So dangerous to think like this. I don’t mean anything to her. I’m a means to an end. A job with a paycheck. I did this to myself and now I regret it.
I scowl and slug back the beer I got from the bar earlier. It’s my second one and if I have to endure this for much longer, I’m grabbing another soon. I’m pissed that my plan to parade around a fake girlfriend has gone straight to hell and I have no idea how to stop this train wreck called my emotions. I’m not even sure if I want to stop this.
That’s the stupidest thing of all. How much I want to torture myself. But if it feels good being with her, why would I want to stop?
You’ve done other things that felt real good, but you knew you should stop.
I hate that voice inside my head. It reminds me of all my faults. All the bad shit I’ve done. I’m not a good person and I know it. I don’t need the constant reminders.
“Drew, there you are!” Damn it, it’s Kaylie and she’s got two friends trailing behind her. All girls I went to school with, and all of them perfectly dressed and done up so they look like identical plastic Barbie dolls. It’s hard to tell them apart. “We’ve been looking all over for you. You remember Abby and Ella, right?”
“Yeah. Hey.” I flick my chin in greeting and they all simultaneously flutter their eyelashes at me in response, giggling as they watch me. It’s completely unnerving and I wish they’d leave.
Beside me, I hear a quiet snort emanate from Fable, which makes me smile. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the slightly bemused look on her face, mixed with a dose of irritation. Kaylie is persistent, I gotta give her that, but I wish she would catch a clue.
“There’s dancing later you know,” Kaylie says, oblivious to the death glare Fable’s throwing at her. “Maybe I could steal you away from your—girlfriend. We could catch up, since it’s been a while.”
She makes it sound like we used to be together or something, when truthfully I can barely remember her. I don’t know why this girl is so hell bent on pursuing me.
“Every dance is taken by me tonight. Sorry.” Fable’s voice is bright and cheery but she doesn’t sound one bit sorry. Plus, she’s resting her hand on my upper thigh, her fingers curving around my leg so they’re almost brushing against my dick. It’s a possessive move and I freaking love it.
“Yeah, uh…sorry Kaylie.” I offer her an apologetic smile which she doesn’t bother returning. She leaves in a huff, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder as she turns and walks away with her little drones. I watch them go, ultra aware of Fable next to me. More aware of her small hand that still rests on my thigh.
I don’t want her to move it either.
“Tell me what that girl is to you.”
She sounds mad. I look at her, my gaze meeting hers. Those green eyes are shooting fire and I’m her target. “Nothing. I knew her in high school but we hardly talked.”
Fable’s lips are firm, her eyes hard. She looks ready to kick some ass. “She acts like an old girlfriend.”
“She wasn’t.” I shake my head.
“You banged her then.” Her eyes narrow into slits and my heart constricts in my chest as realization hits.
Fable is jealous. And if the gloating sensation floating through me makes me an ass, then so be it. I’m actually getting some emotion out of this girl. She acts like she cares.
“I didn’t bang her.” My voice is soft. I don’t want her mad. Reaching out, I touch her, drift my fingers across her cheek as I stare at her lips. I want to kiss her. Reassure her that there’s nothing between Kaylie and I, no history, no nothing.
“Good.” Her hand drops away from my thigh and she pulls back from my touch. I’m left reaching for air and I watch in disbelief as she withdraws into herself completely. She’s shut me out in the space of about ten seconds and it’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen.
I had her, now I don’t. And I have no clue why.
She pushes back her chair and stands, holding out her hand toward me. “Could I have my cell, please?”
“Where are you going?” I reach inside my pocket and pull the phone out, giving it to her. I’m struck again by how gorgeous she looks in that dress. I know she’d look even more gorgeous out of it.
“Outside. I need to call my brother and make sure he’s okay.” She offers me a quick smile and before I can ask if she needs me to come with her, she’s gone, threading through the crowd and headed toward the doors that lead outside onto a giant terrace that overlooks the golf course.
The room swallows her until I can’t see her any longer, and my throat gets tight. I miss her. Ridiculous, considering that I hardly know her, and we’ve only been together like this for three freaking days if you count the day we drove down here, but still.