Page 51 of The Pretender

My dick loses all restraint and digs into her back as the tempo picks up and her arm goes around my neck. She flashes the camera a sleepy, mischievous grin that indicates that this dance is only a precursor to what happens next. She’s a natural, flirting with the camera, and all I can think is the man behind her looks as if he’s in pain and in love at the same time.

The music stops and I take a step back, knocking the tripod over. Right now, I could throw my phone and the attached tripod out the window and not give a single fuck, just as long as Valentina leaves with it.

“Fun’s over. You weren’t half bad, bro.”

Calling her bro feels better than calling her Valentina. It changes the dynamics of the room, reminding me that we are enemies and not a real couple.

“Agreed,” she says, heading into the bathroom. “I’ll text you.”

I nod, the hurt and angry asshole in me coming out and putting her back into the enemy bucket where she belongs. “Don’t forget to take my pillow because you’re not getting your fucking chair back.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

Sebastian

University CamFlix Competition Submission

Entry Number: 75

Sebastian and Valentina

Second Interview Continued, also the time Vee couldn’t keep a fucking secret

“Wow. Okay. Interesting story.” Tom looks to Vee. “How about you, Valentina? When did you know you loved Sebastian?”

I can see the evil grin stretch across Vee’s face. “Well, Tom. I think I knew he was the man of my dreams when he was shit-faced drunk, and I had to drag him to the car after he puked on the courthouse lawn.”

Tom’s brows raise. “The courthouse? Why the courthouse?”

Vee shrugs, and I groan. I know where this dreaded story is going. “You see, Tom. We had been at a party, and well, Sebastian, here, had wanted to see the stars and he insisted you could see them best on the courthouse lawn in the square.”

I interrupt. “I was really, really drunk. I wasn’t making any sense and I find it hard to believe that I gave a shit about some stars.”

“Oh but you did, honey. In fact, you told me when you were a little boy you would lay out in your yard, in awe, because that same star could be seen from all over the world.”

* * *

I’ve been upsince five and jerked off twice in the shower before I decided that I needed something more physical to burn off the tension raging through my veins. Instead of going to the gym and reminiscing about the times Vee and I worked out together, I headed to the hardware store. A few hundred bucks later, I’m shirtless and sweating from the eighty-five-degree weather, but my grass is starting to look somewhat kept.

“And I thought the only thing you knew how to run was your mouth.”

I’d know that snark anywhere, even yelling over the motor of a lawnmower. I flip the switch and turn slowly, eyeing my neighbor who’s back in her own flannel shirt with a tight tank top underneath. Her shorts are high on her thighs and her boots look like they could use replacing.

“You’re trespassing,” I tell her, making sure I give her a look of boredom.

“And you’re an asshole, but let’s not get technical.” She shrugs. “I’m just stopping by to let you know that I won’t be able to meet for lunch. I have a thing.”

After the awfulness of the dance, Vee left, and we didn’t speak again until around midnight, two hours after I posted the video of us dancing and the thousands of comments that came in. The competitor in me kicked in, and I decided that with enough jerking off, I could handle being Vee’s fake boyfriend. At least until the contest was over. So I texted her.

Me: Lunch? Strategy? I promise to take my Midol.

She mademe sweat for a couple of hours, but she eventually texted back.

Pretend To Like Her: Fine. You pick the place, Princess. I’d hate for us to spend it in the bathroom again.

I didn’t respond.

“What ‘thing’ do you have to do that would be more important than strategizing?” I try to keep the frustration and curiosity out of my voice.

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