Page 64 of Strings

“We are definitely breaking up.”

“I’m teasing you. Geez.”

Sebastian wanders toward the door. “Apparently, two weeks isn’t enough time away from you. I’m sorry I stopped by.”

He places his hand on the door and I rush over to him. “I’m sorry,” I say through a laugh. I clear my throat, deepen my voice, and force my face to become serious. I repeat myself. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not feeling your apology.”

“I haven’t had anyone to tease or bicker with for two whole weeks. It’s like I stored it all up for you.”

“Is that your twisted way of telling me you missed me?” He straightens his glasses on his face.

Did I miss him? I remember staring at my phone one night and willing him to text me. I remember hearing the ping of a text from the next room and rushing to my phone, only to feel disappointed when it wasn’t him. Did I miss him? How do I answer that? “If I say I missed you, will you stop being mad at me?”

“It’ll need to be convincing.” He crosses his arms once more and I see the muscles in his arms.

I grovel in the same manner he did at my apartment. My tone is monotonous. “Oh, Sebastian… I missed you so much. I barely survived without you.”

“Nice. Yeah, no. I think we need to end this now.”

“Fine. You want groveling?”

“Yes. I think it would be appropriate here.”

I roll my eyes and lift my skirt slightly. I bend down on my knees in front of him. I’m awkwardly close to his crotch. It’s the first time I’ve seriously looked at his dick area and there’s a bulge there that takes me off guard. Did it just move or am I imagining things? He takes a deep breath. Is he thinking the same thing? I force myself to remember why I’m on my knees.

I gaze up into his eyes. “Sebastian Mikhail Corronov, will you continue to be the best fake love of my life for a little while longer while I get my shit together? I promise to be the best fake girlfriend in the world if you’ll have me. Pretty please with sugar on top?”

He presses his finger to his lips and then taps it.

“Well?”

“I’m thinking. What’s in it for me?”

I sigh. “I’m not blowing you, if that’s what you’re thinking!”

“For fuck’s sake, Natalia! Get up.”

He holds his hand out to me to help me stand. “Have I ever been anything but a complete and total gentleman around you?”

“No.”

“No! I haven’t. Why in the world do you assume that every time I try to do something for you it has to do with my taking advantage of you in some way?”

“Ugh!” I moan as I walk away from him. “Because in my world, where I’m from, all the things guys want from me usually involve their dicks.”

He stares at me for a moment and I instantly regret my words.

“Is that what Mercer wanted?”

“No.”

He tilts his head as he regards me, a look of concern, possibly anger, on his face.

“No! That’s not it. Look, he asked me out and it was awkward so I told him I had a boyfriend.”

“Me?”