“It’s no relationship.”
“Please?” He pouts his bottom lip, clasping his hands beneath his chin. Dropping his hands, his eyes are nothing but serious. “I need you.”
He doesn’t need me. He could pick any girl on campus regardless of what he said. Many of them would be glad to do it just for the social ladder bump it would give them. Me? I couldn’t care less about popularity.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him to let me think about it, but what do I have to think about? All I have to do is bat my eyes and pretend to be his girlfriend. My part in this is easy, not like giving up a huge chunk of change like he’s planning on. Though he’s as casual about it as someone buying a Big Mac at McDonalds.
“Yes.”
His eyes turn to saucers, like he was expecting to have to do more convincing. “Yes?”
I nod, hoping I don’t regret this decision. “Yep. You’ve got yourself a fake-girlfriend.”
He holds his hand out to me to shake on it. His palm is rough, calloused, not at all what you’d expect from a rich kid like him. He plays baseball, so maybe that’s why.
He finishes the handshake by pulling me into a tight hug, stealing all the oxygen from my lungs. He lets me go with a blinding white smile that he probably paid top dollar for.
“You’re a life saver, Van.”
“It’s Vanessa.”
He frowns. “Nah, as your fake-boyfriend I should call you by a nickname. It shows familiarity.”
“All right, Ted.”
His eyes narrow to slits. “No. I’m not a serial killer. I’m a cuddly bear. Teddy it is. Besides, Teddy is already a nickname.”
“Fair point,” I sigh, already wondering if I’ve made a horrible decision. It’s not like I gave it very much thought, but what’s a girl to do when she’s desperate and an opportunity like this arises?
“We should exchange numbers.”
“Right.” I shake my head. “Of course.”
This is hands down the weirdest encounter I’ve ever had, and I can’t think straight.
“We should meet up tonight.”
“For what?” I blurt.
He flicks his hair out of his eyes. “To get to know each other rapid fire style. I told my dad I’d started dating someone a month before break, so we’re supposed to have known each other almost two months now.”
I blow out a breath. “That makes sense.”
“I’ll call you with the deets.”
Deets? What person actually says deets?
“Sure. Okay.”
“I’ll have your tuition paid in a few hours. My class is starting soon, and I’ll have to run by my dorm to get a check.”
In a few hours my tuition will be covered, and I’ll be able to graduate this spring like I should’ve been in the first place. I’m realizing what a divine blessing it is that Teddy walked in behind me today.
“What about a contract? Don’t you want me to sign something saying I won’t bail on you?”
“I suppose I should, but I don’t want a paper trail. I feel like I can trust you, Van, and my gut is rarely wrong. Are you planning to flake out?”
“No,” I scoff.
“Then perfect. No contract needed.”
“This is insane.” I rub my hands over my face.
“So, you’ve said.” He grins. “See you tonight.”
He winks at me and then he’s jogging away, sliding behind the wheel of a blue Porsche.
What the hell have you gotten yourself into, Vanessa?
I’m in way over my head. That much is obvious.
3
Teddy
I pull up outside a truck stop around thirty minutes from Aldridge, since Vanessa suggested it would probably be smart for us to meet somewhere no one from school is likely to be, that way we can go over all the details people usually know about each other when they’ve been dating for a couple of months.
My car is going to stick out like a sore thumb here, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.
I park the Porsche, shutting off the engine. A text from Vanessa says she’s already inside.
I don’t know what I was thinking, but when I heard about her predicament I wanted to help. For once I could do something decent with my family’s money. Besides, I did need to track down a fake-girlfriend, and she seemed like the perfect candidate. I’m not sure why my instinct seemed to know I could trust her for this job, because I’ve never even seen the girl on campus before. But my gut is usually right about people.
I slip my sunglasses off and stick them in the cupholder.
Breezing into the truck stop, my stomach rumbles at the smell of the greasy food. Looking toward the booths, a hand raises and waves me over.
I grin as I walk over to Vanessa, lowering to kiss her cheek before I slide in across from her. She stiffens a little at the touch of my lips and I feel like a dick.
“Sorry,” I say sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
I’ve always been an affectionate person, and sometimes I forget that others aren’t so keen on physical touch.
“It’s okay.” She tucks a wavy piece of dark brown hair behind her ear. “I need to get used to it.”
Vanessa is beautiful, and I’m honestly questioning how I never noticed her before. Surely, we’ve had to cross paths at some point? In the dining hall? Coffee shop? A party? I guess campus is large enough that we might’ve missed each other, but—
“Are you hungry?” she asks me, jolting me from my thoughts.
“Starved.”
She passes me a plastic menu that’s sticky to the touch. Hopefully from disinfectant and not greasy fingers, but let’s be honest it’s definitely the latter.
She studies her own menu, her nose scrunched in an adorable way.
Adorable? Really, Teddy? You can’t already be thinking your fake-girlfriend is adorable.
But obviously, this only makes sense if I am attracted to Vanessa. And I’d totally fuck her.
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t checked her out the moment I walked into the office and stood behind her. She’s thick and curvy, with a nice ass, glossy hair, and soft voice that I could listen to all day. Then when she turned around, I got a good look at her face, and I was even more attracted than I was before. Blue eyes, Angelina Jolie-esque pouty lips, and big boobs.
I’m a simple man, give me some tits to look at and an ass to hold and I’m happy.
But, of course, women are off limits.
Unless they’re of the girlfriend variety.
Well, the fake kind.
“Have you eaten here before?” I tap my fingers against the table. I’ve always had more energy than I knew what to do with.
“I used to work here.”
“Oh?” I arch a brow, laying the menu flat on the table. “Where do you work now?”
She worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “The Burger Palace. I’m a waitress. I’m sure it’s a far cry from the world you know.”
There’s an edge to her voice and I know what preconceived notions she probably has about someone like me.
I bite my tongue, so I don’t say a word. She’s not wrong. I grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth, but what people forget is that silver can poison you.