Page 60 of The Villain Edit

Ashley slides off the counter and puts the ice cream in the freezer. “I’m going to get ready for bed,” she says.

I nod and lean against the counter, watching her walk out the door. Still in my T-shirt.

“What the hell happened?” David asks in a quiet voice, his eyes so wide I’m a little concerned. “You andAshley Foley?”

“Me and Ash,” I say firmly.

He stares at me, aghast. “She’s using you.”

“And I’m using her. That’s what a fake relationship is.”

“That didn’t look fake.” He rubs his eyes like he can erase the image of us making out. He should be grateful we were just making out.

I shrug. “It’s not anyone’s business.”

“Right. Because in no way is this going to come back to hurt you.”

“I can handle it.”

“Christ, Gabe—”

“It’s my personal life,” I say, gripping the counter lip. “Not your business.”

“I’ve known you for years,” he says, shaking his head like he can’t believe this is happening. “You never take this kind of risk. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have sent you those questions. They’re too powerful.”

Maybe I’m too tired, but that makes me laugh. “You did all you could.”

David sighs in defeat. “At least tell me this is just a physical relationship. Neither of you is emotionally invested. And please, dear god, tell me you’re using protection.”

“Of course.” Guess the broken condom dispenser story hasn’t made it out of the backwaters. “And we’re both walking away as planned when we hit the end date.” I don’t want to talk about this anymore. “So…my schedule.”

There are a few changes, although none I needed to be made aware of tonight. We talk for twenty minutes anyway as he catches me up on all the emails I haven’t read, and when he leaves, he promises to knock.

Ashley’s already in bed, wearing only my T-shirt. I climb in next to her, cuddle her close, and fall asleep holding her tight. Feeling like I’ve found my home.

Chapter twenty-one

Ashley

Iwakeuponmy stomach, with Gabe’s heavy arm draped across my back, his leg over mine, pinning me down. He’s like a weighted blanket. I’m more rested after a few nights under him than I’ve been in ages. It seems like he enjoys sleeping draped over me too.

“Morning, gorgeous,” he whispers in my ear. The brush of his stubble across my shoulder is delicious and I make a contented little noise into my pillow. His lips find my spine and he kisses every bump on the way down before rolling me and spreading me wide.

My fake boyfriend is an oral sex god and I’m smug as hell right now. When he rolls a condom onto that gloriously thick dick and pushes it into me, I want to brag to the world that he’s mine. He flips us and I ride him until we’re both sweaty and breathless.

Gabe makes us breakfast and we agree to meet by the pool after we call our respective agents. He disappears into his office while I pace around his bedroom, waiting for Neve to call me back.

She does, ten minutes later, informing me nothing’s changed. There’s still no work, but I’m welcome to go to any open casting call. She’s in talks with a fashion brand over a possible endorsement deal, but she won’t tell me anything so my guess is it’s small.

“The photos from the school fair in New Mexico were great. More of that, fewer references to oral sex on the hood of his car,” Neve says dryly before she ends the call.

Quick lunch stop. That was all Gabe’s doing, not mine. Not that anyone would believe it.

It’s only been two weeks. Not enough time to turn my reputation around. I don’t know if the ten weeks we have left will do it, but I want as much time as I can get with Gabe. I’ll deal with my career later.

My phone chimes with another message and I take a quick look.

Shit. The reprieve from my parents’ distorted version of love is over. They broke up.

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