He barely nods. “Right.”
“Maybe you should actually start talking to her tomorrow. Make conversation like a normal human being. Ask her about the weather. Or what her favorite TV show is. Something, Jared, to show you care.”
“You really think you can change me in a weekend?” He sounds doubtful.
I step closer to him and run one hand up his chest until my palm is resting in the center, right above his beating heart. “I’m going to do my damnedest to try,” I whisper.
I walk away from him and quietly close my bedroom door before he can say or do anything else.
Twenty-Four
“What was up with Jared last night?” Candice asks, her tone conversational as she pours herself a cup of hot water and then dunks a tea bag in it.
Saturday morning. We’re at breakfast in one of the hotel restaurants. Candice’s parents are out to breakfast with old work colleagues of Marcus’s. Kevin is with his bride-to-be and her family somewhere, and Jared is…
Still sleeping.
So Candice and I decided to make it a date and get breakfast. I thought about waking Jared up and letting him know, but when I peeked in on him in his room, he was sound asleep, the covers pushed down to his hips, his bare back on display since he was sleeping on his stomach.
I stood there with my head around the door like some sort of peeper, staring at him. Trying not to drool. Once I gained some control over myself, I snuck away and sent him a text to let him know where I’m at once Candice and I met at the restaurant.
He still hasn’t responded. I get the sense he’s not the type to sleep in, like, ever. He must’ve been exhausted.
“What do you mean?” I finally ask Candice, unsure of what she’s referring to. There were many things up with Jared last night. His hostility toward his stepmom. The way he avoids personal questions his own family asks him. How we’re faking a relationship and if anyone looked just a little closer, they could probably tell.
“He’s so touchy. Worse than usual.” She glances over her shoulder at the giant buffet line behind her. “Should we do the all-you-can-eat breakfast or order off the menu?”
“I’m never good at buffets,” I tell her, hoping I won’t have to answer her question about Jared. “I never feel like I get my money’s worth.”
“Same,” she says with a sigh as she cracks open the menu. Her eyes grow larger as she reads over the items. “Though maybe we should reconsider. The regular breakfasts are more than the buffet.”
“Then the buffet it is,” I say as I push the menu away from me. Our server approaches, asking if we’d made our decision, and Candice informs him that we’re doing the buffet. Once he’s gone, I lean back in my chair, ready to take my time.
“That line is still mega long,” I tell her, frowning at my cup of coffee. I’d rather have a latte, but they didn’t have specialty coffee drinks on the menu. I need to mention that to Caroline so she can talk to her boyfriend. His family owns the Wilder Hotel Corporation, so she has some pull.
“We can wait for a few minutes.” Candice pours milk into her tea and then stirs it with a spoon. “Was Jared in a bad mood last night or what?”
Crap. I was hoping we could avoid this. “I think the traffic made him cranky.”
Such a lame excuse, but it was all I could come up with.
“Everything seems to make him cranky. Except for you.” She sends me a knowing smile. “You two were quite cozy last night at dinner.”
He was all over me at dinner. I’m scared he’ll do it again tonight. Every time I’d look at him, the look in his eyes, on his face, was so intimate. Like we shared a naughty secret. And I suppose we do, though it’s not what you think it should be.
“I’ve never seen him act so affectionate toward a woman before,” she continues. “He’s not one for public displays of affection.”
“Why does this not surprise me?” We both laugh when I say that.
And I can’t help but wonder if I shouldn’t have said that. How does he want me to act around his sister? She makes me so comfortable, I let down my guard. Not that I’m going to let it slip that Jared and I aren’t a real couple or anything like that, but I do feel like she’s a friend. A real one.
“I’m glad you two are together. I’ve never really liked any of his past girlfriends,” Candice tells me. “Not that he had a lot of them.”
I lean forward, ready to glean a few gossipy bits out of her. “Really? Do tell.”
Candice laughs, shaking her head. “I don’t know if he’d want me to talk about his love life. You know he’s such a private person.”
