Page 21

Jaydon

I’ve been following her around like a fucking lost puppy for goddamned weeks now. Fucking obsessed with everything and anything about her, but she continues on most days like I’m not even here.

Ever since that night in the kitchen, she wants nothing to do with me. Like this isn’t even my fucking house, she’s living in. It’s starting to get under my skin, the way she gets to me.

I’ve never felt like this before.

She twirls around and dances in my kitchen, eating my fucking food, and pretends like I’m invisible.

She’s even been eating my fucking Sno-Caps…

MY fucking Sno-Caps . I’ve been thinking I was sleepwalking or some shit and eating them, but no, I caught her the other evening going straight for the spot where I hide them.

I didn’t even know she knew where they were.

I hid them from her on purpose. I know they are her favorite, but if she doesn’t talk to me, she can’t have my candy.

I’m being fucking immature, and I know it.

I don’t give a fuck, though. I need her to acknowledge me so I can mess with her. It’s no fun if she won’t even talk to me.

I’ve been coming home daily after work. I know I told her I wouldn’t be here much, but it seems these days I’m making more of a point not to go anywhere else and come home. And apparently, it has everything to do with a woman that’s slowly creeping under my fucking skin.

She’s not only creeping under my skin; she's downright torturing me by living with me but dating another man.

Fuck.

I don’t know why I did this shit to myself.

I was living the bachelor life, doing as I pleased, but now I’m finding myself rushing home every day just to see if she’s made it home yet and asking her about her day.

She hardly gives me an answer, though. Her daily presence is fucking driving me insane.

She’s so close but still so far from my reach.

When I offered her a place to stay, I wasn’t thinking about all the self-restraint I would have to conjure up on a daily basis. I didn’t think about all the nights I’d be in my shower with my hand wrapped around my aching cock .

I heard her on the phone earlier with that douchebag boyfriend of hers.

I wasn’t trying to snoop, but I was walking by her room and overheard her asking him if he wanted to go to the Wild Ranch tonight.

It’s a line dance bar just outside of town.

They have good wings and burgers. The beer is pretty fucking good too.

Sounds like there’s a lot of fun to be had tonight.

She’s been up in her room all afternoon getting ready, and I’m getting a little excited because I plan on having a fucking ball tonight. I would have called Ryan and asked him to hang out, but he’s at home taking care of my sister, as he should be.

So, instead, I’m about to call and round up a few of my buddies who work for me. It seems like the perfect chance to boost office morale with some team building.

Ellie

My phone beeps just as I curl the last strand of my hair.

Shit—I already know I’m running behind. I got caught up talking on the phone with my mom earlier and completely lost track of time.

She seems to be settling into the new apartment and, as usual, is still trying to talk me into moving to California with her.

I didn’t even ask about my sister, I don’t really give a fuck if she’s liking it or not.

Picking up my phone, I see the message is from Kevin.

Kevin : Outside in the driveway.

Ellie : Okay, be out in a few.

I check the mirror one last time, making sure my makeup is perfect.

Then, I add another spray of my favorite sweet vanilla perfume to my neck and wrist, and swipe one more layer of lip gloss, pressing my lips together for the full effect.

Perfectly plump, just the way I like them.

I grab my clutch and head out of my room.

I tiptoe past Jaydon’s room, leather cowgirl booties in hand, moving as quickly as I can.

The faint sound of his shower running drifts through his cracked bedroom door, and I silently thank God he's too distracted to notice me slipping out for the night. I don’t have the energy to play twenty questions with him about where I’m going and what I’m doing. It’s none of his damn business, anyway.

He likes to play too many fucking games with me. I can picture the cocky-ass smirk now that appears on his face every time he knows he gets to me… and he normally does. A heated rush floods through my body at the thought of his gorgeous fucking face .

I need to get out of here fast.

All the while, in the back of my mind, I wonder what he's getting ready for tonight.

I’m a bit nervous about tonight because Kevin and I need to have a serious talk. It’s been almost two fucking weeks since I’ve seen him. He’s been out of town for work-related business. I have so many thoughts going on right now in my head.

There’s so much I need to get off my chest.

My life is a mess lately, and I can’t keep trying to force this thing—whatever it is—with Kevin. We hardly even talk, mostly just a text here and there, but I’m just not feeling it.

