Page 23 of The Fake Script
A smile pulls at his lips. “Of course.” He nods firmly. “But don’t you have a real boyfriend of your own?”
I snort. “Please. I don’t do boyfriends. I love my freedom way too much to tie myself down to a guy. I’m not a relationship kind of gal.”
His brows knit together. “Yet you read romance? I’m confused.”
“I don’t have an issue with fictional love. It’s the only way love can ever work.”
He swallows hard. “Okay.”
“Anyway, this fake dating thing shouldn’t be too hard. It’s only a few pictures here and there, right?” I know my tropes like the back of my hand. I should be an expert at this. Plus, this will shut up Alice and Hayley about me having feelings for him. Would I put myself through all this if I liked him? I don’t think so. As long as it doesn’t turn into a marriage of convenience, I’m good.
Oh, gosh! What did I just do?
“I guess so.” He nods slowly. “I’ve never done this before.”
“Well, it’s settled, then. I’ll just go back home to change, and I’ll come back for our regular session.”
“Sure,” he says, standing upand walking with me to the door. “At least if there’s paparazzi around, it’ll be enough to convince them.”
I clear my throat. “Um, right. See you later.”
As I exit the trailer, sure enough, a couple of guys are waiting with large cameras behind the barricades. I wave at them with a smirk and hurry back home.
When I step into the kitchen, Hayley and Alice are at the table having breakfast.
“So, I guess I’m dating Auston Buckley,” I say before retreating to my room.
Screams followed by the scraping of chairs and heavy footsteps erupt from the kitchen.
“What?” Hayley squeals.
“Why did you lie to us?” Alice adds, which makes me turn around.
“I didn’t. We weren’t together when you asked me this morning. Now we are.” I take a deep breath, because I know the excitement is going to be through the roof once I tell them the truth. “We’re fake dating.”
“Ah!” Hayley wriggles her hands.
Alice covers her mouth, her eyes wide. “Oh my gosh!”
Knew it.
Hayley shakes her head, her short pink hair quivering with the movement. “Why, though? What happened?”
I sigh. “He and Madison were only together for publicity, but she’s seriously into him. She keeps harassing him to start pretending again, like posting hints that they’re together on her socials, and he’s really sick of her pestering. Then, yesterday, as you both know, the paparazzi took pictures of Auston and me and dug up our yearbook pictures. They immediately made the connection and fabricated a love story reunion.”
“Those paparazzi and I think alike,” Alice says with a nod of approval.
I shake my head, repressing the urge to roll my eyes. “Well, anyway, I agreed to fake date him to get her off his back once and for all.” And because I’m way too stubborn to take back my words, even the ones I blurted without thinking them through.
“Right,” Alice says, her eyes glowing brighter than usual. “It’s your turn to live one of our beloved tropes. Hayley got Best Friend’s Brother, Hockey Player, and He Falls First. I had Grumpy Sunshine, Enemies to Lovers, and Single Dad—well, uncle. And now, you will have Fake Dating, Celebrity, and . . . what would be the third one?”
“You—” I start, but Hayley cuts me off.
“Reverse Grumpy Sunshine?”
“Good one,” Alice says with a nod. “Or Black Cat/Golden Retriever. Auston seems to fit the bill.”
“Oh, and Second Chance, of course,” Hayley adds. “Never been a fan of that one, but I like the crush thing better than getting back together with an ex.”