Page 20 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
I chuckle and shift into park outside her apartment. “Guess that means I’m exceeding expectations.”
She doesn’t move to get out yet. She lingers, eyes on mine. “This feels so easy, Theo. It’s comfortable in a way I didn’t expect. I think we might be pretty good at pretending.”
I nod slowly. “Don’t overthink it, Henley. Let’s just take it one day at a time.”
She opens the door before I can say anything else. “Good night, Barlowe.”
“Night, Harkin.”
And even though I know we’re faking it, I watch her all the way to the door, just in case she turns around.
She doesn’t.
But part of me still hopes she would.
Chapter Nine
Henley
I’m halfway across campus when I hear him.
“Henley.”
Dakota’s voice somehow sounds whiny and angry at the same time.
I keep walking.
It’s been a few days since my bookstore date with Theo, and I’ve had to block two different numbers I’m assuming Dakota used some sort of phone app to create.
Theo and I both posted photos from the bookstore, and it has people foaming at the mouth.
I’ve only seen a few of the comments. Some people who have clearly heard about the frat party incident seem to be in favor of me jumping into bed with a new guy. Others wish it were someone from Shoreline, or really anywhere other than Hudson View. And some clearly need a lobotomy with the level of misogyny they are willing to type out for the world to see.
But honestly, if I gave even a single fuck about what someone thought, I wouldn’t be me. If someone wants to give their opinion that I didn’t ask for in the first place, let them waste their time.
“Henley,” Dakota snaps again, louder this time, and I roll my eyes so hard, it hurts. I know him too well to think he’ll just let it go.
So, I stop, slowly. Like a creepy doll in a horror film, I turn to face him, my face devoid of any emotion.
He’s already marching toward me with that cocky scowl he wears like it’s stitched into his DNA, but I see the small flinch when his eyes scan my expressionless face. His backward baseball cap and designer jeans don’t look nearly as appealing to me now.
“What?” I ask flatly, crossing my arms over my chest.
He doesn’t stop until he’s too close, like he wants to intimidate me. “You think this is funny?”
“Thinkwhatis funny? Did you tell a joke? Oh wait, youarethe joke.” I don’t let my lips curl into a smirk, despite how much I want to. Interacting with him at all is a waste of time, but showing any kind of emotion will just fuel him into thinking he can get a reaction from me.
He scoffs. “You and Barlowe. Posting pictures. Walking around town together. Everyone’s talking.”
“Good,” I say with my best impression of a dreamy smile. “Let them talk.”
“Cut the shit, Henley. You don’t evenlikehim.” Dakota’s voice is a snarl, full of hatred.
His shoulders hunch in, his face turning red with anger.
I force myself to stand still, despite wanting to take a step back. I’ve never seen him look this way and if I’m honest, it’s a little scary.
“My feelings for Theo are none of your business. Nothing about me is your business anymore,” I say, and I mean every bit of it. As far as I’m concerned, how I might be starting to feel about Theo isn’t any of my business either.
