“I don’t know.” His smirk grows. “Explain it to me.”
My face feels warm and somehow I know this won’t be the only time I blush tonight. Regardless, my resolve is set.
“I might have to kiss you,” I inform him as though this is a business transaction. “Will you be okay with that?”
“Where?”
“Where what?”
“Where will you kiss me?” I can hear the smile in his voice.
Nerves bubble in my chest, but I force the words out of my mouth. “Lips, cheek, wherever.”
“Wherever?”
My gaze snaps to his. He flashes me a wolfish grin and I feel warm all over.
Ignoring how my pulse is racing, I repeat my question, ignoring the insinuation in his. “So...will you be okay with that?”
“Will you?” he counters.
No. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve never done anything like this. I’ve never kissed anyone except him. But, I’m so angry about everything Big Mike went through!
“I asked you first,” I finally answer. Honestly though, I might be the worst person for this job. I’ve never been half of a couple. All I know is what I’ve read in romance books and what I’ve seen other people do!
Still, we need to convince this horrible girl. Maybe then she’ll leave Big Mike alone once and for all.
When I glance up, I meet two matching blue flames. I don’t understand the look he’s giving me, but it makes butterflies swirl in my stomach so violently, I might start to tremble.
“I can be convincing,” he states, voice rough and low and I want to hear him talk to me like that all night.
His eyes drop to my lips and when I lick them, his adams apple bobs up and down. His gaze lifts to meet mine and all the air rushes from my lungs.
I need to compose myself before we go inside that house. I don’t have time to be nervous.
“Alright.” I take a deep breath. “Let’s convince them.”
“Wait.”
Before I can get out of his car, Grayson Rhodes holds my wrist and keeps me in place. His grip is strong, firm, warm.
Meeting his gaze, I’m surprised by what I see.
Because for the second time tonight, he looks uncomfortable.
I can’t help wonder if he’s nervous about this whole thing too.
The confidence that he exudes in every single thing he does is nowhere to be seen right now.
For some reason that makes me feel better.
“Are you nervous?” I ask because apparently I cannot control my mouth around him.
“No.” He looks offended. “You’re the one—” he stops, scowls, then clears his throat. “Look, this? It’s unusual for me.”
“What is?”
He exhales quietly. “Asking for help.”
“You didn’t ask,” I point out.
His eyebrows come together in exasperation. It makes me smile.
“Now that I think about it, maybe I shouldn’t do any of this unless you ask me nicely,” I grin.
I pretend to contemplate that. I’m kidding, of course. I’m doing this for Big Mike. But there’s something about annoying Grayson Rhodes that I truly enjoy. When he kind of glowers, kind of looks a little dangerous, yet I know he would never hurt me. Don’t ask me how I know, I just do.
He runs two hands through his dark hair. Cranes his neck side to side. Scowls. All while I’m just grinning.
“Will you...help me?” he grinds out through gritted teeth. “Please.”
I beam up at him. “Of course! I’d be happy to help you, Rhodes.”
“Let’s go,” he growls.
“Wait!” This time, I grab him. Just as quickly though, I release my hold when he stares at my hand on his forearm. “Just to be clear, you’re more bothered by asking me for a favor than you are by pretending that we’re...you know…”
“Together? Dating? Fucking?” he provides with an amused twist to his lips. So apparently the tables turn quickly around here.
“Yes,” I squeak. My mouth goes dry again. I should really carry a bottle of water when I’m around him. “Yup. Yes. All that stuff.”
He’s smirking now. “I’m not bothered.”
That Grayson Rhodes level of confidence has resurfaced. It would be awe inspiring if it wasn’t so infuriating.
“You were a second ago,” I argue.
“You’re projecting, Alvarez.”
“What?! No I—”
He’s smiling fully now. And there’s dimples. Two of them. Super cute ones too.
“Listen,” he says, sobering, that teasing smile gone. “What you’re doing? The fact that you’re here? I appreciate it, okay?”
That’s not what I expected him to say. I must look confused because he elaborates.
“I don’t date. I’m never with the same girl twice. You and I, we were already seen at Leo’s Burgers and our last game. Now, we’re here. That’s enough. At no point should you do something that you find uncomfortable.”
His concern makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. “Aww, are you worried about me?” I tease. My smile makes him frown, which in turn makes me laugh.
“The only thing I’m worried about is having you think this is more than what it is. I’m not looking to trade one stalker for another.”
“What!?” I gasp. The warm, fuzzy feelings dissipate in an instant. They’re quickly replaced by scandalized fury. “I’m not—I wouldn’t—fuck you, Rhodes!”
Oops, where did that come from? I’ve never said that. To anyone. Ever.
“We’re not doing that either, sweetheart.”
I want to slap that superior look off his stupid, condescending face. “Whatever,” I mutter.
I have two choices here: get out of this car and leave or get out of this car and do something to help Big Mike. Honestly, I can’t walk away without at least trying to help him. I just can’t.
I take a deep breath and turn to face him. One side of his mouth is curved up in amusement. I narrow my eyes.
“Once we exit this car, we’re officially on a date—fake date.”
His expression is one of pure boredom. I expect him to yawn any minute. “You got more rules?”
“Just one.”
I watch as he arches an eyebrow, but gives me his undivided attention. A tiny voice in the back of my head whispers how much I’m enjoying his eyes on me. The more reasonable part ignores that silly notion.
“You’re going to be nice to me.”
He laughs then. Grayson Rhodes is laughing. I’d laugh along with him because he has a great laugh. He really does. Confident. Genuine. Distinctly male.
The problem is he’s laughing at me.
“I won’t date anyone who doesn’t treat me right,” I insist. In theory. I mean I’ve never actually been on a date or dated, but he doesn’t know that.
His laughter dies down. He smirks at me, but I’m scowling back.
“Whatever you say, sweetheart,” he winks and exits the car.
What am I getting myself into?