Pretend Daddy: A Fake Marriage Romance

by Amy Brent

  “He told me he’d caught me dancing outside of the dance building. I had been rehearsing a little number for some bullshit pop quiz I found out my ballet teacher was having, so I was putting together something quick before class. He’d apparently come around the corner to try and find me, and instead, he found me dancing.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” she asked.

  “Nothing. He told me he’d never seen something so beautiful move with such grace,” I said.

  “That’s very sweet of him. But, what does that have to do with the dance studio?” she asked.

  “He told me he’d be my first private student if I ever got around to opening my dream dance studio,” I said.

  Kelly searched my eyes before she pulled her hands back away from me. She sighed and leaned back into her chair as she slowly pieced together why I had been so adamant on the dance studio in college.

  I had to get myself out of the situation.

  “Anyway, it was a stupid little thing that grew into a bigger passion. Now, I want to teach and help the community. But, his comment got the fire roaring, I guess. Bullshit, right?” I asked.

  “If you say so,” Kelly said.

  I had to divert the subject before we followed this train of thought any longer.

  “So, I told you if you got my brother drunk he’d suck your face off,” I said, smirking.

  “Oh, that was nothing,” she said, blushing. “Just some kissing or whatever. I’m sorry, by the way, for ditching you.”

  “Don’t be. Tyler and I made our way to the bathrooms,” I said.

  “No, you didn’t!” she said. “What did you guys do?”

  At that moment, Kelly’s phone rang. She dug it out from her purse and opened it up, and a goofy smile appeared across her face. Her fingers flew over the screen of the phone as her smile grew wider, and by the time she sent it she was practically giggling to herself.

  “Let me venture a guess as to who that was,” I said.

  “I’m serious, it’s not who you think it is. And that thing in the club? Just a one-time deal. Alright?”

  I held my hands up in mock surrender, but I knew my best friend better than that. I knew she was texting my brother, and I was happy for her. I hadn’t seen her smile like that over someone in a very long time, and I figured when the time was right she would tell me.

  But then, just as Kelly’s phone rang out again, mine vibrated in my pocket.

  What are you up to?

  It was Tyler, and I couldn’t help but smirk.

  Hanging out with Kelly while she lies to me about texting my brother. You?

  I rose my gaze to Kelly’s eyes, and I could see the hint of a smile on her cheeks.

  “Anyone interesting?” she asked.

  “Nope,” I said.

  Boring shit with your brother. So, that’s who he’s texting. Got it. Want to get together later?

  It was becoming harder and harder to bury the smirk threatening to peel across my cheeks. But, I looked up at Kelly and saw her face-deep in her phone, so I figured I was safe for now.

  And how do you propose we do that?

  It was an honest question. The parade thing had been nothing but luck and incredible timing. However, intentionally sneaking around was going to be a bit more difficult.

  Even if I did have my own place.

  I have an appointment to tour some office spaces Tuesday morning while Luke does some other things around the city for the business. Figured I could squeeze you in.

  An involuntary giggle rose from my throat, and Kelly snapped her head up to look at me. I bit down on my lip, trying to stifle it further, but the only thing it did was confirm for Kelly what she was thinking.

  “Have fun,” she said, winking.

  “Oh, shut up. You’re stuck with me all day. Girl’s afternoon, remember?” I asked.

  “Just sayin’. You want to scoot off, go right on ahead,” she said.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I asked.

  “Just means I get more sordid details later,” she said, winking.

  Sure. I think I’d enjoy you squeezing me in. Keep in touch.

  “You guys just make plans?” Kelly asked.

  “Maybe,” I said.

  “What are you guys going to do?” she asked.

  “He’s got some office buildings he’s touring Tuesday morning. Says he wants to squeeze me in.”

  “Fuck, I’m sure he does,” she said. “Sounds like he’s just as hooked as you are.”

  “Don’t say shit like that,” I said. “This is a fling. Nothing more. A nice little holiday relaxation while I deal with the bullshit that is my parents.”

  “They still riding you on their own dreams versus yours?” she asked.

  “My mother actually asked me when I’d get over my dance studio phase,” I said.

  “Phase? She called it a phase?” she asked.

  “Yep. And then, in the same breath, she encouraged Luke and Tyler to open another side business or some bullshit.”

  “Your mom’s a piece of work,” she said.

  “You’re telling me.”

  Kelly’s phone rang again, and I lost her to the conversation she was having with my brother. The smile on her face told me she was happy, and I figured the only thing I could do was support her. She was an incredible woman who deserved a good man, and that’s exactly what my brother was. I knew he would treat her right and support Kelly in whatever the hell it was they were trying to do. For now, it was probably just innocent conversation. But, it was innocent conversation that made my best friend smile.

