Page 12

Chapter 12

Faking It

Bex

O ne trash bag.

That’s all it takes to contain all my belongings.

“I don’t even have a suitcase to pack the clothes Luke bought me on Saturday.” I say to Lady Marmalade.

My goldfish swims to the surface inside her fish bowl, looking at me with her tiny, black eyes.

“I know, Lady M,” I sigh. “I could ask Luke if he has a bag I can borrow, but have you ever smelled a hockey bag? Yuck.”

As if summoned by my words, there’s a knock on the door and Luke calls out. “Bexie-Boo, are you presentable?”

“Yeah, come on in.” I answer, looking down at the Star Cove College sweatshirt and black leggings I have on.

Luke wraps me in his arms, but I’m distracted by a movement behind him.

I catch a glance of Jamie’s short blond hair, as Luke’s teammate follows my brother inside the room.

“Hey Bex.” He smiles.

Irritation crashes over me like a tsunami, and I force my face into a neutral expression. If anything, the years in my father’s house have made me a pro at hiding my emotions.

I have to remember that I can’t be mad at him and the others for not wanting me to move into Luke’s room. They just met me and they don’t owe me anything. If anyone should be mad at them, it’s my brother for not having his back when he asked for their help.

“What are you doing here?” my tone could use some work, but I got fined by my father all the time for not being the little obedient daughter he expected me to be. “If you came to help me move out, don’t worry. That’s all I have.”

God, I’m really shit at pretending to be cool when I’m not. Good thing I didn’t want to major in drama. I would have no future as an actor.

Jamie’s dark blue eyes move to the queen sized bed, where the black trash bag sits. If I needed a reminder of how much of a dumpster fire my life really is, that’s definitely it.

“No, I’m here because?—”

“Luke,” I cut Jamie off. Rude, I know, but I’ll worry about Jamie’s feelings later. “Have you heard anything from Candace? If I can’t stay at the Zeta house, do you think I could sneak into the library or somewhere with couches and hide from the staff until closing time?”

My last option would be begging Luke to sleep in his car. But I know that’s risky in case campus security sees me.

Luke pulls me to his side, looking way more relaxed than I feel. I guess he isn’t the one who’s about to be homeless.

“You don’t need to move out.” He says. “I’m actually here to pack my things. I’m moving into the Gamma house, and you can stay here.”

I step away from him, unsure I heard him right. “What?”

My brother nods to confirm what he just said. “You can stay here at least until the summer break. I just spoke to the Dean and Coach Harrison, and we have their permission. This is now your room.”

It doesn’t make sense. “But what about them?” I point my finger at Jamie. “They don’t want me here.”

Jamie flinches at my accusation.

So he’s ok kicking someone to the curb. It’s being confronted with the results of his actions that makes him uncomfortable. Good to know.

“Hey,” he sounds almost offended. “That’s not a fair assessment of the situation.”

“Is it not?” I snort, shocked by the nerve on this guy. “I have it on good authority that you unanimously voted against letting me stay here.”

Jamie glares at Luke. “Good job, dude. Thank you for throwing us under the bus.”

“What did you want me to do? Make up another reason why she was gonna be homeless?” Luke argues.

His teammate ignores him, turning his intense blue gaze on me.

Why does he have to be so handsome? No one should have such a perfect jaw and heart-shaped lips that look pillowy soft. And that’s just the start of how hot Jamie Hart is.

He runs a hand over the top of his head, where his blond hair is slightly longer, tousling the golden strands in a way that makes him look even more attractive.

“It’s not that we didn’t want you,” his voice softens as he tries to meet my gaze. “You have to understand that this isn’t a private rental where we can do whatever we want.”

On a rational level, I know he’s right, but that does nothing to help how rejected their refusal makes me feel.

When my mother was alive, she taught me that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you’re better off saying nothing. So I stick to her teachings and cross my arms over my chest, to signify that nothing he can say is going to change my feelings.

“Bex,” Luke interrupts the standoff between me and his teammate. “Jamie isn’t wrong. Cut him some slack, will you? He was there with me earlier in Coach Harrison’s office, too.”

I look between my brother and Jamie. “Are you trying to tell me that he had something to do with getting permission to let me stay here?” I point my finger at Jamie.

“Jamie is the reason why the Dean and Coach agreed to let you stay.”

Oh?

I blink, confused by the bombshell Luke just dropped.

“Why would you stick your neck out for me when you wanted me out of here by today, just like the others?” Jamie flinches at my question, and I know I’m onto something.

“Huh, well, there is a tiny condition for you to be allowed to stay. And the Dean is going to speak to the Greek Council to endorse your application to work at the Zetas’ new art center.” Jamie says, rubbing the back of his neck.

“A condition?” I’m immediately suspicious. “I knew this sounded too good to be true. What’s the catch?”

Nothing could have prepared me for the answer to that question, I swear.

“You have to be my girlfriend until the end of the academic year.”

