Page 10 of Faking it with My Billionaire Bosses

CHAPTER 8

Sonnie

The street I lived on wasn’t in a bad neighborhood. Mom hadn’t managed to lose the house before going to prison since it had been left to her by her mother, fully paid off. I’d moved in with Rosie in an attempt to make things easier for my sister. The house was in a decent neighborhood, but because of Mom’s neglect, it was the worst house on the street. It sat on a patchy piece of grass with a rusted swing set barely hanging onto its life. One strong gust of wind and the swing set was a goner. The house didn’t look much better.

The paint had flaked off in chunks years prior. The wood siding needed a lot of love that I didn’t have to give. The front porch had a lean to it and the roof was missing more than a few shingles. The sidewalk up to the porch was even cracked and uneven. Nothing about it made me happy. Nothing about it made it seem like the people who lived inside were okay.

It was easy to ignore the house I’d grown up in when I saw it daily and was more focused on just getting in and out, but with Drake at my side, I saw it as the shack it was. My heart sank and a sense of shame washed over me that in turn made me angry. I didn’t want him to see where I lived. I didn’t want his pity.

He parked in the driveway behind my car and turned off his truck. Looking over at me, he smiled. “Are you ready to take my help?”

I glanced up at my dark house and swallowed down my feelings. If he wanted to come in and see the shamble I lived in, that was fine. Maybe if he saw how awful the house was he’d realize he needed to find a better off fake girlfriend. “Fine. Let’s go.”

He got out and moved like he was going to come around to open the door for me but I was already out and shifting past him to get to the porch. I climbed the stairs, hearing how the woodcreaked, and stopped at the door to give him the chance to back out.

“Are you sure you want to help?”

Nodding, he watched me open the door and then hesitated. “The door wasn’t locked.”

I snorted. “If someone wants to rob someone on this street, do you really think they’re coming to our house?”

His face grew serious and he stepped closer so I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. “There’s a fifteen-year-old girl inside andyou. You come home after midnight multiple days a week, I’m assuming. Not every sick fuck out there is going to look at your house for thethingsthey can get from it. Lock the door from now on, Sonnie.”

My cheeks were hot and I felt properly chastised. Glancing down at my shoes, I swallowed my urge to be stubborn and nodded. “You’re right. I’ll talk to Rosie about it.”

“Thank you.” He lightly grazed his knuckle down my cheek and blew out a big breath. “Sorry. Growing up in a shitty area left me paranoid about safety. If I’m worried about you and your sister not being safe, I can’t be held responsible for showing up to make sure you’re okay.”

From the living room, Rosie groaned. “God, get a room.”

I jumped and swung around to see Rosie standing up from the couch. “Rosie! You scared me! What are you doing on the couch?”

“I wanted to make sure I could give you the letter from Principal James. You have to come to school in the morning.” She yawned and shoved an envelope at me. “This is a first. Who’s the guy?”

Drake stepped forward and held out his hand. “I’m Drake. I’m helping your sister bake.”

Rosie shook his hand with the excitement only a teenager can express sarcastically. She looked him over and then frowned. “You look like that guy on the cooking channel.”

I waved that train of conversation away. “Why do I have to meet with your principal? Did you get in trouble?”

“No.Youdid.” She bent down to pick up Monster, who was sneaking up on Drake. “I’m going to bed. Don’t wake me up.”

“Night. Good to meet you.” Monster hissed at Drake and Drake flinched. “Good god. It’s worse in person.”

“Wait. What did I do wrong?” I trailed after Rosie. “Also, I guess we’re locking the door from now on.”

Rosie groaned. “Great. One more rule. And you threatened to run a few kids over, remember?”

Drake turned to me. “You were serious about that?”

“I was joking!” I grunted when Rosie closed her bedroom door in my face and turned to Drake, who’d just followed us down the hallway. “I really didn’t use those exact words!”

He frowned at Rosie’s door and then gently grasped the back of my neck and led me back towards the living room. “I’m sure it’s fine. Once you explain to the Principal you didn’t do anything wrong, it’ll be over.”

I turned towards the kitchen but he redirected me to the couch and eased me down. “I have to start the cakes.”

Sitting next to me, he pulled my legs over his lap and rested his hands over them. “You have to take a break for a few minutes. Just breathe.”

I shook my head. “I don’t have time to breathe. I have cakes to make and frosting to make. I need to—”

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