  And I was all for it.

  Now, if only he would be alright with me fucking his best friend.

  Chapter 13

  Tyler

  Luke brought me to buy gifts for his parents since, you know, I decided to fuck his sister instead. I’d never done this type of thing before, so I honestly wasn’t sure what the hell I was looking at. We went from store to store while Luke picked apart every gift he thought might be right for them, and I suddenly realized why Amber hated this with her family so much.

  “Dude, are you ever going to settle on something?” I asked.

  “Presents are a big deal in my family at Christmas time. They have to be perfect,” he said.

  “But, they’re just gifts. Things people will throw away eventually,” I said.

  “Not if they mean something. Not if they’re important,” he said.

  “Whatever. All I know is you aren’t dragging me around for much longer,” I said.

  “I know, I know. We’ve been out here awhile. Sorry. I just have no idea what to get Mom and Dad. That’s the issue with not coming home as much because of the business. I’m not there to listen when they start talking about shit like this. Amber, though, will be easy to buy for.”

  “How so?” I asked.

  “Mom and Dad get on her a lot about her dance business, but I think she could do it. She’s just needs to stop fighting long enough. There’s a dance shop up the road that sells both new and used dancewear, and I’m going to get her a gift card,” he said.

  “So she can get herself some new shit?” I asked.

  “She mentioned one time about having a little store where people could come in and get items if they need something new and don’t know where to go to buy certain items. She wants to make sure it’s completely accessible to people, so every year I get her a gift card to that place so one day she can fill her shop with stuff,” he said.

  That was an excellent idea, and I wondered if I should get Amber something. For the past couple of days, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind. She had cum so wonderfully for me, and my dick twitched every time I thought about it. Whenever I slept, I could see her face contorted in pleasure. Whenever I showered, the only thing I could think about was having her in there with me. She had penetrated every single thought of mine even though I thought fucking her once would get her out of my system.

  And I was
excited about having her again tomorrow.

  “You think I should get everyone something?” I asked.

  “That’s up to you. No one expects you to, but you can if you want,” he said.

  “Any closer to figuring out what you’ll get your Mom and Dad?” I asked.

  “A bit. Dad’s crazy about coffee, and there’s a place in town that specializes in wonderful imported blends. If all else fails with Mom, though, I could just treat her to a Mom-and-Son day where I pay for everything. That always works.”

  “You’ve done that before?” I asked as I picked up a scented candle.

  “Yep. She loves it every time, I think. And don’t get anyone candles. That’s just a cop-out,” he said.

  This present buying thing was difficult, and I couldn’t honestly say I was sold on it. They talked about the holidays as if you were supposed to be with people you love and respect and how everyone was supposed to be happy, but Luke was just making me miserable. He was stressing himself out with this shopping thing, and I didn’t understand how that kind of stress was supposed to fit into a holiday like this.

  So, I decided against it. I wasn’t sure where Amber and I stood, plus I didn’t fucking feel like deciphering what she might like as a gift.

  “You ready for tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Looking at all the places in the morning. Should be done just after lunch. I’ll be good,” I said.

  “The office space is important. It has to have a good layout as well as be in a central part of town. I gave you the budget, right?” he asked.

  “Dude, we’ve been over this a fuck-ton of times. It’ll be alright. I’m looking at three decent properties that fit all the things we need, and by the time I come back tomorrow we’ll have an LA location that I’m running,” I said.

  “At least we’re on the same page with you running it here,” he said. “I’m the one with all the connections back home. You’d really rock it here.”

  “All three places have a little loft area above it, too. So, I’d have somewhere to move in immediately as well,” I said.

  “Oh, dude. That’s fucking badass. Sounds like I don’t need to worry at all,” he said.

  “Didn’t know you were worrying in the first place, you little bitch,” I said, smirking.

  “Not gonna lie, I was thinking about coming last minute with you.”

  “Don’t worry. Chicks do that all the time,” I said, winking.

  “You’re such a dick.”

  “But you love it,” I said.

  He dragged me to two more fucking stores before he was done shopping for everyone. We stopped by that dance consignment shop and got Amber the gift cards he wanted, and it gave me a second to look around. This shop had everything: leggings, dance shirts, costumes, makeup, any type of dance shoe you needed, detergents for your costumes. I could see Amber setting up a little shop like this in her dance studio to help people out, and it made me smile to think that she was still pursuing this.

  That was one of the things I remembered about her from college. She always seemed so passionate about opening her own studio.

