by Ashley Jade
“Yes.”
The ice in my dad’s tone makes it clear he didn’t mean it as a compliment.
“So, how did y’all meet?” Mama asks, breaking up the tension.
“We go to school together,” I remind her.
She rolls her eyes. “I know that, Sawyer Grace. What I meant was, how did you two start dating? And how come you never mentioned having a boyfriend before?”
Here we go.
It’s time to clear things up. “We’re not—”
“Official yet,” Cole cuts in. “Sawyer insisted I had to meet her parents before she agreed to be my girlfriend.”
My mom looks at me like I’m crazy. “Really?”
Daddy’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “Good to know one of my daughters still cares what her old man thinks.”
He’s obviously still hurt about Catherine’s fiancé going to my mother for permission and leaving him out altogether.
“Dan,” Mama grits through her teeth. “This isn’t the time.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles.
Mama looks around the table until her eyes land on me. “Your birthday is coming up soon. Is there anything special you want to do?”
Yeah…sleep.
Truth be told, I haven’t thought much about it. My parents don’t have the money to do anything fancy and I don’t want to be a burden.
“I don’t know. I was hoping we could do something small here. Maybe dinner and cake?”
Concern washes over Daddy’s expression. “Are you sure? It’s a big day, Sawyer. You only turn eighteen once.”
“I’m sure, Daddy.”
“Gosh, I still can’t believe it,” Mama gushes. “Seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital and fighting over your name.”
Yup, it’s definitely time to change the topic of conversation.
“Time flies when you’re having fun, huh? Anyway—”
“When’s your birthday?” Cole interjects.
My stomach does that weird flippy thing before it falls to the floor.
I wave a hand dismissively. “It’s not important. Don’t worry about it.”
“Of course it’s important,” Daddy argues.
“What in the world has gotten into you, Sawyer?” my mother prods.
Oh, hell.
“November seventh.”
His gaze burns through me like thermite through metal. “That’s a great day.” Shifting his stare, he plants a big smile on his gorgeous face. “It’s my birthday too.”
No, it’s not.
Liam’s death must have been excruciating for everyone who loved him…but his death didn’t erase Cole.
The real Cole.
Mama’s face lights up. “Wow, would you look at that? What are the odds?”
With four people in a room…less than one percent.
But if one of those people is lying and putting on a façade? One hundred percent bullshit.
“Imagine that,” I murmur, heaving a forkful of potatoes into my mouth.
“You two should do something special together to celebrate.”
Cole’s smile grows wider. “It’s like you read my m—”
“Can’t.” I stab the pot roast. “Dylan’s birthday is two days before mine and we already made plans to celebrate our birthdays together.”
My dad takes a sip of his drink. “How has she been?”
“Good. Busy with work and college.”
And Jace.
“Speaking of college,” Daddy says. “Have you turned in your essay for Duke’s Heart yet?”
Haven’t even started it.
I have less than twelve hours to submit it. Talk about walking on the edge.
“Yup.” I wipe my mouth with my napkin. “Early this morning.”
“Cutting it close, sweetheart. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah, but I’m sure it will be fine.”
I make a mental note to take the Adderall Oakley gave me today after dinner and get it done.
“So, Cole,” my mother begins. “Tell us a little more about yourself. What do your parents do for a living?”
I want to remind her what Cole’s parents do for work has nothing to do with him as a person, but it’s too late.
“My father owns Trust Pharmaceuticals—”
“Trust Pharmaceuticals, my ass,” Daddy mutters.
“Dan,” Mama shrieks.
Cole wipes his mouth. “No, it’s okay. To tell you the truth, I feel the same way your husband does about the company.”
“Doesn’t stop you from reaping the benefits though, huh?” Daddy criticizes. “I’ve been working on cars for the last twenty years and I can’t say I’ve ever had the pleasure of working on a Ferrari.”
Cole straightens his spine. “In that case, I’ll have to bring my LaFerrari by your shop sometime so you can pop open the hood.”
Clutching his fork, Daddy leans back in his chair. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t need your blood money or charity.”
“Daddy,” I snap. “You’re being rude.”
Here I was worried Cole would be judging us and it’s the other way around.
“How about your mother?” Mama questions with a tight smile. “What does she do?”
“Not much,” Cole answers with a straight face. “She’s dead.”
Daddy chokes on his drink. “Sorry to hear that.”
“Goodness, that’s awful. I’m so sorry—”
“You’re a fantastic cook, Mrs. Church,” Cole interjects. “This is the best meal I’ve had in a long time.”
I’m not one bit surprised he changed the subject.
The trick works, because Mama is practically glowing. “Why, thank you. You’re welcome to join us for supper whenever you want.”
Daddy grumbles something under his breath I can’t make out.
Mama loads more food onto Cole’s plate. “Do you have any siblings?”
Cole dives right into his second helping. “One older brother and a younger sister.”
