Page 50 of Scarlett and the Fake Boyfriend (Scarlett #2)

Saturday

I was the last one to climb into the limo. Jacob had saved a seat for me next to him. But on the other side of him was Olivia. And I didn’t want to be part of that sandwich.

“Scoot,” I said to Sophie, but barely even waited for her to move before squeezing in next to her.

My heart and my head were so confused.

Jacob liked Olivia. Anyone with eyes could see that.

And Axel wanted to make some kind of weird vow of singledom? If he liked me, he’d make it a mission to make sure I wasn’t single because I’d be his.

So...Sophie was wrong.

Neither of them liked me.

There was no grand choice to make tonight. And I really wished I had realized all this at a different moment. Because this suddenly felt like every other homecoming all over again.

“On a scale of one to ten, how embarrassing do you think your mom and dad are going to be tonight?” Sophie asked.

“Probably a twelve.”

She laughed.

I forced a smile to my face.

She leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Please don’t tell me you’re upset about Olivia? ”

“There’s nothing to be upset about,” I whispered. “My relationship with Jacob isn’t real.”

Sophie sighed. “Then why is he staring at you?”

I snuck a quick glance in his direction.

Jacob was indeed looking over here.

I quickly turned away so he wouldn’t know I was staring. “Sophie, do you think there’s a chance that we were wrong about everything? And that maybe Jacob could be my kiss thief?”

“Well we do know your kiss thief is a flirt. Which would explain his behavior with Olivia tonight.”

Yeah.

“And Jacob was at the Odegaard exit during Operation Trap. I’ve always been suspicious of him letting the kiss thief escape. And even if he was telling the truth about there being another exit...why didn’t he tell us that ahead of time?”

“I know.”

“And then there was the whole footage from that night thing. He’s the one with the best access to Mr. Nigel. And he couldn’t get Mr. Nigel to get it for us? Or is Mr. Nigel covering for him?”

“I’d totally forgotten about the Mr. Nigel footage thing.”

“And he probably had access to the security room at Odegaard because of his abuelo. But you said that kissing him is different,” Sophie said.

I bit my lip as I stole another glance at Jacob.

He was still staring at me. “But you know how nervous I get when I’m uncomfortable.

Like tonight, I was more upset with Jacob for talking to Olivia because I thought everyone was staring at me, pitying me.

I’m so awkward when people are looking at me. ”

“I lost your train of thought there,” Sophie said.

“What I’m saying is that I’m better at kissing in dark closets because no one is looking at me.”

Sophie slowly nodded. “So kissing Jacob is better in the closet because you don’t think anyone is judging you? That actually makes a lot of sense. Like when you practice a speech by yourself but then flub it in class like you always do?”

“I don’t always do that.”

“Eh.”

I hit her arm.

She laughed. “It just backs up your point. And the kiss thief obviously knows you super well. He’s been obsessed with you for ages. Watching from a distance. Like Jacob is literally doing right now.”

“It’s a pretty good theory,” RJ said.

I jumped. “Where did you even come from?”

“It looked like an important conversation I wanted to be a part of.”

“Can’t you distract your date or something?” I asked.

“I think she is distracted. By your date.”

I sighed. “Tonight is the worst.”

“No. Stop it,” Sophie said. “Tonight is the best night ever. I’m going to sleep with the Empire High mascot...”

I laughed.

“And we’re going to unmask your kiss thief once and for all. Who is definitely not the mascot. Has your kiss thief texted?”

I pulled out my glasses and phone. “Not yet.” Wearing my glasses when I had contacts in made me feel like I was drunk. And I hadn’t even touched the champagne in the limo.

“RJ,” Sophie said. “Fix Scarlett’s phone.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow,” RJ said.

That sounded like him saying he was going to fix the hole in the floor. And that had taken ages.

“Maybe your kiss thief can’t text you because he’s in our limo right now,” Sophie whispered.

I glanced at Jacob and then Axel. Neither of them had their phones out.

“Text him right now,” Sophie said. “And maybe we’ll catch him.”

“Good idea.” I shot the kiss thief a quick text: “What are you wearing tonight?” I hit send.

Sophie laughed. “Well, I’m hoping he’s wearing a tux.”

“Unless he’s a drifter,” RJ said.

She reached across me and hit him.

But I wasn’t paying attention to them. I was looking around the limo. I didn’t hear anyone’s phone ding. And no one moved to answer a text.

“Did Axel or Jacob pull out their phones?” Sophie asked. “I got distracted.”