  We piled all the bags and shit into Luke’s car and took them back to the house. Luke was all sneaky and shit trying to get them into the house, then bailed last-minute and decided to just toss them in the spare room closet.

  “Luke, if I was an excited kid at Christmas, this closet would be the first place I looked,” I said.

  “Well, good thing we’re all adults then,” he said.

  “You mean to tell me we made one long-ass stealth trip up these stairs with everything and now you’re going to cop out on me? Let’s at least hide them in the attic and end in a grand finale,” I said.

  “Dude, you’re so weird,” he said, laughing. “Your room’s just fine. Since you’re sleeping in it, no one will think about rummaging around in it.”

  “Fine, whatever. But, don’t get pissed if I throw my clothes and shit on them,” I said.

  “Don’t throw anything on them, or I’ll kill you. Mom’s present is very fragile. That leather monstrosity you call a coat would crush it.”

  We shoved all the gifts into the back of the closet and went downstairs. Amber must’ve walked in while we were stuffing the closet full of presents because she was talking with her Dad. Luke stopped just around the corner and held his hand out, signaling me to stop.

  And then, I tuned into the conversation and realized why.

  “I know the dance studio was something you wanted to do in college, but you have familial responsibilities now,” Ron said.

  “No, Daddy. I don’t. Luke did, and he got to go off and do his own thing. Why can’t I do the same?” she asked.

  “Because I built this business for this family. For you kids. That business is the reason you were able to flounce around in college doing dance, and now it’s your time. You’ll take it over, and I won’t hear any more of it,” Ron said.

  “I’m not taking over the production company,” she said. “If that gets me tossed out of this family or whatever, then so be it.”

  “It’s time you grew up, Amber,” Ron said. “Now, I don’t agree with your mother on marrying and never working again. I don’t know where she picked that up from, but you’re better than that. Which is why I’ve chosen you to run this company.”

  “You didn’t choose me. I’m your last option because Luke left,” she said.

  I saw Luke grimace at the comment, and part of me felt bad for him. Luke was a good guy, and I knew he would blame leaving and starting his own business for what his sister was now enduring. He was protective as shit and a little weird when it came to her, but he loved her and I could see that.

  I was really pissed with Ron, though. It wasn’t right for them to support Luke and then trample on Amber. The business he built was his decision, not theirs. It wasn’t right for him to force it on anyone.

  “I’m not taking over the company, Daddy,” she said.

  “You are, and you will. It’s a family business, and I’m keeping it as such,” he said.

  “Dad—”

  “I will hear no more of it!” he exclaimed.

  Amber groaned before we heard her stomp off, so Luke and I rounded the corner into the kitchen. Neither of us wanted her to see the fact that we’d been listening. She was pissed off enough, and I knew enough about her now to know she’d take her frustration out on us later.

  When we heard the front door slam shut, we knew we were safe.

  From her, at least.

  We came around the corner just as Ron sat back down into his chair and he looked up at us with shock. Luke and I sat down across from him on the couch while I tried to keep my anger at bay, and I decided to go out on a limb with Luke sitting right next to me.

  “Everything okay, Mr. Duffield?” I asked.

  “Yeah, yeah. Just having a little talk with Amber,” he said.

  “She alright?” I asked. “She didn’t look very happy.”

  “Oh, yeah. She just has some growing up to do from some dreams she had as a girl,” he said.

  “They aren’t girlish dreams, though,” I said.

  I felt Luke whip his head toward me as Ron’s eyes connected with mine. It was about damn time someone in this family stood up for the dreams of a little girl who was infuriated with her family, and if Luke didn’t want to do it, then I would.

  “If there’s one thing I remembered about her from college when I realized who your daughter was, Mr. Duffield, it was her passion for owning her own dance studio. You’re stepping on her dreams while supporting your son’s, so her anger isn’t just at the fact that you don’t support her.”

  “And you know my daughter well, Tyler?” Ron asked.

  “No, I don’t. But, I know the fury of a child being neglected by their parents. They see you support Luke and me while forcing her to live a life she doesn’t want, and she’s starting to resent you for it. If you push her any further, she’ll end up like me.”

  “Wel
l, you seem like a level-headed kid,” Ron said.

  “I meant she won’t ever come home. She’ll leave and never come back. And it’ll be too late to fix your mistakes,” I said.

  Ron’s gaze held mine while Luke’s bored into my skull. I knew I was crossing a boundary, but someone needed to hear it. Someone needed to step up and tell them that what they were doing to Amber was wrong.

  “Stop stepping on her dream and support her like you did Luke. Maybe then, you won’t lose a daughter.”