Page 43 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Don’t start. I barely remember my own name right now, okay? There’s a lot happening this morning.”
“No, you didn’t throw up on me. But I got to see the show while you let it out in your friend's backyard.”
“Oh, thank god.”
“So, is that a yes?” I mull it over for another minute because that’s an entireyearof my life pretending to be in a relationship with someone I can’t stand ninety-five percent of the time. That’s insane, right? I mean, sure I wouldn’t be alone, rewatchingGossip Girlfor the tenthousandthtime while my friends repopulate or travel the Earth with their husbands, and it would keep me from having to accept unwanted dates from my parent’s co-workers ki—oh shit.I was supposed to go out with that guy this weekend. I will literally never hear the end of this from my parents if I don’t have a good reason for blowing that guy off. Whatever the hell his name was.
Well, I guess I found my reason to agree to this insanity. Though there’s no chance I’m letting him think it’s going to happen that easily.
“Are you still in there?” Fitz uses two fingers to tap me on the forehead and I swat them away.
“What’s in it for me?” I cross my arms over my chest, brushing against his since he’s still standing unnecessarily close to me.
“I thought you understood this was an owed favor for me escorting you to the wedding.”
“Okay, that wasonenight, this is ayearof my life. Did you really think I just didn’t have any other potential plans for the next 365 days?” I lift my brows in anticipation as he stares back at me.
“Whateverpotential plansyou had for yourself over the next year, I promise to make it worth your while to…postpone them.” The arrogant assurance to his tone makes my skin tingle.
“How so?”
“Say yes and find out.”
Note to self: Don’t make decisions while hungover and high on the smell of rich boy cologne.
“I have one condition.” He gives me a curious glance. “No one can know it’s fake.”
Because how embarrassing is that?!
“Even better,” he agrees.
“Fine. One year.” I hold out my hand and he smiles.
“We’ll see.” He grabs my hand and pulls me flush against his chest and I curse my body for the way my nipples harden against the thin fabric of my T-shirt. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to make deals with the devil, Trouble?” I swallow hard past the lump forming in my throat, allowing my eyes to lock with his.
“I have a bad habit of doing the opposite of what my parents tell me to.” He leans in and my entire body is frozen as his lips inch closer to mine.
“Of course you do.” He kisses my nose and my entire brain turns to static. Then he grabs his water bottle from the counter and walks towards the door. “We fly out Thursday, make sure Ginny has a sitter. We’ll be gone for a week.” He turns to face me once more. “See you soon, Sweetheart.” And with a wink, he’s gone and I’m left wondering what the hell I just signed up for.
CHAPTER 24
LAUREN
I’m pretty sure I haven’t moved an inch over the last hour and a half. My stomach is growling, Ginny is staring at me like I might be a ghost, and I can’t stop thinking about Fitz.
Stupid, handsome,be my fake girlfriend, Fitz.
“I’m an idiot. He’s killed all of my good brain cells, Gin.”
Meow.
She gets it.
Knock knock knock.
What a perfect time for company. I still look like a bridge troll and now I’m starving. I kiss Ginny on the nose, pausing when the memory of Fitz doing the same thing to me flashes through my mind.
Knock knock knock.
