I almost dropped the can. My body went numb as I glanced over at Sasha. Butterflies that I didn’t know I had, started to assault my stomach. I was seeing Cayden again? Tonight?
Michelle squealed as she jumped up and down. “This is amazing! Where are they going? A gala? Rooftop party?” Then she clasped her hands together and focused her attention on Sasha. “Can I go?”
Sasha gave her a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry. This party is for Scarlett only.”
I raised my hand. All the things that Michelle had listed had my stomach in knots. There was no way I was going to any of those kinds of events alone. “If Michelle doesn’t come, I’m not going.”
Sasha sighed as she glanced over at me through her glasses. I could tell she was annoyed, but I didn’t back down. If she wanted me to go, Michelle was coming with me.
After a few seconds of a good old-fashioned stare down, she grabbed her phone. She glanced down at the screen, and, after a moment, raised the phone to her ear.
“Patty?” she asked, her voice cutting through the silence. After a few moments she said, “We need a date for Michelle.”
We whooped, and Michelle wrapped her arms around me. I responded in kind, and we jumped up and down in the kitchen while Sasha threw annoyed glances our way.
I didn’t care though. I was excited to spend the evening doing something fancy with my best friend.
And maybe a little excited that I was going to see Cayden again.
Chapter Nine
There were a lot of times on this trip that I was thankful for Michelle, and this was one of them. Apparently, Cayden was taking us to a rooftop party hosted by Tommy Short, another former child actor. And when it came to attire and makeup, I was at a loss.
But as the new arm candy for Cayden Rivers, it wouldn’t look good if I rolled up in a black plastic bag—which I was dangerously close to doing.
I hadn’t anticipated being the fake girlfriend of America’s heartthrob. If I had, I would’ve packed something more than holey sweatpants and baggy t-shirts.
Michelle made her way over to me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “I think a shopping trip is in order,” she said as she pulled out her phone to order us a ride.
I nodded—cue my forever gratefulness for my best friend—and slipped on my sandals. I was a little excited to go shopping with Michelle. She always looked fantastic in everything she wore. And if a little of that rubbed off on me, I wouldn’t complain.
By the time the car dropped us off at the mall, we had exactly five hours until we needed to be back at Dad’s for Cayden and Bryant—Michelle’s date—to pick us up.
I thought that five hours was plenty of time, but according to Michelle, the clock was ticking. First up was hair and makeup. Then clothes and shoes.
After my hair was washed, cut, highlighted, and styled, we’d lost an hour. After trying on clothes—with some refusal from me because, seriously, there was no way I was wearing a velvet jumper—the time was rapidly slipping away.
Michelle had to finally call it as we gathered up our bags in the last store and tried to half-run, half-walk, out to the curb where our driver was waiting.
We burst into Dad’s house at exactly seven, dropped our bags, and got changed.
Michelle helped me settle on a simple black dress with bright red heels. It was definitely not something I would have picked for myself, but I couldn’t help but appreciate what it did for my figure as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
“You look hot,” Michelle said as she tipped her face toward me. The curling iron that was currently wrapped up in her hair was limiting her range of motion. She’d refused to get done up at the mall, claiming this was my night and she was just an accessory. I’d given her my best annoyed look, but she hadn’t relented.
I twisted from side to side as my gaze ran over my figure. “You think?” I felt strange. Like I was a fraud or something.
This outfit was so not me, and I worried that people would see right through my facade. I mean, one trip in these heels and the cat would be out of the bag.
Michelle tsked. “You’re a hottie, Scar. I’ve been telling you for years. I’m just excited that you’re letting that part of you shine.” She pulled the curling iron from her hair and turned to wink at me. “Cayden won’t know what hit him.”
Those pesky butterflies were back, dive-bombing my stomach once again. The thought of Cayden liking how I looked made me both excited and nervous at the same time.
I excused myself to go get a drink and scurried out of my room. Well, I walked as fast as my three-inch heels would allow me. Once I was in the kitchen, I filled a glass with water from the fridge.
After I emptied my glass, I set it in the sink and leaned against the counter, taking deep, calming breaths.
My nerves felt frayed, but I knew this party was important. I couldn’t bail on it no matter how much I wanted to.
My phone chimed and I glanced down, wondering who it was and trying really hard to not hope that it was Cayden.
It was Mom. She was just calling to see what I was doing.
Grateful for the distraction, I took a picture and texted it to her. She ooo’d and ahhh’d at my new look and told me to have fun but to be careful.
I couldn’t help but read into her words. She was excited that I was getting out of my comfort zone. I could see her picking up the phone and calling Dr. Nelson to declare I was cured.
Except I wasn’t. I was still a wreck inside. A wreck that was about to head out to the biggest party in California.
Great.
I couldn’t think like that right now. Because, despite being a nervous ball of energy, I didn’t want to disappoint Cayden.
I sent a kiss-face emoji to Mom and pushed off the counter to head back to my room. Just as I passed through the entry, the doorbell rang. I glanced over at the clock on the microwave and realized there was a very good chance that the person on the other side of that door was Cayden.