Great. So he has his sister trained to throw up walls around his personal life too? “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
Candice looks around, as if Jared is lurking behind that giant potted plant in the corner behind her. “Well, he hasn’t had a serious girlfriend that I know of for a couple of years at least.”
I’m frowning. “A couple of years?” I guess this makes sense. He’s been a client at Bliss Lingerie for at least that, maybe longer. He’s been around as long as I’ve worked there. And he’s been coming in regularly, buying sweet little nothings that us sales associates figured he gave to the women he was actively involved with—right before he dumped them.
But maybe we were wrong. Not like I’m ever going to work up the nerve to ask him about it.
“Yeah. Crazy, right?” She’s nodding, her expression eager, looking ready to spill. “Ever since what happened with—”
“There you guys are. I’ve been looking for you.” Jared’s voice sounds from above me and I nearly scream. The wide-eyed look Candice is sending my way is relaying one message and one message only.
Busted.
“Oh. Hey.” I glance up to find him standing directly behind my chair, smiling down at me, ever the dutiful boyfriend. I rise to my feet and turn, looping my arms around his neck and tilting my face up to receive a kiss. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”
I am trying my best to distract him. Hopefully he wasn’t standing there too long and overhead what Candice was telling me.
He doesn’t miss a beat, this guy. He rests his hands on my hips and dips his head, brushing his mouth against mine. Tingles erupt all over my body, and I can’t help but smile at him as he pulls away. “Good morning,” he murmurs, that let’s go back to our room and have sex all morning look in his eyes as he gazes at me. Warm. Attentive.
The perfect boyfriend.
Damn, he’s good.
I glance down, taking in the red Nike T-shirt he’s wearing, the black athletic shorts. “Going for a workout?”
“Planned on it.” He kisses my forehead, his lips lingering, and I swear I can feel him inhale. “Thought I’d stop by and see what you two are up to this morning first.”
“We’re having the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. There’s a waffle bar.” I turn just in time to see Candice beaming at her brother, trying to tempt him to stay. I’m sure she wants to distract him as well. “You should join us.”
“Waffle bar?” He makes a face, like he doesn’t like waffles.
I mean, seriously. Who doesn’t like waffles?
“There’s an omelet bar too,” I add.
“I can do that.” He gives my hips a squeeze. “I’m going to go check out what else they have. I’ll be right back.”
The moment he’s gone, Candice is practically jumping in her chair. “Do you think he heard what I said?”
“I don’t know.” I reach for my coffee and take a sip, grimacing. Still too strong despite the creamer and sugar I dumped into the cup earlier. I’m dying for a Starbucks. I think there’s one down the block. “He’s acting okay. Not like you really said anything.” Damn it.
“True. I don’t think he heard me. Though he can’t blame me for spilling family secrets to a friend, right? You’re practically family yourself, since you’re dating him. And by the looks of things, you two are pretty into each other,” Candice says.
Yes. Because w
e’re most excellent actors, I want to tell her, but I don’t.
Jared returns in moments, pulling the empty chair out at our table and settling himself in it. “I think I’m staying. I’ll work out after I eat.”
“I don’t know how you do that. I’m always too full.” Candice clutches her stomach and makes a face.
I’m laughing. So is Candice.
“That’s because you eat too much bacon and waffles,” Jared says, his tone borderline judgmental.
Candice’s laughter dies. She pushes away from the table extra viciously and rises to her feet. “I’m going to the buffet.”
Once she’s out of earshot, I grab hold of Jared’s arm and give him a shake. “That was rude of you.”
“I’m just speaking the truth,” he says with a shrug before he grabs my cup of coffee and takes a sip. He immediately looks like he wants to spit it out. “This tastes awful.” He sets the cup back onto the saucer. “Too sweet.”
“I’m sure you’re the serial killer type who likes to drink his coffee black.” I slump low in my chair, crossing my arms. He was so freaking rude to his sister just now, and he acts like he did nothing wrong.
