13. Teddy
CHAPTER 13
TEDDY
Putting together an entire extravaganza for Valentine’s Day for a girl who isn’t even actually my girlfriend is probably the most insane thing I’ve ever done, but also something that’s brought me a joy I don’t even want to begin to think about.
Is it possible that me, the player who was always looking for my next one-night stand, actually likes— gasp— monogamy. The most ironic part of all being that I’m not even actually getting any ass.
Oh, how the tables have turned.
This morning I had a bouquet of flowers delivered to her, a bunch of random looking wildflowers if I had to guess. Not roses. Roses make me think of stuffy old ladies.
I also had breakfast sent to her—French toast from a local diner.
Parking outside her dorm, I start to panic, thinking about how I’ve gone way overboard.
I just … fuck. I want to make this special for her and me, even if this whole relationship is a farce, it’s the most serious thing I’ve ever had in my life, and I want to treat her right.
I think aliens have kidnapped my body . Please, for the love of God, I hope they don’t use an anal probe. I know it’s been a while, but I’d prefer to be the one doing the pegging, not being pegged, please and thank you, weird green aliens.
“Get yourself together,” I mutter to myself, gripping the steering wheel so tight I’m cutting off circulation.
Releasing it, I lean back in the seat and shoot Vanessa a text that I’m coming up. Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I eye the giant stuffed pink octopus with hearts I picked up at the drugstore along with the box of chocolates.
My phone buzzes as I get out of the car, and I’m not surprised to find the usual text from her insisting she’ll come down.
I never listen, and she never stops trying. It’s honestly amusing how stubborn we both are.
I head into the building, slipping in behind a group of girls. They giggle, batting their eyes. I flash them my winning smile and tip my head before I jog up the steps. Stepping onto Van’s floor, I spot her waiting for the elevator and grin. I walk carefully, silently over to her and stop beside her.
“I told you I was coming.”
“Ah!” she screams, flailing. “Don’t do that!” She swats at me. “You could’ve given me a heart attack.”
“Come on, now, have some faith. I need to keep you alive after all.”
She shakes her head, her breathing irregular as we step onto the elevator and head down.
“I still think this is dumb,” she mutters, crossing her arms. She’s dressed casually, like I told her to after her confession that an elaborate evening was the last thing she wanted. But with her arms crossed beneath her chest, I can’t help but admire the swell of her breasts in the cut of her v-neck shirt. She’s wearing a jacket over top, and jeans with sneakers.
“You know,” I pretend to pick dirt from beneath my blunt fingernails, “it’d be nice if my girlfriend would at least pretend to like to spend time with me.”
She rolls her eyes, fighting a smile. “Fake —meaning all of this is unnecessary. Seriously. You could’ve ignored the day all together.”
“Well, too bad. I’m not doing that.”
The door dings and I reach for her hand before they slide open. She stiffens for a second, but relaxes, putting on her game face when she sees the girls waiting to get on.
I’d be lying if I said a part of me didn’t feel a little hurt over that fact—that she can put on an act so easily in the face of others, but when it’s just the two of us, she balks at the idea of intimacy.
Because this isn’t real , my conscience taunts. She’s only doing what you should be—what you asked for .
I lead her outside and open the passenger door for her. She releases my hand and slips inside, those dark blue eyes flickering upward with a smile as she places the stuffed octopus and chocolate in her lap. But of course, it’s not a thank you that comes out of her mouth. No, she always has to surprise me. “Your car is so low to the ground my ass touches the asphalt. Is it worth having a car this fancy to get ass burn?”
I throw my head back and laugh, not having expected that at all to leave her mouth.
Leaning against the open car door, I cock my head to the side. “What kind of vehicle would you prefer, dear?”
She looks around the spotless interior—I have it detailed regularly. Eyes gliding back to me she clears her throat, her nose wiggling. “One not so … flashy. You know what they say about men and their flashy cars or too big trucks?”
“What’s that?” I inquire, already knowing where she’s going with this and eating it up like an ice cream sundae.
“They have small penises,” she whisper-hisses, flaring those blue eyes innocently.