My heart began to pound and my body flushed as I stared at the silhouette of a person through the glass. And then my feet started to carry me toward the door. It was like my body was excited to see Cayden again and was sick of my mind being in charge.
I grabbed the door handle and pulled it open, revealing Cayden.
His smile started out as his classic Cayden Rivers smile, but then it morphed into something different. Something I hadn’t seen before.
It was one of…fear? Surprise?
Whatever it was, it made me feel uncomfortable, especially when it was followed by a low whistle.
He must have gotten over his stupor and was back to his flirty ways.
“Geez, Scarlett, trying to show me up?” he asked as he moved to enter the house.
I stepped out of the way. He was followed by a lanky boy with shaggy brown hair and deep brown eyes. He glanced over at me and smiled, nodding as he passed by.
“Hey,” he said.
I nodded and shut the door behind them.
“Scar, this is Bryant. My best friend since we were kids.” Cayden waved his hand from Bryant and then over to me. “This is Scarlett, my fake girlfriend.”
Bryant reached out his hand, and I did the same.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said.
Bryant nodded. “Likewise.”
We dropped hands just as Michelle entered the room. She was wearing a white lacy dress, and her hair cascaded around her in soft ringlets. I swear Bryant’s jaw dropped, but he quickly snapped it back up.
“This is Michelle,” Cayden said. “Your date for the evening.”
Bryant fumbled over himself as he crossed the room and shook Michelle’s hand. It was sweet and typical to see someone respond that way to Michelle. She looked like a goddess.
A hand grabbed my elbow. Cayden had moved closer to me, a flirty look in his eye.
“You’re definitely holding up your agreement to be my arm candy,” he said, emphasizing his words with the sweep of his gaze.
My whole body felt as if it had lit on fire. I reveled in his appreciation as much as I feared it. It was scary, being in the spotlight like this.
What would Cayden do if he discovered that this was all a facade?
“Thanks,” I managed.
Cayden winked and then waved toward the front door. “We should get going. Tommy is notoriously mean to those who are late.”
I took a deep breath as I grabbed my purse from the front entry table. I slipped the strap over my shoulder and followed Bryant and Michelle out of the house. Cayden pulled the door shut behind us and then slipped his hand in mine. Warmth spread up my arm from his touch.
“You’re my fake girlfriend,” he said as if that was justification enough.
I peeked over to see him smiling down at me. The soft, genuine smile that I’d begun to crave.
“And that’s reason enough?” I asked. There was a flirty hint to my tone that surprised even me.
Cayden raised an eyebrow. “Are you teasing me, Scar?” he asked, leaning in and bumping me with his shoulder.
My skin flushed from the fact that he was flirting back. He led me to the car and pulled open the passenger-side door. I could hear the other doors slamming shut as Bryant and Michelle got into the back seat, but my focus was on Cayden.
He was leaning toward me. His body so close to mine that I could almost feel his touch—even though he wasn’t touching me.
My breath hitched in my throat as I peeked up at him.
“Maybe,” I whispered.
His expression stilled, and for a moment, I saw his gaze flick down to my lips. Out of instinct, I chewed on my bottom lip. Did I want him to kiss me?
The flame that was slowly turning into a raging fire inside of me said, yes, I wanted Cayden to kiss me.
That thought startled me out of my stupor. I blinked and swallowed, forcing a relaxed smile. Then I reached out, patted his shoulder, and slipped into the passenger seat.
It seemed to take Cayden a bit longer to snap out of his trance. He stood next to the door, holding it for a few seconds before he cleared his throat and slammed it shut.
He rounded the hood, and I took that time to hush my pounding heart and focus on the game plan.
I wasn’t here to fall for Cayden. I had a job to do, and I was going to do it. There was no way I could let my out of control emotions get the best of me. I knew that if I continued down this path, I might find myself falling for my fake fling.
He was Cayden Rivers. There was no way we could ever be anything for real. I lived in Chicago, for Pete’s sake.
Was I delusional enough to think that the playboy of Hollywood could actually sustain a long-term relationship?
And then I inwardly groaned. Why did I use that word? Was I fool enough to think that our names could be used in the same sentence as relationship?
I was going to drive myself crazy if I kept thinking about Cayden and me, so I shifted in my seat to look behind me. Michelle and Bryant were talking in the back seat. I could see Michelle’s soft smile as she tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded.
Bryant’s smile was so big that I was pretty sure astronauts could see it from space.
Not wanting to interrupt their moment, I twisted back around in my seat.
Cayden was navigating the streets. His seat was leaned back, and his wrist was resting comfortably on the steering wheel. I peeked over at him, not sure what to say.
With the way my mind was spasming, I was a little worried that if I parted my lips, I’d suddenly declare my love for him.
Which was ridiculous.
“How’s the movie going?” I asked. Talking about work seemed safe.
Cayden flicked his gaze over to me and then back to the road. He shrugged. “It’s going. I’m glad we’re back on schedule.”
I fiddled with the hem of my dress. “So it’s working?”
“What’s working?” He pressed on his blinker and merged into the other lane.
“Our fake…thing,” I said, waving between the two of us.
He glanced over at me and smiled. “Yeah. I think it is.”
