“Hey, didn’t I see you at the UMS party last week?” He grins, all confidence, and leans a little too close.
I blink up at him. He’s attractive enough—tall, dark hair, easy smile—but something about his approach makes my skin prickle.
“Maybe,” I say, noncommittal.
He smirks. “Maybe you should let me buy you a drink, then.”
Before I can answer, a familiar presence slides in behind me—close but not touching.
Alfie.
His voice is low, only for me. “You into this guy?”
I exhale slowly. “Not particularly.”
His head dips, lips brushing just close enough to ghost heat along my ear. “Want me to make him back off?”
I tilt my head slightly, testing him now. “You think you can?”
A beat of silence. His fingers brush the small of my back—just barely, just enough to ask permission.
I don’t pull away.
Alfie takes that as a yes.
He steps in, finally closing the distance between us, his voice casual but sharp enough to cut. “She won’t be needing that drink.”
The guy raises an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? And why not?”
I arch an eyebrow, deciding to see how far Alfie will take this. “Yeah, Alfie. Why not?”
His fingers flex against my hip. “Because we’re fake dating.”
The guy pauses, skeptical. “Fake dating?”
Alfie nods once, completely unbothered. “Yeah. It’s this whole thing. She pretends to be with me, and I get to do stuff like this”—his grip tightens slightly on my waist— “so guys like you don’t get the wrong idea.”
The guy chuckles, shaking his head. “Right. And you don’t catch feelings in that little arrangement?”
Alfie doesn’t hesitate. “Nope.”
Liar.
The guy glances between us, then steps back, hands up in mock surrender. “Alright, man. Whatever you say.” He winks at me before disappearing into the crowd.
Alfie still hasn’t moved.
Even then, his hand lingers on my hip, his thumb brushing absently over the fabric of my dress.
“You really had to pull the ‘fake dating’ card?” I tilt my head up at him.
He shrugs, unbothered. “Seemed efficient.”
I narrow my eyes. “Right. Just logistics, then?”
His jaw tightens just slightly, but his voice stays casual. “Of course.”
I smirk. “Liar.”
