Page 55 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
I slide out of Darius’ embrace, glaring at him. “What are you doing?”
Adrian studies Darius and me again, calculating our relationship, before saying, “It’s fine, Verena. There’s something I need to take care of, anyway. We’ll talk later,” and heads out the front door.
I have the urge to pull Adrian back and reassure him we’re all good. That this guy who traveled halfway across the world because I “so desperately need him” is a platonic relationship. Not even that, Darius is gay. I’m like a sister to him. The sex can continue once I’ve settled Darius.
But a voice of reason stops me because I have no idea where I stand with Adrian. One moment we were kissing, then the next it turned into sex without ever discussing our intentions for each other. Was sex a one-off thing? Something casual with no strings attached and just some fun? Only now am I realizing that that’s exactly what it was for Adrian, considering Isabelle is the one he wants. We were all turned on from the dance class and sex was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Now that we’ve had a chance to cool down, maybe Adrian is taking this opportunity to escape and get his priorities straight with Isabelle?
The worst indicator is that if Adrian is so into me, why didn’t he stake his claim in front of Darius? Or be furious with me for sleeping with him when I’m allegedly involved with someone else?
Suddenly, I’m the most miserable I’ve felt all week.
Darius wolf whistles, giving himself a tour of the bungalow. “You’ve got yourself a palace here.”
I shut the front door and hit Darius over the back of the head, then drag him to the back garden by his arm. “You really screwed me over this time. What was that back there—I could do with some private Verena time—acting like we’re about to rip each other’s clothes off the moment we’re alone?”
“Excuse me? I’m here saving your ass because you were having a meltdown over Adrian. And it wasyouridea for us to give off the vibe that we’re romantic.”
My mouth opens to deny everything, but I remain quiet, remembering itwasmy idea to have people at the wedding believe there’s something romantic between Darius and me. I’ve just been so sidetracked with how things have been progressing with Adrian that I forgot all about the Darius plan. “Okay, you have a point.”
“Athank youfor playing along would be nice.” He hitsmeover the back of the head this time. “What was Adrian even doing in here with you?”
I stop by the pool and stare at Darius with intention, hoping he’s not going to make me say it out loud. At my prolonged silence, Darius takes a closer look at me, only now noticing my swollen lips and what has to be sex hair.
He claps a hand to his mouth but explodes with laughter anyway. “Oh no, this is too good. You slept with the devil?”
I wince and cover my face, peeking through fingers to gauge Darius’ reaction. “We’re kind of dating.”
“What?” he spits.
“Technically, it’s fake dating.”
“Oh no, Verena, please tell me you didn’t end up agreeing to that bullshit of his?”
I launch into a giant explanation of everything that’s gone down since the FaceTime chat we had during my first night here—how this faux relationship came about, that Adrian wants Isabelle back and is playing the jealousy game with her, and how I’m gaining so much satisfaction by parading Adrian around in front of Jake. Then I start rattling on about how Adrian and I aren’t enemies anymore, that it feels amazing to have him back in my life and I hadn’t realized until this week how much I miss him.
“I saw Jake tonight,” I continue. “I think he was trying to apologize for hurting me, but I can’t be sure because he started touching my face and it was gross, so I did the one thing I could think of to shut him up and kissed Adrian. It was only a small kiss, but the next thing I know, we’re having sex on the living room table. Then you showed up and ruined everything.”
“First of all,” Darius starts ticking off a list with his fingers, “that’s hot and I need details. Like, explicit details about what kind of kisser he is, if you were on top or him, how big his dick is—don’t leave out any crucial information. Secondly, remind me never to touch that table. And thirdly, what you’re saying is I came all this way for nothing and may have ruined things between you and Adrian because I made it sound like we’re involved.”
“Yes. I might have overreacted by asking you to come to Australia. If it makes you feel better, think of this as a business trip. The dress fittings are tomorrow. You can be in charge.”
His eyelids lower halfway, unimpressed. “You told me this would be a vacation.”
“Okay, sure, it can be. Whatever works for you.”
Darius takes his suit jacket and vest off, drapes them over a pool chair, then unbuttons the top of his shirt and rolls up his sleeves. “You weren’t exaggerating about the humidity in Australia. How long till my hair turns to shit?”
“I’ve got you covered. Lots and lots of hair spray.”
“So, what’s your plan with this guy, anyway? I don’t want to pick up the pieces of your broken heart only six months after the last jerk. Especially not when I have Zac’s relationship issues to deal with. Adrian is in love with another woman. He’susingyou to get her back, and also for a quick fuck on the side.”
When Darius puts it like that, man, do I feel terrible.
I kick the pool water in my rage. A jolt of panic hits my chest when I topple off balance, my arms flailing as I sway toward the water.
Darius grabs my shirt to steady me. “You are a mess.”
“Thank you for stating the obvious.” I snatch my shirt from him. “I don’t have a plan. Just… hope that Adrian starts to like me more than Isabelle.”
