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He’s too good-looking for his own good, with his defined muscles and the way his eyes glimmer as if the sun were shining on them at all hours of the day. Daisy was right.
No crushes on your fake BF, Sage.
“Third rule: No unnecessary touching.” My face heats, but it has to be said. He’s still a bit of a stranger to me, so getting handsy is a no-go in my book.
“But necessary touching is okay?” He waggles his eyebrows.
I arch one of mine and tilt my head. Tristan laughs, deep and gravelly.
“Only kidding.” He lifts one of his hands in mock surrender. “Rule four: No one finds out about this deal. Besides your best friend.”
“Deal,” I nod. “I only mentioned it to her because I was upset that you were using it as an excuse. I had already decided to say no.”
“What made you change your mind?” He looks at me as we wait at a red light, his eyes burning into mine.
“I can’t let the world suffer because of my stubbornness. After all, Spread Joy needs me.” I bite back my smile. “I’m your typical superhero.”
“Right.” He nods, eyeing me. “You may be saving the day, but there’s another reason you changed your mind.” He points a finger at me.
“Just doing what’s right for the world,” I smile, distracting him from his suspicions.
“I appreciate it.” He starts driving again.
The rest of the drive is quiet as nerves ricochet all around me like an out-of-control boomerang. I look out the window as the neighborhoods transition from modest to opulent. The houses grow bigger with each block we pass. The pine trees are older, just like the money that rolls through these homes, and the space in between each house is vast, unlike the distance between my neighbor’s house and mine. We can greet each other from our front porches.
The manicured lawns look like something out of an HGTV renovation episode. It’s clear I have no idea what I’m walking into. This is the side of town Tristan comes from. Do I fit into this plan?
Tristan pulls into a huge driveway that leads to a stunning two-story stone house with a huge fountain in the front lawn and an incredible garden. The brightly colored flowers blend perfectly. If I tried to combine all these flowers together, it’d look like a three-year-old’s drawing. Obviously, a professional designed this garden.
“Wow,” I breathe out when I see the purple lilac bush full of cone-shaped flowers.
Seeing it from the outside cements the reality that he does come from a wealthy family. One that, from what he’s mentioned, isn’t the most welcoming.
Yesterday he told me to be myself when I expressed my nerves, but I know I can’t be myself if we want them to accept our relationship. Not when I’m a college dropout, and they expect someone with higher education. I’ve brainwashed myself to be on my best behavior, prim and proper. After all, my parents did teach me manners.
I can do this. I’m a great catch. My lupus doesn’t own me—apparently, just my bank account.
“Ready?” Tristan’s smile is blinding.
He looks different today. Gone is the mussed hair, replaced by a slicked-back look courtesy of gel. Instead of t-shirts and jeans, he’s wearing a dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, giving me a tiny view of the top of his chest with a sprinkling of hair.
I never found chest hair attractive before, but the way my heart rate kicks up as if I’m seeing something forbidden is definitely not the reaction I should be having.
And who knew clavicles could be alluring? I could’ve scored myself a worse-looking fake boyfriend.
“No, but we’re already here.” I shrug, trying to lighten the mood.
My fingers rub my crescent moon earring. They’re some of my favorites, and they feel a little like good luck charms.
Tristan shifts his body toward me.
“It’s going to be perfect.” He nods firmly. “We’ll stick to the basics, and my parents will likely be too busy to pay us much attention.”
His mouth presses into a straight line, an underlying emotion flitting across his eyes before he smiles and unbuckles my seatbelt.
“Come on, girlfriend, we’ve got money to swindle.”
“Tristan,” I warn.
