Page 16 of The Pursuit of Happiness (Satan’s Angels #2)

As he walks me to his car, his arm still around me, I can’t help but imagine what it was like to have sex with him.

I can’t remember anything about that night, but by the way my body reacts to him I want to remember it all.

The life ruining video aside, I want so badly to remember what it feels like to have him inside of me, all over me, every last fucking thing about our night together.

But just as quickly as my sexual thoughts about Slater Nicks came, they leave when he breaks apart from me and opens the passenger door for me to get back in the car, leaving me confused and curious about all things Slater Nicks.

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SLATER TOOK ME TO my absolute favorite lunch spot, Juan’s, a small Mexican restaurant with fajitas cooked to absolute perfection, and seasoned by God himself.

We made small talk here and there and I learned a few things about Slater’s background starting with the fact that he comes from a picture perfect little family.

He explained that his parents are so in love with each other even after being together for twenty-five years and that he loves them both tremendously.

It made me slightly envious because I’ve never experienced what it would be like to grow up in such a loving environment.

Watching his eyes light up when he talked about his family brought a smile to my face that I found very hard to erase.

Throughout our entire lunch though, the weight of the tape and our current situation was like an unwanted third party.

It was like Selene’s Nan was sitting with us the entire time.

Selene’s Nan is a miserable elderly woman who lives alone in Florida and enjoys irritating Selene and her parents for fun.

She even shows up unannounced to our shows and will stay with us for multiple days on end after only buying a one way ticket.

Usually by day three Selene gets so irritated with the woman that she buys her a return ticket and sends her on her way.

Don’t get me wrong, we love Nan. She’s Selene’s grandmother for fuck’s sake, but the woman can be very excruciating to be around.

Especially when she fakes injuries for attention and waves her wrist brace in your face to bait you into asking what happened to her.

Needless to say, the burden of the tape is up there with the burden of Nan.

Overall, the more time I spent with Sly, the more I started to actually enjoy his presence, though I won’t admit that to anyone else.

Now, we’re back in his car on our way back to my house so he can drop me off.

He has more old school Eminem playing and he’s singing along just as he was before.

As he messes up a few of the lyrics I start to chuckle at him and he grins at me, laughing under his breath.

“So,” he inserts, his brow raised in question, “rate your experience on our date.”

I laugh and roll my eyes at him, “Are you forgetting it was a fake date?”

His face falls for a second before he forces a playful expression back on, “Fine. Rate your experience on our fake date.”

I make a show of thinking, my fingers on my chin as if in deep thought. “Hmmmm.” I drag it out. He shifts anxiously in his seat and I realize he’s actually worried I didn’t enjoy myself. “Nine out of ten,” I admit.

He raises his brows, impressed with his high score. “Wow, why not a ten?”

I give him a look of doubt, “Because it was a fake date. Ten’s are reserved for real ones.”

He smirks, “So then why don’t we go on a real one?”

“I-” I stutter. “What?” I’m at a loss.

Seeing something on my face he clears his throat, forcing his eyes back on the road, “Relax. I’m messing with you.”

I exhale a pent up breath and relax into my seat.

I don’t know why the thought of going on a real date with him scares me so much.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t seriously dated anyone since Duncan and have some serious emotional issues to work through, but still, it doesn’t stop me from feeling a twinge of disappointment in my gut when he says he was just joking.

In truth, I really enjoyed my time with Sly today and I don’t mind so much that I’ll have to spend more time with him in the next couple of months.

I remind myself to make it clear that we aren’t actually together.

It was hard to remember tonight that this was fake because it felt so natural to laugh with him and to just be near him.

I have to make that reminder clear because I’m not willing to risk getting hurt and developing feelings for someone who’s only interested in fake dating me.

Sly pulls into my driveway and I blink as I realize we’re back at my house.

I must’ve blanked for a few minutes. He parks the car and quickly exits to open the door for me.

I’m surprised he’s still doing it considering there aren’t any cameras around now.

I guess he’s just a gentleman, another thing I find myself blushing over when it comes to him.

He opens my door and helps me out and for a second we just stare awkwardly at each other. It feels like there are unspoken words between us but neither of us can put those thoughts into sentences. Instead, I choose to break the ice, “Thank you. For today,” I clarify as if it needed clarification.

He gives me an awkward smile, “Anytime. I’m glad you had a good time given our current situation.”

I feel those damn butterflies going crazy in my stomach again.

“I did.” I don’t want this to end. I don’t want to say goodbye for some reason.

I think for a second about inviting him inside, but realize that’s probably a horrible idea and decide against it.

If I invite him inside, I’ll just be torturing myself with his scent, his smirks, his perfect face, all of it in my space, forever changing how I see my own home.

I nod towards the house, “I should probably get inside.”

He nods, “Yeah.”

I take a step away awkwardly and walk backwards a few steps to the house. I don’t hug him or anything, feeling slightly discomforted at the thought. “Goodnight,” I say even though it’s only six in the evening.

Sly tilts his head at me and oh my God is he gorgeous? “Goodnight, Aria.”

Yep. The next months are going to fucking suck. Why, you ask? Not because I’m stuck with Sly and I hate his guts, but because I’m stuck fake dating Sly and I’m actually insanely attracted to him. Universe, if you’re listening, why did you do this to me?