I need to break him of this awful habit. That’s the very least I can do before he ruins every single relationship he has with his family, all because of his uncensored mouth.
“I do like to drink my coffee black,” he says, raising his hand at the server as the man walks by. He stops, Jared lets him know he’d like a cup of coffee and that he’s doing the buffet, before the server is on his way.
Notice how he mentioned nothing about the serial killer comment.
Whatever.
“You want to go get in line?” he asks. “I’m starving.”
I sit up straight, astounded by his complete obtuseness. “Jared.”
“Sarah.” He mimics me, a faint smile curling his perfectly shaped lips. Who knew such beautiful lips could say such hurtful things?
Has no one ever called him out on his shit before?
“You just hurt Candice’s feelings with your comment. Or did you not realize that?” I glance over my shoulder just in time to see Candice avoid the waffle bar completely. From what I can tell, her plate looks pretty pitiful—a couple slices of fruit and a dry-looking piece of toast. Poor thing. “She’s not even going to eat waffles because of you.”
“Good. She needs to take better care of herself.”
I roll my eyes, hating how he thinks he’s said the right thing to Candice. “I’m sure you’re just watching out for your sister’s best interests, and that’s terribly—sweet of you. But the way you say things to her could be a little…oh, I don’t know? Nicer?”
“Sometimes the truth hurts,” he says evenly, murmuring a thank-you when the server appears and pours him a cup of coffee.
“Especially when it’s delivered in such an asshole way,” I tack on once the server has walked away.
Jared scowls at me, the first real emotional reaction I’ve seen from him all morning. “I can talk to my sister however I want. She’s my sister. And she’s nothing to you. When we return home, you and I are going to ‘break up.’” He makes quotation marks with his fingers. “And then you’ll never have to talk to her again, while I still have to deal with her for the rest of my life.”
I’m horrified by the things that come out of his mouth. Does he really not care about anyone? I don’t get it. “I don’t understand you.” I stand, grabbing my purse and slinging it over my shoulder. “You can’t just treat people like they’re meaningless, Jared. Eventually, you’re going to end up all alone.”
Before he can say another word, I leave the restaurant. I hear him call my name, but I don’t look back. I swear I hear Candice call my name as well, but I ignore her, as much as it pains my heart to do so.
With determined strides fueled by anger, I march out of that hotel, until I find myself on the sidewalk directly in front of it. The air is cool, I’m only wearing jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, and I shiver as the breeze hits me. I could go back in and fetch a sweater. Or I could just hide out in my room in the suite and order room service. Make sure to charge it up so Jared is stuck with the bill.
That would show him.
But I’m not petty, so I do none of those things. Instead, I make my way to the Starbucks that I see on the corner, breathing a sigh of relief when I enter and smell that familiar scent of coffee beans and hear the whir of the blenders making Frappuccinos. Cheerful music is playing over the speakers and the barista currently making drinks glances up, offering me a pleasant good morning.
Ah. Right now, I feel like I’m with my people.
I order a venti caramel macchiato and sit at a tiny table, waiting for them to call my name so I can get my drink. I’m not even that hungry anymore, I just need the caffeine to hit my system and make me feel semi-human.
Scrolling absently through my phone, I contemplate if I should tell my friends what happened with Jared. Maybe I should just go home. This isn’t going to work. He can’t pretend to be with me, all lovey-dovey cuddlebug shit, and then turn around and snap at his sister like a tyrant. It’s totally unbelievable.
Makes me realize that maybe all that cuddlebug stuff is a big fat lie. Which I should already know, but hey. A woman can still think he might really be like that with the one he loves, right?
I’m starting to wonder if he even knows how to love. It’s as if Jared is a robot. Moving through life completely unfeeling. He’s like a cranky old man, yet he’s not even thirty-five. Imagine what he might be like when he’s seventy.
I shudder at the thought.
The barista calls my name, and I go and grab my drink, about to settle back into my chair when I feel someone stop just behind me. It’s probably Candice. I noticed she wasn’t smothered in perfume this morning, so I can’t smell her before I see her. I’m sure she’s wondering what’s wrong with me.