I’m one hundred percent sure he didn’t just say what I heard. “Come again?” I ask, my mouth opening and closing just like Lady Marmalade was doing a few moments ago.

Jamie’s explanation doesn’t shed any light on this crazy turn of events. “I need a girlfriend, and you need a place to stay. It’s a win-win.”

“Luke?” I look at my brother, hoping he can make more sense than his teammate. “What the fuck is going on? From what I’ve heard last night at the party, Jamie has no problem getting female attention. Actually, it’s just the opposite. And he’s rarely seen with the same girl more than once. Why would he want a girlfriend now, and why me?”

They look at each other again, as if they were communicating without words.

“I’m waiting for an answer.” I glare at the two men in front of me. “And by the way, what’s wrong with you? This isn’t how you get a girlfriend. You don’t just go around saying, I need a girlfriend and you’re it.”

Jamie sighs. “I know. Look, Bex, this is a mutually beneficial situation. I need to stop partying too much. You need a place to stay. Why not help each other? This morning, Luke and I were summoned to Coach’s office. The Dean was there, and he was furious…”

What the fuck doesn’t even start covering the crazy story they tell me.

No.

That’s the first word on the tip of my tongue.

The imploring look in Jamie’s eyes shouldn’t pull at my heartstrings. After all, he had no problem voting against letting me stay in their condo when it didn’t suit him.

But it’s also true that if he wanted to, he could easily find someone else to play the part of his girlfriend.

Sure, it can’t be a puck bunny or a sorority girl. But I’ve seen how women look at Jamie on the pier the night I arrived, and at the Zeta house last night.

They say that they can’t trust anyone else to keep this whole thing secret, but I don’t buy it.

I don’t know why Jamie didn’t vote to let me stay when Luke asked, but I guess it wasn’t because he hates me, or he wouldn’t be asking me to be his girlfriend. Even if it’s fake.

Besides, what’s the alternative?

It’s not like I have somewhere else to go if I turn down this deal.

“Even if I said yes to this,” I glare at my soon to be fake boyfriend. “What about Connor and Keene? They didn’t want me here either.”

“Don’t worry about them.” Luke reassures me. “Connor was just worried about us being caught letting you stay here without permission, and that’s no longer the case. Let me and Jamie take care of Keene.”

Jamie adds another stipulation. “Yeah, he’ll come around. The important thing is, this deal has to stay between the three of us. Everyone outside this room needs to think that you and I are smitten with each other. Connor and Keene included.”

Luke agrees. “That’s right. If you two can convince Connor and Keene, you’ve got this in the bag.”

“Talking about bags,” Jamie smiles. “I’ve got something for you.”

I hadn’t noticed that he had a bag from the merchandise store with him when he came in.

What could he have gotten me? The answer stares me in the face when I pull a blue and silver Star Cove Knights jersey out of the bag.

“Number six?” I say, still a little surprised.

“Turn it around.” Jamie encourages me.

It says “Hart” on the back.

“My girlfriend should wear my jersey. Definitely at games, but it wouldn’t hurt if you wore it around campus, too.”

“Thank you, I guess?” I will never admit it to Jamie, but I missed wearing Matthew’s jersey after we broke up.

Kurt never asked me to wear his, despite us being engaged.

“Don’t look so excited.” Jamie chides me, as I keep staring at his jersey.

“No, I… sorry. Thank you, I don’t have many clothes and this adds to my wardrobe.”

“We can begin to fix that.” Jamie says, surprising the hell out of me. “We’re a relatively big campus for such a small town, and this year the board allowed a couple of franchises to open stores that aren’t just restaurants. They have a few decent clothing stores near the library and they’re open today. Why don’t you show off your new jersey and we can check out the selection? If not, we can go out shopping in town next weekend.”

Shopping sounds fun, but I shake my head.

“If you want to debut our new relationship around campus, we can go out for a walk or something. Shopping isn’t necessary. Luke already bought me some stuff and, unless I get the job at the art center, I don’t have any money.”

The blue in Jamie’s eyes is so dark and intense that I get lost into their depths, as he looks at me for a long moment.

“I’m buying.”

The protest comes out automatically. “No, I?—”

“I want to treat my girlfriend to some new clothes. All you have to do is have fun and let me worry about the rest. Let me drop my gym bag into my room. I’ll be waiting for you by the door.”

He walks out, leaving his clean, soapy scent behind.

Luke is the first one to break the silence. “The way he said my girlfriend , all possessive and shit?” he shudders, unable to suppress a chuckle. “I love a possessive man. Especially when he’s a good guy like Jamie.”

I roll my eyes. “A good guy? I don’t know about that. First, he didn’t want me here, now he only wants me because he needs me to help him clean up his man-whore reputation.”

Luke’s words surprise me. “His reputation is unfair. Ok, he has been sleeping around. But he hasn’t deceived anyone about what he was after, and he has always treated the girl he’s with like a queen. I know you think he was an asshole for saying no to you staying here, but I don’t really blame him. He saw that Keene and Connor said no, and he backed his teammates.”

