Page 46 of Once Upon a Fake Date

Who was waiting for me with a big, goofy expression, his arms open wide, like he knew just where I wanted to be.

In his arms, always.

CHAPTER 14

Parker

When Audrey had told me that their date auction was an annual event, a fundraiser for her sorority’s charity, I hadn’t imagined anything like this. It felt like half the school was here, crowded into the auditorium to watch the show.

And damn, if I hadn’t felt a flare of possession when she’d gone up on stage. I couldn’t help it. She looked perfect, like a pretty pink princess, especially with the lights behind her illuminating her golden hair.

I couldn’t help but think about how right it had felt to hold her in my arms the other day during rehearsals. How right it was to kiss her in front of the entire cast and crew of the musical.

To claim her as mine, even if it was just in our roles.

We were dating, even if it wasn’t real, but I hadn’t even taken her out yet on a date. A real date. I frowned at the thought. Sure, we were visible on campus. We walked together, shared dinner most evenings together, and spent most of our free time together. She let me hold her hand, interlacing our fingers as we walked with no space between our bodies.

It wasn’t enough, though. I was still failing as her fake boyfriend. I needed to step up my game.

Maybe that was why I’d bid on her basket. Not because I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else going on a date with her, but because I’d wanted to prove that she was mine.

The look she was giving me as she came out from the back told me I’d made the right call. I didn’t regret spending all that money if she looked this happy afterward. Truly, there was nothing better than the feeling of your girl walking straight into your waiting arms.

I swept her up into a hug, holding her tight against my body.

“You did so good up there, sunshine,” I whispered against the top of her head. “I’m proud of you.” I wanted to give her the words because I was beginning to suspect that no one told her how amazing she was. Sometimes it felt like she thought she needed to tone herself down. To be less than the amazing person she was. I wanted to prove to her that the only people who would ask her to change weren’t friends at all.

To support her in every decision and every choice she made. If she wanted to wear pink every day, to wear her shimmery eyeshadow and sparkly lip gloss because it made her happy, that was no one’s business but hers. All I wanted was to see her happy.

“I can’t believe you just dropped five hundred dollars on me,” Audrey mumbled as she pulled away slightly so she could look up at me.

I shrugged. “It was for a good cause. Plus, I wanted my date.” I smirked at her. “No one else was getting my heart-shaped sandwiches.”

Because damn, one look at her up there, and I’d known that there was no way in hell I was going to let anyone else win a date with Audrey. Fake or not, she was my girlfriend, and I wanted all of her dates. All of her smiles.

All of those pretty little blushes she gave me.

She wrapped her arms around my back, hugging me tight. “Thank you.”

Brushing her bangs out of her eyes, I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Of course, Rosie Girl. I’ve got you.”

“I know,” she murmured.

“So, how about that date?” I wiggled my eyebrows.

“Now?” Audrey laughed. “It’s late. And don’t you have a game tomorrow?”

We did. And next weekend, we had our first away game of the season. I sighed. “Raincheck, then?”

“Whenever you want,boyfriend,” Audrey winked at me.

Wrapping my arm around her, I tugged her close as we headed out of the auditorium, leaving all of it behind us.

“Did you eat?” I asked, looking over at her. If there was one thing I knew, it was that she was constantly forgetting to feed herself. When she got busy, it was the last thing on her mind. But she had me now, and I’d always make sure to take care of her, even when she forgot herself.

She shook her head. “No. I got caught up setting up and?—”

I nodded, guiding her to my car.

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