“Good.” I nodded, turning to glance out the window. There were too many feelings tied up in staring at Cayden. I didn’t like how vulnerable I was beginning to feel around him. There was no way I was going to be able to keep a level head if I allowed myself to get distracted.
He chuckled. It was soft and melodious and made my body tingle. “Are you enjoying it?”
I glanced over at him. “Fake dating?”
He nodded. “Am I a good fake boyfriend?”
I shrugged. “Well, this is only our second time hanging out. So I would say you’re on probation.”
He studied the road. “What would get me off probation?”
I tapped my finger with my chin. Before I could respond, he added, “I mean, what have your other boyfriends done to win your affection?”
Embarrassment coursed through my veins. I hadn’t been prepared for that question. And truthfully, I wasn’t ready for Cayden to discover just how nerdy I was. To discover that I, in fact, had never had a boyfriend before.
I felt his gaze on me, and desperate to say something, I lied. “They brought me chocolate.”
Call me crazy, but I didn’t want to tell him the truth. I wanted him to think that I was actually worth fake dating. That he hadn’t strapped himself to a giant nerd.
“Chocolate?” he asked, the teasing hint to his words causing my body to react.
I nodded. “Hershey’s chocolate bars to be specific.”
He glanced over at me. “And that’s the way to win your heart? Candy bars?”
I shrugged. “I’m simple.”
He stopped for a red light and glanced over at me, his gaze penetrating every wall I’d thrown up. Scared that he would sense what he was doing to me, I forced a smile and held my ground.
He leaned closer to me, and the smell of his cologne—sandalwood and mint—surrounded me. It made my head feel foggy. Or maybe it was just his presence that was causing me to react this way.
“I doubt that you are simple,” he said. His voice was low and husky and sent pulses of pleasure rushing through my body.
I sat there, completely consumed with his gaze and the feeling of his body close to mine. It wasn’t until a sharp, shrill honk sounded behind us that I straightened and turned back to the road.
Cayden chuckled as he waved at the car behind us, and then he took off down the road.
The speed at which he drove matched the speed of my beating heart.
Fast and nerve-racking.
Chapter Ten
I kept my attention on the outside world for the rest of the drive. Cayden offered to play some music and I wholeheartedly agreed. I was ready for a distraction from my growing feelings for Cayden.
Heavy bass filled the car, and I settled back in my seat.
Ten minutes later, Cayden pulled up to a wrought iron fence. Lights and smoke could be seen rising up into the sky from a house all the way up on the cliff.
After punching in a code, the gate swung open and we drove up a long windy driveway. He pulled to a stop in front of the house, and a man in a black suit came around the car to open the doors.
After a quick exchange, Cayden handed the keys over and made his way to my door.
Not wanting to confuse myself anymore, I beat him to it and pulled my door open myself. After stepping out onto the driveway, I was met with a somewhat irritated Cayden.
“It’s my job as your fake boyfriend to open your door,” he said.
I took a deep breath and shrugged. “It’s okay,” I said as I patted his shoulder. “I’ve got this.”
He humphed and followed after me as I made my way to the front door. I was trying to come across as confident, but I doubted it was working.
Michelle and Bryant followed after us. I was a tad jealous to see that Bryant had his hand on the small of Michelle’s back and that she seemed so at ease.
Had it been Cayd
en and I, I would have been a wreck, wondering what it meant and how I felt about it. But not Michelle, she glided across the ground as if being touched by a guy was an everyday occurrence. Which, for her, it was.
I took a deep breath and waited for Cayden to open the doors. He shot me a satisfied look and grabbed the door handle.
As soon as the door swung open, the music got ten times louder. Lights strobed around us, making me wince. Fog and bubbles filled the air and floated out into the night sky.
I almost turned around and demanded that Cayden take me home, but I immediately got swallowed up in the crowd of people milling through the house.
Worried that I’d get lost, I searched the room for Cayden or Michelle. A hand engulfed mine, and right before I panicked, I glanced up to see that it was Cayden. His eyebrows were furrowed as he stared down at me.
I didn’t fight him holding my hand as he pulled me through the room and out to the deck. A long, rectangular pool sat right on the edge of the cliff, and the water looked as if it were disappearing over the edge.
He brought me over to the drink cabana that was set up in the center of the deck. After ordering a Coke, he turned for me to do the same. I asked for a root beer, and the bartender nodded.
With our drinks in hand, Cayden brought me over to a table on the far end and motioned for me to sit.
The music was a lot quieter out here. Besides the random couples making out on the lawn chairs, it was peaceful.
“We need to set up some ground rules,” he said after he took a sip and set his glass down on the table.
“Ground rules?” I asked, leaning forward.
He nodded. “If we are going to make this fake relationship work, we need to make sure we are both on the same page.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He slipped out his phone and pulled up a note-taking app. He thought for a moment before he began typing. “Rule number one, we have to act like we are in love.”
I stared at him as my heart began to pound. I couldn’t believe the way I was reacting to him just saying that four-letter word. Feeling like an idiot, I nodded. “Okay. How?”
Rule #6: You Can't Fall for Your Fake Summer Fling: A Standalone Sweet High School Romance (The Rules of Love) Page 7