Yeah, He’s a nice guy with a nice body and is easy on the eyes, but something is stopping me. I know he might want more, or maybe just a booty call, but I can’t even bring myself to go there with him… especially when he’s not making much of an effort.

Hell, he doesn’t even fucking know I’m living with Jaydon yet. He didn’t ask who I was living with when I moved, and I didn’t offer any unnecessary information .

Jaydon’s been thinking this entire time that Kevin is my boyfriend.

But actually, we haven’t made it that far yet.

I’ve been shamelessly acting as if we are in a relationship and everything is going great.

But it’s all for show because pretending to have a boyfriend seems to be my only defense in keeping my distance from Jaydon.

The silence in Kevin’s car is louder than the music humming low through the speakers.

It's been awkward as hell ever since I got in.

When he picked me up, he asked who I was staying with.

I told him the truth—Jaydon.

He didn’t seem to like that little bit of information I dropped on him… but he asked.

I press my lips together, chewing on the inside while my fingers twist in my lap. I need to talk to him—really talk.

Kevin’s fingers tap the steering wheel to the beat of the song, his jaw tense .

“You gonna say something,” he mutters, eyes locked on the road, “or just keep staring out the window like I kidnapped you?”

I glance over, nerves tangling in my chest. “Okay… I need to say something, but I don’t want you to take it the wrong way.”

He releases a loud sigh, pausing for a beat.

“That’s always a good start,” he says, dryly. “Let me guess. This is the part where you tell me we should ‘just be friends’?”

“We’re already just friends, Kevin.” I glare at him.

He scoffs. “Not due to my choosing, you’re the one holding back, Ellie. You didn’t even ask when I’d be back in town.”

“You didn’t even fucking call me while you were gone, Kevin—never mind, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been dealing with a lot, okay? And the truth is… I don’t really see this thing between us going anywhere.”

“Yeah?” His voice is clipped, but not cruel. “Took you long enough to finally say it out loud.”

“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

He laughs once, but there’s no humor in it. “You didn’t want to hurt my feelings, but you’ve had no problem using me for dinner.”

I look away. That one stings, because he’s not wrong. “I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “Really. I just… I don’t feel that spark. I tried, but I can’t force it .”

A long pause stretches between us, weird and so uncomfortable.

Finally, Kevin exhales and leans back against the seat. “Alright. So, we’re friends. Got it.”

“Uhh, there’s one more thing,” I add carefully, looking his way, already bracing for his reaction.

He side-eyes me. “Seriously? Ellie…”

“Jaydon thinks you’re my boyfriend,” I say in a rush and cringe. “And I’ve kinda just… let him think that.”

Kevin’s head jerks towards me like he didn’t hear me right. “What?”

“I didn’t plan it! It just sort of happened. It keeps him at arm’s length, and that’s what I need right now.”

His eyes narrow. “So, let me get this straight. You’re not into me, don’t want to date, but you want me to play the part of your fake boyfriend so your roommate—who you clearly have a thing for—doesn’t get any ideas?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Ellie. Come on.” He shakes his head, almost laughing. “You think I haven’t noticed the way you dodge every question about him? Or how your whole energy shifts when someone says his name.”

I ignore that comment—mostly because he’s not wrong.

“I’m not asking you to lie for the rest of your life. Just… buy me a little time, okay? I need space from the Jaydon situation, and this has been the only thing that’s worked. ”

How the hell did I get myself into this mess?

Kevin sighs, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated but trying to hold it together, “Unbelievable.”

“You don’t have to say yes,” I say quickly. “I get it. I’d be pissed too—”

“I’m not pissed,” he cuts in, though his tone says otherwise. “I’m just… damn, Ellie. You could’ve just said you weren’t feeling it instead of stringing me along.”

“I didn’t mean to string you along,” I murmur. “I just—needed a buffer. And you were gone. It made sense to keep the illusion going.”

He’s quiet for a long moment. I can practically hear the wheels turning in his head.

Then, finally, he mutters, “You’re lucky I don’t care enough to get my ego bruised.”

That kinda stings, but at the same time, relief floods me. “So, you’ll do it? Just for a little while?”

He shoots me a pointed look. “I don’t know why the hell I’m agreeing to this, but for you, yes, I will. Just don’t make me look like a damn fool.”

I cringe, biting my lower lip, because… Maybe it's too late for that.

“Thank you.”