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Several minutes of sobbing later, Bella helped me finalize the boxes for the move. After helping me load them into the truck that Andres had sent, I climbed into the driver’s seat and stared at the road ahead. My hands rested at ten and two. My thumbs hooked over the steering wheel, clinging for life like I was about to crash.
I could barely focus. As soon as those tears broke through the veil of control I thought I had, the thought of losing Andres persisted. He was going to leave me someday when our agreement was officially completed. And when that day came, I knew I was going to cry just as long and ugly as I had upstairs.
Great, that was just something else I had to look forward to.
There was one way I knew I could handle this—I could zone out. Autopilot was second nature was stressful situations. That was how I survived the other day when my phone wouldn’t stop ringing and Andres was acting so weird.
Then again, I was acting strange myself. But I’d just had my boss between my legs the night before. How was Isupposedto act?
Right when I started getting into a good thinking mode, I pulled into the driveway of Andres’s house. Activity bustled inside the house. I knew because the sounds of hammering echoed through the front window. Andres appeared when I stepped out of the truck. How had he gotten here so fast?
He smiled like he was harboring covert information about my inquiry. “Let me help with the rest of this.”
Any argument would have fallen on absent ears. He sped in a flash to the back of the truck and whipped it open. Spencer appeared in the doorway of the house, and then Xavier and Izdor followed suit.
I glanced back at Andres who was watching me carefully. Twice now, that man had irritated Andres. And I was about to make it a third time for Andres being coy about his plans for me. A little jealousy never hurt anyone, right?
Spencer walked up and grinned. “Don’t worry. I cleared everything out for you. Izdor and Xavier are working on some changes.”
“Cleared everything?Changes?”
“Andres didn’t tell you? I lived on the ground level apartment for a while. It’s yours now.”
I blinked. “Oh, I didn’t—”
He chuckled. “Andres isn’t much for details until they’re happening. He never mentioned you two being together until…” He shrugged. “Well, until you two were together, I guess. Congrats, by the way.”
I forced a smile and shook his hand. “Thanks. Sorry about the move.”
“I’ve been wanting a house of my own. I like blasting music. Andres hates it.”
“So, it’s a good move, then.”
Spencer smiled in agreement and then went to help Andres with the boxes. When I looked, Andres was still watching me. Izdor came up and gave me a friendly wave.
I beamed. “Izdor! It’s nice to see you.”
I wrapped him in a tight hug, pretending that I didn’t have the worst intentions possible about my fake fiancé and his fake affection for me. If it was all fake, then a hug wouldn’t do anything at all to him. The guy wasn’t particularly worried about filling me in with his plan. Why not do the same thing to him?
Shoot, maybe this was something I should have thought of early on. That agreement stated we could eventually seek other people, but I couldn’t remember the specifics aroundwhenthat could happen. A good engagement meant putting on the face of being totally in love. Maybe Andres would act jealous just to fi the part.
Or maybe he wouldn’t. Maybe he would just keep staring or maybe he’d move on to the boxes with Spencer and Xavier. If I peeked over Izdor’s shoulder, would I find my fake fiancé acting like a real fiancé? I had to know. I had to find out.
Part of me was worried about what I would see. If Andres didn’t have a reaction at all—or if he wasn’t even paying attention—I wasn’t sure how much my hurt would be warranted. I couldn’t admit that to Izdor. Hell, I was using the guy as a means to an end. This was a horrible plan, and I felt in my bones how badly it was going to go if I kept it up.
I shouldn’t have done this, I thought while releasing Izdor and taking a huge step back. I should have just gone to the back of the truck and started unloading.
Boy, I hated to be right. It was the most horrible move I could have made. Real or not, trying to get a rise out of anybody for any reason was just pure manipulation. My mother did that sort of crap with my father all the time. Their arguments usually revolved around the fact that she was being passive aggressive or just plain mean.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I dared to look at Andres—and found a raging storm heading my way.
Chapter 12 - Andres
That buzzer was about to be roadkill if he didn’t move away from my mate.
Just when I thought I would burst, Izdor slipped away, jogging past me to capture a box that was about to land on Xavier’s head. Rage continued warring in the background as I glared at the Elderling who was assisting my brother. Spencer thanked him while Izdor held the box on his shoulder like it weighed nothing.