It’s kind of scary how easily the omission flows from his mouth.
As if he didn’t spare Liam a second thought.
“His brother Jace is dating Dylan,” I clarify to connect the dots for them.
“Oh,” Mama exclaims. “I guess that explains how y’all got together.”
I open my mouth to tell her we’re not together, but Daddy utters, “Dylan’s boyfriend is your brother?”
“Yeah.” Cole pauses mid-bite. “I take it you’ve met him before?”
He nods. “He brought the car he got Dylan for her birthday into my shop to have a second safety check done.” I’m not sure what to make of the look on his face. “Nice kid. Hard worker, too.”
Cole nods. “He is.”
“Never would have guessed you two were brothers. You’re very…different.”
I see a flicker of pain flash across his face. Pain I’m familiar with.
“Just because they’re siblings doesn’t mean they have to act the same,” I exclaim. “Take Catherine and me, for instance. We couldn’t be more different if we tried.”
We’re so different, people have outright asked if I was adopted and openly referred to her as the pretty, thin one in front of me.
“Ain’t that the truth,” my mother agrees with a heavy sigh.
Wanting to put Cole out of his misery, I push my chair out. “Dinner was great, but I have a lot of homework to finish up.” I look at Cole. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the door.”
“Are you sure—” Mama starts to say, but Cole stands up.
“Thank you for having me. It was nice to meet you both.”
Mama starts clearing the table. “You come back any time now, you hear?”
Daddy stays silent.
“Your father hates me,” Cole hisses after we leave the table.
“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just annoyed some boy showed up on his doorstep unannounced, declared he was dating his daughter, gave flowers to his wife,
and then invited himself to dinner.”
“Technically, your mom invited me,” he says with a smirk.
I point a finger at him. “You should have said no.”
“That would’ve been rude.”
Seriously? “As opposed to all the other times you’re rude to people?”
“Look, you said I had to meet them.” Leaning in, he whispers, “And now that I’ve held up my end of the agreement, it’s time for you to hold up yours.”
Not today, Satan.
“We had no agreement, Cole. I told you I’d think about it.”
His jaw tics. “That was almost a week ago.”
“You’re right, and I think I’ve finally reached my decision.”
A self-satisfied grin plays on his lips. “I knew you’d—”
“No.”
His smile falls. “What? What do you mean, no?”
“No, I will not be your fake girlfriend.” I open the front door. “Now get out.”
He blinks. “You’re joking, right?”
I point to my face. “Does it look like I’m joking?”
He blows out a breath. “You obviously need a little more time to think about it. Let’s touch base tomorrow.”
It’s like he doesn’t understand English.
“I don’t need more time to think—”
Placing his finger over my lips, he closes the space between us.
“We’ll talk tomorrow, Bible Thumper.”
I nod.
Not because I’m agreeing with him. I just want him to leave so I can take the Adderall and write my essay.
He looks like he wants to say something else, but I nip it in the bud.
“What’s that, Mama?” I call over my shoulder. “You need help with the dishes?”
He playfully tugs on my ponytail. “Brat.”
With that, he walks out the door.
Chapter 23
Cole
I’m two feet from my car when I hear the front door open behind me.
“Hang on a minute, young man.”
Not quite the sultry southern twang I was hoping for.
Then again, maybe he came out here to apologize. The guy was a goddamn prick during dinner. I’d have more respect for the dude if he’d just come right out and told me I’m not good enough for his daughter.
Hell, I’d be the first one to agree.
I turn around. “Yeah?”
He holds up my varsity jacket. “You left this on the back of your chair.”
I take it from him. “Thanks.”
He folds his arms across his chest. “Got a minute?”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say we were about to have a duel.
Despite the bad feeling I have brewing in my gut about this impending conversation, I accept. “Sure.”
Chapter 24
Sawyer
“Are you sure you’re not playing an April fool’s joke on us?” Mama questions as I head up the staircase.
“It’s November,” I remind her.
“I know that. I guess I’m just trying to understand…” Her voice trails off, but she doesn’t need to finish that sentence.
Why would Cole date someone like me?
“Did it ever occur to you that not every guy wants a cheerleader or pageant queen?”
Offended, she wrings the dishtowel in her hands. “I just don’t want you to get your heart broken is all. Guys like Cole, they don’t…” Her voice trails off for the second time.
Want girls like me.
“I have homework to do.”
She shuffles her feet. “Maybe when you’re done, you can go to the gym.”
The woman has been pushing me to go to the gym ever since I was twelve.
Truth be told, there are times I lie to appease her and drive to McDonald’s instead.
“If I’m not too tired after, I will.”
Her face lights up. “Good.” The smile she gives me is genuine. “Maybe you dating this boy will motivate you to eat right and work out more—”
“Can you stop, Mama?”
She shrugs innocently. “Stop what?”
Treating me like I’m not good enough.