I wet my lips with my tongue, smirking. “Trust me, babe. There’s nothing little about me, and definitely not my cock.”
A gasp flies out of her throat, her cheeks turning red, and I relish in my ability to render her speechless. I close the door and walk around the front of my car, slipping inside. Starting it up, the engine purrs like an exotic feline, and I grin as I turn my head to look at her.
“Maybe if you’re a good girl I’ll let you play with it.”
“With w-what?” she stutters, eyes wide. “Your dick?”
I laugh again, a fully-body belly laugh. God, this girl.
“The car, princess. Why would I be talking about my cock?”
Her cheeks grow even redder, and I chuckle as I drive away.
“You seriously brought me to an animal shelter?” Her voice kicks up in pitch as I park outside the brick building.
“Hey, it was your idea,” I remind her.
“I know. I guess I didn’t expect you to actually bring me to one.”
That pink octopus is still clutched firmly in her arms, and she keeps sniffing the top of its head.
“Are we going to go in or sit here?”
She nods eagerly, eyes lighting up. “Go in.”
“I’ll get the door,” I remind her, stepping out of the car and going around to open hers.
I offer her my hand and she takes it, leaving the octopus behind on the passenger seat.
Inside the building I wave at Mary, the lady who runs the shelter. I stopped by earlier to make sure it was okay for us to come and wrote out a donation check—not because I had to, but because I wanted to.
“What first?” I ask Vanessa. This is her day after all.
She rubs her hands together giddily. “Kitties.”
I chuckle, holding on tighter to her hand. There are separate areas for the cats and dogs, so I lead her through the correct doorway. Immediately, she drags me along to the first metal crate, crooning at the glowering cat inside who looks like he’d rather slit our throats than listen to her baby talk.
The notecard beside his crate says his name is Mittens.
“Such a sweet name for such a beastly looking creature,” I muse, staring into his yellow green eyes. He hisses at me and I rear back. “Bastard,” I chuckle, while Vanessa giggles at me.
She peers into every cage, speaking to each cat, before we move on to the dog room and she repeats the same process. We each take a dog for a walk and then play with them in a fenced in area attached to the shelter.
When we’re finished and heading back to my car, Vanessa’s cheeks glow with excitement as she beams up at me.
“This was amazing. Thank you.”
I nearly piss myself when she perches on her tiptoes and presses a quick kiss to my cheek.
“It was your idea,” I remind her, opening the passenger door.
She turns, staring at me so intently I start to squirm beneath the scrutiny. “Yeah, but you’re the one who listened.”
She crouches down and picks up the octopus, sitting with it in her lap again. Before I close the door, she looks at me with a smile. “What’s next?”
“I don’t have any other Valentine’s to compare this to, but … it’ll be hard for this one to ever be topped.” Vanessa gives me a slow, careful smile when I park outside her dorm. I see the hint of sadness in her eyes, the reminder that I’ve done all of this, and we’re not even actually together.
I feel a sting in my gut at her words, because one day in the future some other guy will be doing this for her, and it will be for real.
“I’m glad you liked it.” I rest my hands on the steering wheel, ignoring the temptation to take her face in my hands and kiss her like I did that night at Cree’s place.
“You know,” she tucks a strand of dark hair behind her ear, “I’m beginning to think you’re not the player everyone says you are.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Oh, trust me, I was worse than what they say but people change and maybe…” I pause, gathering my thoughts. “I don’t know. As much of a prick as my father is, I think maybe these months of strict orders have done me some good. I mean, at least I’m thinking with the right head for once.” I tap the side of my forehead.
She laughs. “Whatever it takes, I guess. But Teddy?”
“Mhmm?” I hum, leaning in closer to her, drawn in by her sweet scent of citrus and something vaguely flowery.
“You’re really not so bad.”
I’m shocked when she leans over the center console, brushing her lips lightly against mine. It’s not a kiss, I don’t know what it is, but before I can beg for more, she’s slipping out of the car with her stuffed octopus tucked under her arm and the chocolates clasped in her hands.
She looks back at me with a wink and I shake my head, fighting a smile.
She didn’t let me get the door.
Damn temptress knew what she was doing.