Chapter 4
Four
Maria
“We are almost done,” Darius tells me. “Just a little bit longer.” He has said the same thing so many times today that it’s unclear as to whether or not he’s trying to convince himself or me at this point.
I nod because I don’t have the energy for much else. The energy I do have, I am putting into finishing what’s left of my shift.
Today’s been rough. Not only is it unbearably hot again outside, but there’s also some kind of conference going on in the hotel across the street, so we’ve been busier than usual. This is the first lull in customers all day.
On top of all that, both Darius and I are nursing terrible hangovers, thanks to the copious amount of wine we consumed last night.
Between the chatter, the sound of the steamer, the coffee grinder, and the consistent clatter of cups, plates, and silverware, I don’t think my head has stopped pounding once today.
I look over at my best friend, who is bent over the coffee bar, resting his head on the smooth wood. My lips quirk up into a small smile as I set the mug I was washing into the dish drainer. “This is your fault, you know. The wine was your idea.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” he groans before straightening with a sigh to resume wiping down the counter. “I am never drinking wine again.”
I snort in disbelief. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious. This time, I’m done.”
We both know he’s full of it. It’s not the first time either one of us has had to work with a hangover, and while feeling so miserable that we vow we will never drink that much again. A vow we have yet to keep. It’s kind of our thing.
Having finished with the counter, Darius joins me at the sink. “Hey, do you wanna grab some takeout on the way home?” He asks. “I don’t really feel like cooking. Do you?”
My nose scrunches at the idea of actually trying to cook right now, and I shake my head. “No, I don’t. Takeout sounds good.”
With a nod, he pulls his phone out of his back pocket just as the cheery little bell above the door dings, indicating a customer.
He inclines his head in the direction of the door, but doesn’t look up from his phone screen.
“You get that; I’ll look and see which places have the best deals right now. ”
“Works for me,” I reply, setting the clean plate in the dish drainer next to the mug and turning off the sink. Grabbing the towel off the hook above the sink, I start drying my hands as I turn toward the door. “I’ll be right with y— ”
My words die on my tongue the moment I see who it is that just walked into the shop, and I freeze in place. As my heart drops into the pit of my stomach, my eyes widen in realization, and my lungs even seem to forget what oxygen is.
Shit. Shit. Shit. This can’t be happening. What is he doing here? And how the hell did he even find me?
Having realized that I’ve made no move toward the register to take the order, Darius looks up from his phone. “Maria?” He follows my line of sight to the two men now approaching the counter. “No freaking way! Is that— ”
“Mark.” His name leaves my lips in a breathy whisper.
It really is him. Mark. The guy I chose to be in a social media relationship with last night, while drunk on wine, just to get Darius off my back about dating.
I was supposed to change my status back to ‘single’ this morning, but I completely forgot because of my hangover.
I had ignored the message he sent me last night because I didn’t want to have to figure out how to explain why I did what I did, and now he’s here.
I guess he decided to confront me face-to-face.
I’m so screwed.
The desire to hide behind Darius is strong, but my feet feel like they are cemented to the floor, making it impossible for me to move. All I can do is stare as the man who looks like he just stepped out of a wet dream reaches the counter, a knowing smirk on his too-perfect face.
He’s even hotter in person, which shouldn’t even be allowed.
Standing at about six feet five, he’s ridiculously tall and is dressed in black slacks and a crisp, navy button-down with a white T-shirt underneath.
His hair is still a bit of a mess, and his sharp jaw is lined with a bit of five o’clock shadow.
His kissable lips are too much of a distraction from his brown eyes, which are full of mischief and even more striking in person. He’s basically sex on a stick.
Darius chuckles as he steps up behind me, his arms folded across his chest. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the consequences of your own drunken actions.”
The sound of his voice breaking through the mental tailspin I was in snaps me back to the present. I spin on him. “Save me,” I hiss so only he can hear. “You will save me from this.”
“I most certainly will not,” he counters. Grabbing my shoulders, he spins me back around toward the newcomers, who are watching our every move with rapt attention. “I, for one, am looking forward to seeing how this is going to play out. You made your bed; now go lie in it.”
He shoves me forward, and it’s a miracle I don’t end up falling flat on my face.
I’m even grateful that my feet are capable of moving on their own, without too much thought from me.
At least until I realize they are carrying me right to where Mark and his friend are waiting.
Then, that gratefulness quickly morphs into nerves.
Or maybe it’s actually fear; I can’t tell.
I swallow hard as I slowly close the distance between us.
I take as much time as I can because I’m also trying to figure out what I’m going to say to the guy.
I know I have to take responsibility for my actions and apologize profusely, but I don’t think I have to go into great detail when it comes to the why.
A brief explanation should be all that’s needed.
I owe him at least that much for dragging him into this.
I am three feet away when I force myself to meet his eyes again.
But when I realize that he’s slowly scanning my body, essentially checking me out, my cheeks flame, and I pull my bottom lip in between my teeth as I try to focus on a spot just over his left shoulder.
I don’t want to see his disgust or disappointment.