I’m not convinced. “What about you? Aren’t you his teammate too? You’re his captain, for fuck’s sake.”

Luke nods. “True. But you’re my sister, it’s different. If roles had been reversed, I would have backed the majority of my teammates over a girl I had met just once.”

“Bros before hoes, huh?” I provoke him.

He grins at me, mischief dancing in his green eyes. “Nah, it’s not that. I actually think he’s intrigued by you, and that scared him. He was worried I wouldn’t approve, but I told him not to worry about me, as long as he didn’t set out to hurt you.”

His smile widens and I know that look.

“You have a secret.” It isn’t a question.

He’s always had that look on his face when he wasn’t telling me something ever since I can remember.

“Maybe…” he sings songs, entirely too pleased with himself.

“Luke,” I scowl. “You better start talking right now.”

My brother starts laughing harder. I swear, if I didn’t owe him for literally saving my ass when I didn’t deserve his help, I would kick his perfect buttocks until he starts talking.

“It’s nothing important, it’s just… I might have sneaked a peek at Candace’s list last night. The hockey masks the guys had on in that kissing game were numbered. You happened to kiss the guy who was wearing mask number six, who happens to be…”

Oh my God.

“Jamie?” I gasp.

“Maybe.” Luke tuts, taunting me. “Or maybe not. All I’m going to tell you is that the guy behind mask number six lives in this house.”

My jaw hits the floor. “What? Oh, come on, Luke! You have to tell me.”

I should know that insisting isn’t going to make a difference if he’s made up his mind. He’s definitely the stubborn twin.

“What’s the fun in that? I’ve already told you more than I intended to say. And no matter how much you beg, my lips are sealed.”

“You suck.” I pout.

He pulls me into a hug. “No, I just want you to have a little adventure. Maybe your mystery kiss was Jamie, maybe it was Connor or Keene. It’s up to you to find out. You’re going to live with all three of them for months. You’re bound to get to know them better.”

“Right.” I snort. “It can only be Jamie, or Connor.”

Luke arches one perfectly shaped eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”

“Easy. That kiss was hot, sexy, but surprisingly sweet. Have you met Mr. G.I. Joe? He doesn’t have a sweet bone in his body. He wouldn’t be sweet if he was covered in sugar. And he hates me.”

My brother shrugs. “I wouldn’t take that personally. He’s had a rough go with his divorce. He learned that he should be careful about who he gives his heart, and his trust to. You should be able to relate, no?”

I hate when he’s right. Especially if he’s defending Keene.

“Yeah, but I know that not every man is like Dad or Kurt. I don’t treat every owner of a penis like he’s my mortal enemy.”

His voice softens as he takes my hand in his. “You know not every man is a monster because you have me, and you had a good relationship with your high school boyfriend. Have you thought that maybe Keene might not have a good female role model to let him know that not every woman is out there to use him and betray him?”

“When did you get so wise?” I sigh.

Luke squeezes my hand. “When I was kicked out of the only home I ever had at seventeen because of who I was. And I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty. If roles had been reversed, I would have stayed too. But I had to grow up fast, Bex. Keene has had to do that too. And he isn’t the only one who’s jaded about women. Connor is still smarting from being cheated on. He’s just as hurt and just as unwilling to trust a woman again as Keene.”

“That might be so, but at least he doesn’t act like a total asshole.” I argue.

Luke tucks a strand of hair being my ear. “True. Connor has a softer exterior. But I’m telling you, he and Keene aren’t very different. They’ll accept the status quo because Jamie and I got Coach on our side about you staying here, but you’ll have to win them over. And I know you will.”

I’m not so sure about that. “It didn’t feel like a person who kissed me last night didn’t trust women.”

He shrugs. “They were wearing a mask. Maybe they felt protected. Have you thought about that? Anyway. Your boyfriend is waiting to show you off. You should go. He might be your Mr. Right, after all.”

I know he’s teasing me right now. “What makes you say that?”

“He’s over six feet tall. He comes from a wealthy family, so his bank account definitely passes the six-figure requirement. And if you’re lucky, you might find out if his dick measures up, too.”

Heat rises to my face. “Oh my God, Luke. You’re terrible.”

He laughs. “And did you see his jersey? He’s number six.”

“You’re laying it on so thick, it isn’t even funny.”

Luke grins from ear to ear. “I’m just saying. Connor and Keene are also excellent candidates, if you ask me. They’re both tall enough and have six figures in the bank. You live here now. You’re in the best position to find out if their cocks are at least six inches long. And guess what jersey numbers they both wear?”

I cross my arms over my chest and scowl at my brother. “They can’t be wearing jersey number six, since Jamie wears it. So I don’t know what’s so funny.”

“Connor is number sixty, and Keene is number sixty-six.”

Luke doubles over with hysterical laughter as I walk into the living room and leave him to pack his belongings so he can officially move out.