Turning, I stop short when I see it’s actually Jared standing in front of me. His face is pink from the cold, which doesn’t surprise me considering he’s just in shorts and a T-shirt, and I swear he just shivered.
Good. I hope his nuts freeze up and fall off.
“What do you want?” I ask wearily, taking a sip from my drink. “Ow.” Great. I think I burned my lip.
This day just keeps getting better and better.
“I’m sorry.” He swallows hard, resting his hands on his hips as he glances around the café. No one is paying attention to us. I don’t know why he’s so worried about what other people think all the time.
This feels like a repeat. I keep getting mad at him and he keeps apologizing to me. “I’m guessing Candice put you up to this. Again.” I set my drink on the table beside me and cross my arms, wishing he’d just leave. I want to drink my coffee in peace. “Your apologies are meaningless, Jared, if you can’t come up with the words to say to me on your own.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right.” His head is bobbing up and down, like he’s some sort of mechanical doll stuck on one setting. “I get what you’re saying, and I know I’m a total asshole. Candice already told me that when I tried to apologize to her.”
I can’t keep up with all of his apologies, and I’m guessing he can’t either. No wonder he stopped caring what people thought when he spoke. This shit is exhausting.
“Maybe you should just go,” I tell him, my voice small. I pull my chair out and settle in, glaring up at him when I realize he’s not going anywhere. “We can talk about this later.”
More like never.
“I want to talk now.” He pulls the other chair out and sits right next to me, so close our arms brush against each other. Despite the cool temperatures outside, his arm is warm. Solid. Muscular. I hate that I notice that.
I also hate that I notice the dark stubble shading his strong jaw, giving him a roguish look that is massively appealing despite my anger towards him. We’re so close, I can almost count all the eyelashes surrounding his dark brown eyes, and he has a lot
of them, which is so annoying. Us women pay big money to have thick eyelashes like his, and we still can’t duplicate his look.
The most frustrating thing of all? I’m so pissed at him, yet I can’t help but be drawn to him. He appeals to something deep inside of me that I don’t get. Is it because I can see a glimmer of hope in him? Clearly, he needs nurturing. I do too. Maybe we’re kindred spirits.
I’m just the nicer one.
“Then go ahead,” I tell him when he still hasn’t said anything. “Talk away.”
He rests his forearms on top of the table, his large hands clasped together, fingers loosely linked. My gaze falls to those sexy hands and it takes everything within me not to let out an irritated sigh. I mean, yes, I’m irritated by his behavior, but I’m even more irritated by my reaction to him.
“I really am sorry for what I said. I just…I can’t explain why I am the way I am. Or maybe I can. I don’t know.” He drops his head, clenching his hands together, his fingers flexing. “For the longest time I was pissed off at the world.”
He remains quiet for a while so I ask, “Because you lost your mom?”
His focus still on the table, he nods. “Then I fell in love.”
My heart sinks. I don’t want to hear this. Though I do. I so do. I want to know who he fell in love with, when did it happen, how long were they together, and where is she now? I want all the details.
Yet I also don’t. I might end up hating her. Or worse?
Being envious of her.
“What happened?”
“She dumped me. And it was like a kick in the ass.” Exhaling loudly, he lifts his head, his gaze meeting mine. “I realized then that I was—unlovable. I was so in love with her, I showed her every flaw I had, confessed every secret, shared with her my every dream. I saw a future between us. I believed we were going to be together forever. But then out of the blue, she broke up with me. Told me she didn’t feel the same way. I felt destroyed all over again.”
My heart is now cracking.
“I was angry. So fucking angry.” A ragged exhale escapes him. “So I put up a wall and I didn’t let anyone in. I still don’t let anyone in, not even my family. It really is a lot easier being a complete jerk, speaking my mind and not giving a shit what people think about me. Everyone leaves me alone when I act like that.”
Fake Date Page 17