“Negative,” I said.

“Well, a secret phone would have to be on silent I guess.”

I turned to RJ. “Can you please just fix my phone now?”

“Can’t,” he said. “We’re here.” He pointed out the window.

The limo had just pulled up to the curb of the hotel.

“And don’t worry, I’ve got first watch. Operation All Eyes on Baby Doll is a go.” RJ stared at me .

“You don’t need eyes on me right now,” I said. “We’re all together.”

“I’m not letting you out of my sight all night,” RJ said. “Especially when it’s Jacob’s turn to be on watch. If it’s him, we’ll catch him red handed. Well, not red handed. Probably with his hand up your skirt.”

Sophie laughed.

“Not funny,” I said.

“It’s a little funny.”

The limo driver opened the door.

“Oh. I get. Now is homecoming?” Natalivanka asked and reached for the zipper of her dress.

“Babe, not until we’re in our hotel room after the dance,” Liam said and caught her hand.

Wait, they were getting a hotel room tonight? Did my parents know about that? What the actual F?

As everyone else started climbing out of the limo, Jacob came and took RJ’s abandoned seat.

“You’re giving me that look again,” he said.

“What look?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Like you’re mad at me. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking it’s time for us to dance.”

He just stared at me.

“Oh.” My heart sunk. “I mean. Unless you’re not planning on dancing with...me.” I sounded so pathetic. “Because you don’t have to, obviously. If you’d rather dance with Olivia. Since this isn’t real.” I gestured back and forth between us.

He raised both his eyebrows.

I needed to say something to fix everything I’d just said. “It’s like you’re trying to make me jealous or something.” I cringed. Well...saying that definitely wasn’t what was going to fix it.

“Are you?” He put his hand on my thigh. “Jealous?”

My dad poked his head into the limo. “Are you two planning on staying in there all night and just talking? If so, your mother and I will be happy to join you.”

Dad! “No, we’re coming.” I hurried out, happy to not have to look Jacob in the face.

But he quickly caught my hand.

I stared straight ahead at the dark purple carpet laid out on the steps leading up to the hotel. It was usually a red carpet. And for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what the theme for this year’s dance was.

With Olivia nowhere in sight, and Jacob’s hand in mine, it should have felt like I was in a movie again. But I’d just said a whole bunch of stupid words. And my mom and dad were trailing our every move.

“So...” Jacob said. “Are you?”

I looked over my shoulder at my parents.

“Can we maybe not have this discussion right now?” I hurried up the steps so we could catch up to our friends.

I’d been to this hotel dozens of times for different events.

And homecoming was here every year. But when the doormen opened the doors, it was like we’d been transported to a planetarium.

There were thousands of stars being projected onto the ceiling.

And the fancy chandeliers almost looked like falling stars.

Everything was dark purples and blues and blacks. And I was actually happy that the decorations made it a little darker than usual. Better to hide from my dad...

“It’s almost as good as the decorations at the annual Caldwell Halloween party,” I said.

“ Almost ,” Jacob said with a smile. “Speaking of which...we need to decide what we’re going as.”

“What?”

“We need a couples’ costume for my grandparents’ party.”

The Halloween party was a month away. Was he still planning on keeping this charade up that long?

Because I was kind of thinking it was time to throw in the towel.

It hadn’t worked. Not even a little. And my heart was already messed up enough.

Fake dating Jacob any longer was just going to make me fall even harder for him.

And he’d just keep on not falling for me.

I didn’t need him to tell me for a second time that he wasn’t into me.

I’d heard him loud and clear the first time.

“There you guys are,” Sophie said. “Having a quickie in in the limo?” She winked at me.

Jacob laughed and put his arm around my shoulders. “Guilty.”

I felt my cheeks flush. That had not at all been what was happening. But Axel was standing next to Sophie. And Jacob seemed fully committed to Operation Too Hot to Handle, even though it had flatlined.

“You two.” She laughed. “Let’s get drinks. I saw Billy O’Reilly spike the punch.”

“Perfect,” I said. A drink would definitely help if I was about to dance with a ton of guys and measure their heights and sniff them or whatever.

My parents were standing behind the bar in the ballroom. It was usually decked out with alcoholic beverages. But tonight it was filled with juices, soda, and water. And a huge bowl of punch.

“What can we get you kids?” my mom asked.

“I’ll have some punch,” I said.

My mom nodded and poured me a cup of punch. But when she went to hand it to me, my dad grabbed it first. He took a sip and scrunched up his nose.