Page 12 of My Reluctant Valentine

Fuck pretending. I want itall. I’ll pretend to pretend, but over the next month my aim will be to convince her that this thing between us is strong enough to last for real.

5

LESLIE

Three weeks of playing Ace Hunter's fake girlfriend has been an exercise in sweet torture.Every morning, he shows up at my door with coffee and that dangerous smile.We head to Rosa's for breakfast, where he holds my hand across the table while stealing bites of my pancakes.Then he escorts me to work like some leather-clad knight, complete with a kiss that feels anything but fake.

Emma's thrilled with all the extra daddy time, especially since Ace started picking us both up after school.Even Jana's stopped trying to set me up, though her knowing looks when Ace walks me to my classroom make me want to hide in the supply closet.

I'm putting away the last of today's art projects that I brought home with me to mark when my phone buzzes.Shari's smiling face lights up my screen, and guilt hits me.Some best friend I am--I haven't given her a real update in weeks.

"Don't hate me," I say instead of hello.

"Bitch, I could never. But you better have a good explanation for ghosting me while you're playing house with your hot biker daddy."

I laugh, collapsing into my desk chair."I wasn't ghosting. I sent you that text this morning.I've just been... busy."

"Mmhmm. One measly text in two weeks does not count, ma'am.But I'll excuse it since you were busy getting that MC D?"

"Shari! There's been no... D-getting of any kind."

"Girl, why not? From the pictures floating around social media, that man looks like he could climb you like a tree."

Heat floods my cheeks. "You've been stalking my fake boyfriend?"

"Someone had to make sure he's good enough for my best friend.Plus, those arms? Damn."

"They are nice arms," I admit, thinking about how they feel when he wraps them around me to help me off his bike."But it's not real, remember?"

"Bullshit. I hear that tone. You're catching feelings."

"I'm not--" I stop, because lying to Shari never works."Maybe. A little. He's... different than I expected."

"Different good?"

"Different amazing." The words tumble out."He reads to Emma every night, does all the voices.He remembers how I like my coffee.Yesterday, he brought me lunch because he knew I had back-to-back meetings.And the way he looks at me sometimes..."

"Like he wants to eat you alive?"

"Like I matter." I twist a loose curl around my finger."Like I'm something precious he wants to protect, not possess."

"Oh honey." Shari's voice softens."You're in deep."

"I know. And it terrifies me."

"Because of Ian?"

"Because of everything." I stand, pacing my empty classroom."What if Ian finds us? What if he hurts them?Emma's the sweetest little girl, Shari.I can't put her in danger just because I'm falling for her dad."

"First of all, from what you've told me about Ace Hunter, that man can handle himself.Second, shouldn't that be his choice to make?"

"I guess..."

"No guessing. You deserve happiness, Les.Stop letting that psycho control your life."

"When did you get so wise?"

"Someone had to balance out your dumb ass." Her laugh turns wicked."Now, more importantly, your rushed text this morning mentioned dinner tonight.What are you wearing?"

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