“Hey, baby,” his deep, smoky voice says suddenly when I finally reach them.
My gaze instinctively snaps back to his just as he leans over the counter, grasps the back of my neck, and pulls me to him.
My mind short-circuits when his mouth crashes against mine, and my eyebrows shoot up into my hairline.
What the hell is happening right now? Did I actually fall and hit my head when Darius shoved me?
There is literally no reason for him to be kissing me right now.
Holy shit. My fake social media boyfriend is kissing me.
“Well, alrighty then,” I hear Darius gasp from somewhere behind me. “I’ll just… go exist somewhere that’s not here.”
Mark pulls back slightly, a small smile on his face as he brushes his thumb along my bottom lip. The kiss was short, sweet, but still hot enough to leave me breathless. And he didn’t even use tongue!
“Sorry,” He murmurs. “I know you like to keep things professional at work, but I missed you today.”
I blink, still trying to figure out what is going on.
His hand slides from my neck, down my arm, to my hand, which he takes in his as he turns to the man standing next to us. “See? Told you she was really my girl.”
The guy is looking between the two of us, his eyes alight with humor. “You sure about that?” He laughs. “Your ‘so-called’ girl looks like she’s about to pass out.”
“Nah, she’s just shy,” Mark replies coolly before looking back at me. “Ain't that right, baby?”
He squeezes my hand twice, obviously trying to get my attention. When I meet his intense gaze, he mouths: You owe me, so that only I can see it.
He’s right. I used him for my own personal gain, or at least, I used his name and status on social media. The least I can do is go along with whatever this is.
I chance a look back at where Darius had been earlier, but I don’t see him anywhere. He must have gone into the back. So, at least he’s not out here to watch me make a fool of myself.
I give Mark’s friend a shy smile. I’m sure the fact that my face is beet red from my current embarrassment is helping to sell it, too. “Yeah, sorry. It’s something I’m working on.”
“So, you guys are actually together then?” he asks, still obviously skeptical.
Both Mark and I nod. Because I still don’t have a handle on the situation, I am just following Mark’s lead at this point.
“Maria, this is my friend, Sean. He works with me at the insurance company,” Mark states. “Sean, this is my girlfriend Maria, and the reason I will not be going with you to the damn strip club tonight.”
“Nice to finally meet you,” I say instinctively, holding out my hand. “Mark talks about you all the time.”
Sean takes my hand but shakes his head. “I don’t get it. I gave you so much shit yesterday, man. Why didn’t you say anything then? And why haven’t I heard a single thing about her?”
“Because my personal relationships are no one else’s business,” Mark tells him firmly.
“Yeah, but I’m your friend. You always tell me who you are banging,” Sean retorts. “Or you are supposed to. No offense.” The last part is directed at me, the first thing he’s said to me directly.
Mark’s jaw is clenching so hard I can practically hear his teeth grinding together. “No, I don’t,” he nearly growls at the same time I say: “That’s my fault.”
Both men turn to me, and my stomach does a weird flip. I have no idea what I’m doing; I am winging all of this, and I have never been good at improvising. Especially while hungover. Though it’s funny how my hangover hasn’t bothered me once since Mark showed up.
I shift uncomfortably and push a bit of hair back behind my ear. “Look, I think we can all agree that I’m not Mark’s usual type,” I begin.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mark’s brows furrow, and he shifts like he’s about to say something, but I don’t give him the chance.
“And this… this thing between us is still pretty new,” I continue quickly, the lie coming just a little bit easier now. “So, I asked him not to say anything while we… explored this a bit.”
That sounds believable, right? God, I hope so.
“Of course, I tried to tell her that wasn’t necessary,” Mark interjects. “That I don’t waste my time on those who are ‘not my type,’ but she’s a stubborn one. So, I decided enough was enough and that I was done hiding what’s… blossoming between us.”
While Sean considers the two of us and Mark’s words, I press my lips together and silently curse myself. This has gone way too far, and it’s definitely not what I was expecting. All because I had chosen Mark to be my social media boyfriend just long enough to get Darius to leave me alone.
After what feels like an eternity, Sean sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, that makes sense. I’m sorry for riding you so hard, man.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Mark tells him, waving him off. “But you are going to drop it now, right?”
“Oh, yeah. Of course.”
Mark nods. “Good. Now, come on. As much as I love seeing my girl, our lunch break ended five minutes ago.”
As he shoves Sean toward the door, he looks back and winks at me, actually winks, making my cheeks flame. He pauses just before he exits the door.
“Remind me. What time do you get off today?”
“Uh, four… four-thirty,” I stammer. “So, about an hour and a half?”
“Alright.” He smiles. “I’ll be back then to pick you up for our date tonight.”
He is really selling this whole thing for his friend, isn’t he? “Right. See you then.”
After giving me another once over that feels so intimate that it makes me shiver, he grins. “Yes. Yes, you will.”
Only once he’s gone do I allow myself to breathe. I have never been in a situation as awkward as that was, and I make a mental note to change my status as soon as I get home. Shaking my head, I move toward the back in search of Darius. He’s really going to get a kick out of all of this.