Page 10 of Fake Situationship

“Okay, sweetheart.” He lifts me into his arms and I gasp, “No, stop. Put me down. I’m too heavy.”

“Nonsense. You’re perfect. Now let’s get you to bed.”

“Hmmm. Bed, that’s nice.”

His lips touch my forehead.Swoon.The comfortable mattress is beneath me, I bury my head into my pillow, and inhale. Zach takes off my shoes and wraps a throw around me.

“Are you going to be okay, sweetheart?”

“Hmmm.” I fade into dreamland, the last thing I remember is his soft lips on my cheek.

Zach

My phone buzzes in my pocket, startling me awake. I lift my head, look around, scrubbing my face with my hands as I watch Claire snore softly in her bed. Last night, I wasn’t comfortable leaving her, so I pulled a chair over, settling in after I filled an enormous glass of water, and found her some pain meds for the killer headache she’s bound to have.

It was fun watching her let loose and just be. She’s an adorable drunk, and easy to see she doesn’t imbibe very often. The fact she felt safe to drink with me means a lot.

I check my phone, and curse as I read about a pipe bursting at the new hotel. I need to head over to check the damage. Every property and investment in this town means a lot to me, so I’m more involved than most investors who wait everything out.

Finding pen and paper, I jot down a quick note, leaving it on the bedside table with everything else. I wish I made her drink a full glass of water before she fell asleep last night, but she zonked out on me and waking her wasn’t an option.

She’s gorgeous, inside and out. I can’t wait to see her again, because there is no way it won’t happen.

The need to touch her is strong, so I stroke her soft cheek and grasp some of her hair twirling it around my finger as I kiss her forehead.

A day won’t go by where my lips won’t touch her in some fashion. I’m going to make sure of it.

“I’ll be back later,” I whisper, not wanting to wake her. I let myself out of her apartment and lock up behind me. The sooner I get this taken care of, the sooner I’m back here with my girl.

Chapter 9

Claire

It’s early evening andI’m still regretting the choices I made last night. Drinking all that champagne wasn’t a wise decision.

Most importantly, I didn’t get to say goodbye to Zach, and now we’re over. I hate myself right now. Clearly he stayed with me for a while since I had a remedy on my nightstand, my reading chair pulled by my bed, and a note informing me he had to go to work.

Sad and disappointed, I moved my pity party from the bed to the couch binging useless reality tv all day, while I try to indulge in copious amounts of comfort food, which happens not to be a lot since I don’t keep a lot in my apartment. A girl never knowswhen a binge is about to come on, so better be prepared not to have it at the ready.

Around three, I become alive enough to jump in the shower, wash away the last of the hangover fog, and make myself more alive. Only to zombie crawl back to the sofa. I break and order a pizza to be delivered.

So that’s what I’m doing now, munching on my pizza as a knock sounds on my door.

Groaning, I get up, hobble over to the door, look through the peephole, and gasp.

Zach, freshly showered and looking tastier than the pizza. I throw the slice of pizza I carried with me back to the open pizza box, not even looking where the slice landed, hopefully inside the box. I run my hands over my face and mouth, hoping to catch any stray pizza sauce. Pat down my frizzy hair I left to air dry. Idiot, now I’m a fuzzball. And stroke my hands down my clothes, which is an oversized Van Halen t-shirt that belonged to my dad, and oversized gray sweats.

Zach knocks again and I groan as I spot pizza stains on my shirt. Which happens when you lounge and eat, but no time to change.Or is there?

Another knock.

Nope. Shit.

I open the door, Zach smiles wide and locks his gaze with mine. “Hello, sweetheart. I brought dinner.” He lifts his hand up as the smell of Chinese food wafts around us. My mouth waters, but not for the food.

“Um, hi. What are you doing here?” Crap. I didn’t mean to sound rude, but I’m surprised to see him again.

His smile drops and he sets his shoulders as his body tenses.

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