Ignoring her, I jog up the staircase.
“Excuse me. I wasn’t done talking to you, young lady.”
“Sorry. Just wanted to get some exercise in.”
“I’m not trying to be harsh, Sawyer Grace. But the fact of the matter is—guys that gorgeous and popular don’t date girls who are overweight. You need to start taking better care of yourself before he wanders off with someone more—”
The sound of my bedroom door slamming drowns out the rest of her sentence.
Fishing around in my backpack, I find the bottle of Adderall along with a water bottle and shove a pill in my mouth.
And that’s when I hear it.
“I know what boys like you are really after,” my father shouts.
Oh, fuck.
Dipping low, I move closer to my open window.
“I’m not after anything,” Cole argues. “Is it a crime to want to date your daughter?”
“Come on. Do you think I was born yesterday?”
Cole starts to say something, but my father cuts him off. “You come here with your fancy expensive car, your varsity jacket, your flowers, and your cocky attitude, and expect everyone to eat out of the palm of your hand. You might have my wife and daughter fooled.” He pounds on his chest. “but you ain’t fooling me. A guy like you doesn’t date a girl like Sawyer because he actually likes her.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Cole bites out.
“Don’t play dumb. You know damn well what it means. Football players chase pretty cheerleaders…not the smart, fat girls who focus on their studies and keep to themselves.” He jabs a finger in the air. “Stay the hell away from my daughter.”
My heart sinks. I expected this from my mother…but my father?
He always told me I was perfect and beautiful.
Tears well in my eyes. If the man who’s supposed to love me the most in this world secretly feels like I’m so unattractive it makes me unlovable…the rest of the universe must be utterly repulsed by me.
God, I am so tired of being the fat girl.
So tired of feeling like I don’t belong.
So tired of people only seeing one thing when they look at me.
“You know,” Cole grits through his teeth. “I’m getting really tired of people acting like Sawyer dating me is some kind of prize she’s not worthy of when it’s the other way around.”
Walking backward, he heads for his car. “You’re right, though, Mr. Church. Sawyer is all those things you said before, and then some…but that’s exactly why I like her so much. Unlike everyone else, she doesn’t pretend to be someone she’s not.” He laughs, but there’s no humor. “It’s a damn shame you and your wife can’t appreciate the incredible person you brought into the world for everything she is instead of everything she isn’t.” His tongue finds his cheek. “Lucky for me, I don’t have that problem.”
Daddy’s speechless.
So am I.
Opening his car door, Cole slides into the seat and rolls his window down. “Oh, and for the record, sir. No one—not even God—can keep me away from your daughter, so I suggest you get used to me.”
The stunned look on Daddy’s face as he drives off is something I’ll never forget.
Never in a million years did I think Cole Covington would come to my defense.
No, what he did was more than that.
He sees me. Flaws and all.
We come from two different worlds and half the time, we don’t even get along, but for one solitary moment…he was able to perceive and value me in a way no one else has ever been able to.
With shaky fingers, I pick up my cell phone.
Sawyer: I’ll do it.
His incoming text is almost immediate.
Cole: For real?
Sawyer: No. For fake, remember?
Cole: Why the sudden change of heart, Church?
Sawyer: Does it really matter, Covington?
Cole: Well, when you put it that way. No.
Another text follows that one.
Cole: Thanks for helping me out. TTYL.
He makes it sound like I loaned him study notes.
Sawyer: Wait a minute.
Given I had feelings for him in the past, it’s safe to say fake dating could pose a potential problem for me.
I need to figure out a way to protect myself.
Cole: What’s up?
Sawyer: I think we should set some ground rules.
I watch the dots on my phone appear and disappear before appearing again.
Cole: What kind of ground rules?
Pondering, I chew on my thumbnail. I want to be smart about this, but I also have to complete my essay.
Sawyer: I’m not sure yet. Meet me in the school parking lot at 6:45 tomorrow morning. I’ll have the contract written up by then.
Cole: Contract?
Sawyer: That a problem for you?
Cole: No.
Chapter 25
Sawyer
I’m so tired I almost run over the curb as I park my car.
On the bright side, I finished my essay and turned it in four hours ago.
The Adderall was a godsend…with one small exception.
I was so amped up, I couldn’t sleep a wink.
Well, until now of course. Now I could sleep the entire day away.
Unfortunately, sleep is gonna have to wait until after work.
Almost sixteen hours from now.
I look around the empty parking lot. Cole will be here any minute.
I reach for my Styrofoam coffee cup and down a few swigs while eyeing the bottle of Adderall in my bag.
I was planning on using the twenty I have for emergencies, but if I take one now, I’ll be awake and focused for school.
I pop one in my mouth and take another sip of my coffee…just as Cole’s LaFerrari pulls up beside me.
I stuff the unmarked pill bottle in my bag and take out my folder with the contracts in it.