Page 25 of Perfect Score

When we first agreed to share a room, we were going to have two queen beds so the sleep arrangement would be a little awkward but nothing we couldn't handle. This one bed situation is a completely different story.

He bends down to my ear. “I’d offer to sleep on the couch, but my back can’t handle it, and we play our rival team right after Christmas.”

He pulls back, and our eyes lock as if he’s giving me one last chance to back out of this situation. We’re too committed at this point.

The receptionist breaks my focus off him.

"Will this be the card you would like all incidentals and room service charged to as well?"

Brent turns to him and nods.

I have no idea how much he spent on this room, but based on the looks of this place and the astronomical standard room rates when I booked them, I know he just spent a small fortune on me.

"Brent…" I say to get his attention.

I should tell him he doesn’t need to do this and spend his money.

He turns to me and smiles, pushing back from the counter as the hotel receptionist swipes his card. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me against his hard chest.

"Did you hear Phoebe? A two-person bathtub. We can’t pass that kind of opportunity up, now can we?"

His eyes flicker at Liam to make sure he’s watching, and then he presses a kiss to the top of my head. Phoebe’s eyes widen, and her face lights up.

She’s loving this, but she’s the only one because Liam clears his throat and then turns and walks back toward the bar.

The hotel receptionist pulls a receipt off the print to his left and then lays it on the marble bar-height reception desk.

"Here you are, Mr. Tomlin. Here are your keys. Your suite is on the fifth floor. If you could just sign this receipt, you’ll be on your way."

Brent releases his hold on me and turns to the desk. I do too. I can’t ignore the number of zeros on the receipt page.

That can’t be right, can it?

It's that much for one weekend?

It’s more than David spent on Phoebe’s engagement ring… and I thought even that was extravagant.

With Liam no longer in sight, I start apologizing profusely.

"I’m so sorry. That’s way too expensive. Let’s just cancel and go down the road," I beg.

"Zoey, it’s not a big deal, I promise you. I can afford it easily, Okay? And it comes with a king-sized bed, which is better for me than the queen bed in the standard rooms." He signs the sheet and scoops up the two white plastic key cards with the hotel logo on them.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and squeeze my eyes shut for a second, trying to shake the crushing feeling that I owe Brent a lot more than pretending to be his fake girlfriend with how much he just spent.

Either he’s going to expect something else in return or fake girlfriend duties are expensive.

Chapter Eight

Brent

“Wait… did I miss something?” David asks with one of his eyebrows downturned.

“Zoey and I are dating,” I tell him, my arm still wrapped around her.

“You’re dating Zoey?” he asks, his voice squeaking a little at the end. Then he looks straight at Zoey. “I thought you hated him?”

Zoey tries to speak but stutters for a second, so I take the lead.

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