Page 30 of Faking Romance

I stand abruptly because I need to get away from Gray. That was clearly some weird reaction to alcohol. I should go before I try to seduce my fake boyfriend.

“I’m going to head down. Al, you need help cleaning up?”

Al waves a hand at me. “Nah, it’s Hutch’s turn to clean up.”

I giggle as Hutch groans.

“I’ll walk you down,” Gray says as Cam follows Drew to the door.

I follow Gray, and when we reach his apartment, I stop.

“I got it from here. I’ll see you Tuesday,” I state.

“I want to know you got inside,” he says not budging. I glare at him. I don’t know why his chivalry is annoying me, but it is. He sighs and waves a hand.

“Come here. There’s a back way,” he explains.

I frown but follow him. He takes me past the mail slots on the first floor, into the back hallway that leads out to our courtyard and driveway into the garage under the building. There’s a little fence separating my back entrance from the garden. He pushes on it and a gate swings open.

“Huh. Al didn’t show me that,” I say with a frown, wondering how I haven’t discovered that yet. I guess I’ve been too preoccupied.

“Well, he probably forgot. Good night,” he says as he watches me unlock my door. “Roxy?”

I pause as I push the door open. “Yes?”

“I had fun tonight. Thanks for agreeing to fake date me,” he says quietly.

I smile into the darkness of my studio. “You’re welcome. Good night,” I say, and I walk into my apartment and shut the door. I pull my shirt up against my nose, realizing it smells like Gray’s cologne from where I was leaning my shoulder against his. Fuck, why does my fake boyfriend have to smell so damn good? And why did I almost kiss him tonight? I need to improve my fake-girlfriend skills. I absolutely cannot go falling for a man who doesn’t want a real relationship. That’s the last thing I need right now. Geez, I’m going to suck at being a fake girlfriend.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Grayson

I sit on my sofa, staring at the wall. What the fuck just happened? I almost kissed Roxy. I shake my head. No. It was just the alcohol. That didn’t almost happen, or did it? Shit.

Sighing, I text the only person I can trust about this. Brayden. Aside from Kasen, he’s the most like Fort Knox of anyone in the building.

Me: You back from Ava tuck-in duty?

Bray: Yep. What’s up?

Me: I need advice.

Bray: Shit. You must be hard-pressed for it if you’re asking me. Come on up.

I head to Bray’s apartment, knocking on the door only once before he opens it. I walk past him and sit down on one of his two oversized leather chairs.

“I need to tell you something but you are sworn to absolute secrecy. You cannot tell Carly or anyone else,” I begin.

He sits down on the other chair. “OK,” he says slowly.

“Roxy is my fake girlfriend,” I blurt out while staring down at the ground and running a hand through my hair. After a moment of silence, I glance over at him.

He opens his mouth, closes it, and opens it again. “I…what?” he stammers.

Sighing, I lean back in the chair and stare at his ceiling.

“I maybe fucked up and told Pierce I had a girlfriend. Then I felt stupid telling the truth, so I mentioned it to Al. Al says no worries, I’ll get a woman to be your fake girlfriend.” I pause as Bray laughs.

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