Page 15 of It's Complicated

I drop my food and square off to him, arms crossed over my chest. “Or else?”

“Or else Aiden will beat me to a pulp for hurting you.”

“Yeah, I could see that. Remember how you guys wanted to beat up Blaine Brown in sophomore year?”

“That guy had been a total jerk to you.”

“And you went alpha best friends on him. You terrified him so much he didn’t show his face around campus for the rest of the quarter.” I sigh. “Okay, I see why you can’t dump me. Can we make it a mutual thing? We tried being in a relationship and then realized we’re really just friends?”

“No one ever believes in the mutual break up. It has to be you.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, you’re such a wuss. Gosh, it’s only a fake break up. I’ll do it.”

“Okay, we should tell Aiden, tomorrow.”

“What? No! We can’t do it tomorrow, it’d look too suspicious. You have to fake date me for at least a couple of weeks.” I add alittle pico de gallo to my tacos, and ask, “Should we move on to the rules, then?”

6

JACE

“What rules?” I ask, stoically accepting my destiny.

Lori smirks, aware she’s won. “First off, we should be fake dating exclusively.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“I know it might be difficult for you.”

“Gosh, Lori, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“I meant no offense, just saying that I’m aware this arrangement will affect you more. I haven’t been on a date in three months while you’re a single, healthy man who’s very sexually active. Nothing wrong with that.”

Lori blushes and I can’t help but tease her a little. “Exactly how sexually active do you think I am?”

The blush deepens. “Ha-ha. I’m referring to the fact that you could probably get any woman you want.”

Not the only one I care about.

“You assume I’m a player?”

She shrugs. “I’m just saying. When was your last serious relationship?”

“I dated Michelle for four months.”

“Your girlfriend from three years ago?”

“Yeah.”

“Exactly.” Lori plays with her hair like she does whenever she’s nervous. I enjoy making her flush. It makes her even cuter. “My point is, can you fend off women’s advances for the next month so that from the outside it’ll look like we’re in a committed relationship?”

I smirk. “I’ll see what I can do, Lola.”

Lori rolls her eyes.

“Any other rules?”

“Not really. Just please, for the next few weeks, pretend you find me irresistible.”

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