Page 69 of Faking the Book Boyfriend

“Gemma, besides my last name and job, everything I’ve said to you is the truth.”

“You live in Philadelphia?” I accusatorily ask.

He winces knowing there’s more to it than his name and job. “You know I don’t.”

“Where have you been staying?”

“With my friend Layton.”

My eyes nearly pop out of my head. “As in Layton Lancaster?” Only the biggest baseball star on the planet.

He nods. “Yes, he’s one of my best friends.”

“Start talking,DePaul.”

“Cheetah—”

“As in Cruz Gonzales?” Another huge baseball star.

“Yes, he’s also a close friend. I was out to dinner in New York City with Layton, Cheetah, and our agent, Tanner Montgomery. Tanner just got divorced, and we were all trying to cheer him up. Cheetah kept looking at his phone. It turns out that he was watching your Book Boyfriend Builders video.”

Fucking hell, that video had a far reach. Famous baseball players? Our drunk asses were crazy.

He continues. “He’s a romance book reader so he knew who all of you were.”

“Cheetah Gonzales, the famous baseball player, reads our books?”

“Yes. Religiously. He turned the phone to show us the video, and I swear to god, it was like a shot to the heart when I saw your face. You were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. Your laugh and smile were intoxicating. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. There was nothing I wouldn’t do to meet you. I didn’t think. We sat right there at dinner and filled out the application.”

“You’re telling me that Layton Lancaster, Cheetah Gonzales, and Tanner Montgomery all sat there with you to fill out our Book Boyfriend application?”

He nods. “Yes. We all contributed something to it.”

“What about—”

“I wrote the personal statement myself. Cheetah took the picture of my ass. That was his idea. The personal statement was all me.”

I nod. “Why lie about who you are?”

“I didn’t want to use my notoriety. You have no idea what it’s like to never know a woman’s true intentions. They see money and fame before us as individuals.”

“And once we met?”

“I wanted you to get to know me, Trey, the man who was already head over heels for you. Not Trey DePaul the baseball player.”

I sigh. Part of me understands it, and part of me is still hurt.

“Everything I’ve told you since is true. There was no Jenna. I made her up to get to know you and spend time with you.”

“How could you possibly think that I wouldn’t recognize you?”

“I’m not Layton, with paparazzi following me wherever I go. People in New York know me, but I’m not known everywhere. I don’t have issues like he has all over the country.” He rubs his beard. “Plus, I have this now. I’m not allowed to grow it during the season. I thought I could fly under the radar for a bit.”

“You know I’m into sports.”

“Football, not baseball. You’ve never once mentioned baseball.”

“Because baseball isn’t in season right now.”

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