Sliding into the car and letting the engine purr to life, he finally answers my question now that we’re alone again. “We met when I went to The Burger Palace. You were my waitress, wooed by my indelible charm. We spent the evening talking and the rest is history.”
“And your friends are going to buy this?” Doubt fills my tone.
Even Teddy looks a little unsure. “They will.”
“You should’ve picked someone who’s a better actress.” I play with a piece of loose fringe on my knee. “I’m never going to be able to pull this off.”
Surprise zings through my body when Teddy’s hand lands on top of mine. He laces our fingers together, a half-smile quirking his lips. “I didn’t want another girl. I chose you.”
I inhale a shaky breath. It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something yet again about how any girl on campus would’ve jumped at the chance, but he’s right. He chose me—going as far as to pay my tuition in exchange, which let’s be honest isn’t a fair trade at all.
I make a silent vow to myself that this will be the last time I say anything about it to him.
I agreed to his terms and we’re in this together until the end of the school year when we both graduate. He’ll get his inheritance and I’ll get my diploma.
“What’s your go-to karaoke song?” he asks, changing the subject.
I don’t know whether this is more of his getting to know each other questions or he’s simply trying to distract me.
“’The Real Slim Shady.’”
“Eminem?” He glances at me briefly in shock before his eyes are back on the road.
“What? I can’t like Eminem?”
“Nah, it’s not that.” He grins, driving with his left hand, the other still holding on to mine. It really shouldn’t be so sexy, him driving one-handed, but I think maybe my hormones are in overdrive and anything could make me hot and bothered right now. “You just don’t look like a rap girl.”
“I don’t look like a rap girl?” I scoff, stifling a snort. “What do I look like then?”
“I don’t know, the One Direction boy bander type.”
“Hey,” I protest, angling my body in his direction, making him tighten his hold on me. “Don’t diss One Direction, and I’m perfectly capable of loving both. What song would you choose?”
“Shania Twain’s ‘Man! I Feel Like A Woman!’”
I press my lips together, but a snicker still slips through. “I would not have guessed that.”
“I like to keep people on their toes.”
“That you do.” It’s quiet for a few minutes before I voice a question of my own. “I know you play baseball, but I have no idea what position you play.”
“Shortstop.” I look over to find him smiling from ear to ear, green eyes glinting with amusement.
“What? Why are you smirking at me?”
“You know I play baseball.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t act so cocky. You’re popular. I might not be Ms. Social Butterfly, but I do hear things.”
“And what have you heard about me?” He flicks his blinker on. “If it’s the twelve-inch rumor it’s not that big. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still plenty big, but—”
“Teddy?”
“Yes?”
“Are you talking about your penis size?”
“Yes.” He smirks, parking near the front of the bar. “It’s ten, in case you’re wondering. And yes, I measured.”
My jaw drops and I yank my hand out of his. “I didn’t need that information!”
“It’s big, sure, but not too big. Just right, if you ask me. At least, no one has ever complained before.”
“I’m getting out of this car right now.”
“Wait.” He glares at me when I reach for my door. “I’ll open the door for you.”
“Why?” I give him a speculative look.
“I’ve never been a real boyfriend before, but if I was, I’d always open doors for you, so that’s what I’m doing.”
“Oh.”
“I can be a gentleman.” He leans close to me, and I hold my breath, unsure of what’s about to happen. “Ten,” he mouths.
“Oh my God.” I shove him back by the shoulders. “You’re so gross.”
He cackles the entire time he gets out of the car, crossing in front of it, and as promised, opens the door for me. I step out, shaking my head.
He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. He presses his lips to the shell of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Showtime,” he murmurs.
Stepping into the bar, I resist the urge to slam my hands over my ears because it’s so damn loud. I’ve heard Danika mention she was coming to Harvey’s before, even extended an invitation my way a few times but stopped after I always said no.
“You like this place?” I shout to be heard, holding on tightly to Teddy so I don’t get lost in the crowd.
“Yeah, it’s the best.” He steers me toward the back and my heart races because I know the moment he stops it’s time to put my game face on.
When I see the big table he’s leading me to, my heels dig into the concrete floor. “Oh no, no, no. I can’t do this,” I practically whine.
He leans down to my ear again. “It’ll be fine. Trust me.”
Trust him? Trust him? Is he insane?
Trusting him is what got me into this whole fiasco in the first place.
We reach the table, all eyes on us, and there’s no turning back.
“Guys,” Teddy’s voice booms to be heard above the din, “this is my girlfriend Vanessa. Vanessa, this is … everybody.” Before I can panic even more over not knowing their names, he starts pointing and rattling them out. “That dude with the black baseball cap that looks like he’s plotting murder is Mascen. Beside him with the glasses is his girlfriend Rory.” The girl in question smiles and gives me a tiny wave. “That guy there with a furrow in his brow is Cole. I call him Dad.” He points to what might be the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen. You know, besides my boyfriend. “And on his left is his girlfriend Zoey. Also known as Mom.”
The pretty girl with curly hair and warm brown eyes smiles, shaking her head. “And we call him our pet dog.”
I snort, trying to cover it by rubbing my hand under my nose.
Teddy continues on like nothing happened. I think it must take a lot to faze him, but clearly his father gets under his skin.
“The dude with two girls that I have no idea the names of hanging all over him is my roommate Jude.” Looking at the guy in question, muscular and tall even sitting down, with thick dark brown hair and a stubbled jaw, blue eyes shadowed by heavy brows, I decide that all of Teddy’s friends are gorgeous. “On the end there is Cree.” The pale-skinned guy with wavy, nearly black hair, and icy blue eyes, lifts his hand in a wave. “No idea who the girl is.”
“My name is Janessa. We hooked up last year. Did you forget?”
Cree scoots away from the girl and she glares while Teddy shrugs. “I don’t remember most girls, sweetheart.”