Chapter 28
twenty-eight
Reese
I turned on my headphones before starting my workout.
I dropped my bag into my locker, the sound drowned out by my music blaring in my ears.
Stepping into the weight room, I approached the machine I usually started on and set the weight.
But just as I gripped the handles, something pulled at the corner of my vision.
Through the large glass windows, her car caught my eye. It was Caroline pulling up out front. It was a fiery red, compact little thing that seemed almost like an extension of her indomitable spirit.
Even from this distance, I could see the concentrated look on her face as she attempted to parallel park, though “attempted” might be too generous a term.
I couldn’t help but grin, captivated by just how spectacularly bad she was at it.
It was as if she’d skipped the entire parallel park chapter in driver’s ed.
She inched backward and forward in a scattered shuffle.
Each try brought her no closer to the curb.
Honestly, it was kind of cute and oddly endearing.
I watched, amused, as her petite frame hunched over the wheel, her blonde hair falling around her shoulders in frustration.
After a few more minutes of this nonsense, I left my machine and pushed open the door as I stepped outside.
It was time for this embarrassing spectacle to end.
The glare of the sun did little to prepare me for the intensity of her gaze as it found mine through the windshield.
With a casual gesture, I motioned for her to roll down the window.
The window slid down slowly, and she slid her sunglasses from over her eyes to the top of her head.
"Yes?" she asked innocently, and I leaned closer, resting my hand on the top of her car.
"What exactly are you doing?" I questioned, doing my best not to laugh.
"Oh, nothing much," she said, like I was interrupting her. “The space just seems to be a little tight.”
"Oh yeah?" I grinned, glancing over at the oversized spot that could easily fit two of her cars. "Your car's so small it's practically a Hot Wheels. How can you be so bad at this?"
"You've been watching me?" she asked, glaring now.
"I was in the weight room," I said, nodding towards the gym. "You know, the one right in there with the large windows and unobstructed view of the parking lot."
"Well, you can go back in," she said, stubbornly. "I’ve got it."
"Step out of the car, Caroline. It has been painful to watch you do this."
Her gaze lingered on the rearview mirror, before she shifted the gear into park. "If you insist," she said. With a resigned sigh, she stepped out of the car, surrendering the driver's seat to me.
Slipping behind the wheel, I crammed myself in the tiny car. Effortlessly, I backed the car into the spot and within moments, it was nestled perfectly near the curb.
"How did you even pass driver’s ed?" I asked, handing her the keys with a smirk.
"Who said I passed?" she shot back, tossing a grin over her shoulder as she headed for the entrance.
"Wait, you’re joking… right?"
She rolled those ridiculously striking blue eyes, the keys jingling in her hand like she couldn’t be bothered by my existence.
"Obviously," she drawled. Then, with a sly smile, she added, "But I didn’t expect to run into you here. Squeezing in a quick workout before you’re stuck as my date all weekend? "
"Gotta look swoll in that tux because my date is gonna be a knockout. Some might even say she's way hotter than the bride."
"No one has ever said I'm prettier than Charlotte," she laughed.
"I find that hard to believe," I said, flashing her a dimple.
"Reese," she began, shaking her head, "don't you like brunettes anyway? Me and Charlotte are probably the complete opposite of what you'd normally go for."
It was true, I usually always went for brunettes, but honestly, none of that really mattered. Sometimes you meet someone and you just connect with them. For me, that usually just happened to be with brunettes.
"Things change," I said with a shrug.
"It doesn’t seem like it. And speaking of which, you should really let your 'fake' girlfriend know if you're going on real dates with these brunettes," she tossed over her shoulder.
"Word gets around fast in this town, and you could have messed up the entire plan.
" Her voice trailed off as she scanned her key card, and the door shut behind her.
"Damnit," I whispered to myself, patting down my pockets, realizing my keycard was inside. My knuckles tapped on the door as I peered through the glass, catching sight of Caroline pausing mid-stride, and slowly turning back around.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, as the door swung open.
"I know about your date on Thursday," she said, crossing her hands over her chest.
I rubbed the back of my neck, racking my brain to figure out what the hell she was talking about. Then it hit me that there was only one thing on Thursday. She began to turn on her heel to continue on her path.
"Are you talking about the meeting I have with my PR consultant?" I reached out, my fingers wrapping around her wrist. "I just got introduced to her at my draft strategy meeting my dad set up today."
Caroline's cheeks turned some shade of pink as I let go of her wrist, her wide eyes blinking as if she needed a moment to process. "Your PR consultant?" she repeated, her voice a touch softer, the surprise clear in her tone.
"Exactly," I drawed, gripping her chin to make her look at me. "And, you know, I could be wrong, but you seem pretty jealous for someone in a fake relationship."
Her breath hitched, the tiniest pause that gave her away, even if her words tried not to. "I’m not," she whispered, her voice barely holding together the lie.
"Well, you should know, I would never let you be insecure.
I will open mouth kiss you, or do anything else you want me to in front of the whole damn world, without hesitation, because when you're mine"—I stepped even closer, my tone edged with a possessiveness that made her heart flutter—"I don't care who knows it. "
The effect I had on her was obvious, even if she'd never admit it. She swallowed and shot back, "I am not insecure or jealous."
At this point, I knew how I felt about her and that I wanted her in whatever capacity that meant, but I understood it would take her longer to accept how she really felt about me.
There was something still holding her back from opening up to me, but I’d figure it out, whether she wanted me to or not.
I leaned in closer, matching the gravity of her gaze. "Is that so? I think you’re lying, and it's about time I show you exactly what happens when you're dating me and you lie to me."
Caroline's teeth caught the plushness of her lower lip. "What happens?"
I didn't break eye contact, holding her stare as I stepped past her. My jaw tightened as I tipped my head toward the Blue Devils’ locker room. "Come."
She didn't move, stuck to the spot she was standing, either from defiance or desire, couldn't tell which. "Make me wait, and it'll be worse for you," I warned, as I adjusted my watch.