My Fake Valentine

by Kellie McAllen

  I’ve been in a girl’s bed before, but never like this — fully clothed and sitting up but with our bodies still touching. It’s kind of distracting being this close but not doing anything but homework, and I’m tempted to run a hand down her leg.

  Mia holds the book between us and goes over each section, asking me questions. Every time she turns her head and looks at me, her lips are just inches away from mine, and all I can think about is kissing them again, but I don’t have the excuse of an audience. Somehow, despite being constantly distracted by thoughts of touching her, I manage to get the gist of her system, and I come up with a few flash card ideas of my own.

  “Enough history.” I grab the book from her and get up to put it in my backpack when I can’t handle sitting next to her like that anymore.

  “Okay. What do you want to do next?” She scoots to the edge of the bed and dangles her legs.

  I really want to kiss the serious look off her face, but instead I say, “Let’s talk about your party.”

  Her face lights up for a second, but then the shutters come back down, and she bites her lip. “I don’t know, Austin. I’ve never had a party before. What if nobody comes? Or what if they come and they think it’s lame?”

  I sit back down beside her. I can’t help myself when she looks all worried like that. “No way. I’d never let that happen. For one, everyone is going to be stoked to be invited to this place. You live in a freakin’ mansion with a bunch of celebrities, Mia! Who wouldn’t want to come to a party here? Don’t worry about the guest list. I’ll make sure the right people show up.”

  “What about the food, and the entertainment? I’m not sure we have enough time to get all that organized.”

  “All you need is pizza and dance music. Or maybe wings if it’s in the budget.” She quirks an eyebrow at me, and I realize that was a dumb thing to say. There probably is no budget.

  “What about drinks? Will they expect alcohol? I’m not sure my parents will allow that.”

  “Well, yeah. They kinda want booze. Most people throw parties when their parents are gone, and somebody gets a keg.”

  Mia shakes her head and rubs her hands up and down her thighs, distracting me again. “Even if my parents aren’t around, which they probably will be, the staff will be here, and they’ll notice a keg of beer.”

  “Huh.” I knock a knuckle against my lip as I try to come up with a solution. “Hey, I got an idea. A few liquor bottles would be a lot easier to sneak in. What if we just spiked some punch?”

  Mia throws her head back and laughs, smiling at me, and it does weird things to my belly. “Okay, sounds kinda throwback, but all right. Spiked punch.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Mia. Really. I’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is show up.”

  She gives me a thumbs-up, but then her smile falls again, and she scrunches her nose. “What should I wear?”

  “The sexiest thing you own.” I smirk, and she gulps. For a minute, I hope that she’s going to ask me to help her pick something out, but she just nods her head.

  A chime sounds from a speaker near the bed, and Mia gets up. “Time for dinner.”

  In my house, my mother usually just yells when dinner is ready, or sends us a text. I guess they’re too classy for that.

  I suddenly realize I’m not exactly dressed for a formal dinner, but then, neither is Mia. “Is this okay?” My face wrinkles as I glance down at my jeans. At least I’m not wearing a tee shirt.

  Mia waves it off. “You’re fine. We don’t have to dress for dinner unless we’re having company.” She giggles. “Well, I guess technically we are having company, but I don’t think our guest will mind.”

  Mia leads me down the stairs and into a dining room that could easily seat 12. My nerves ratchet up as I see the people congregating around it, and I feel like a Honda in a room full of Bentleys.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Austin Meyers.” Mia waves towards me.

  “Nice to meet you, Austin.” Mia’s father says with a gravely, movie star voice. He sits at the head of the shiny, mahogany table, and he’s the handsomest old dude I’ve ever met with perfectly styled salt and pepper hair that makes him look distinguished and clothes that are simple but classic and probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. He holds out a hand, and I rush forward to take it, wishing I’d stuck mine out first.

  Mia’s mom sits on his right, and she’s obviously not as young as she was when she was starring in Our Secret Lives, but she still has a great figure, and her hair and makeup look perfect. Maybe she has a stylist that does it for her every day. It wouldn’t surprise me. Should I shake her hand? I really have no clue.

  She reaches for mine, but instead of shaking it, she just clasps it between both of hers. “Aren’t you a doll? So nice to see Mia bringing home a boy for once. Do we know your parents?”

  I freeze and Mia winces. “It’s not like that, Mom. He’s just a friend from school. We’re working on a project together.” There she goes again with that introduction like she’s embarrassed by me. At least she didn’t say she was tutoring me.

  “Nice to meet you, Ma’am, Sir.” I nod at both of them.

  A girl glides in and takes the chair next to Mia’s mother. She’s tall and thin with long, wavy, honey blonde hair, and she looks a little younger than Mia, but she’s dressed like she’s in her twenties with a short, silk dress, a fur vest, thigh high boots, and long, gold chains. She’s gorgeous, and I can’t help but stare at her. She smiles and winks when she catches my eye.

  “Bianca, meet Mia’s friend. Austin, was it?” her mother says.

  Bianca holds out a hand, palm down, and I’m not sure what she wants. I take her fingers and give them a little shake, and Bianca stifles a laugh. She glances curiously at Mia, but Mia doesn’t say anything about schoolwork like she did to her parents, and I wonder what that means.

  Footsteps thunder down the hallway, and Mia’s brother tromps into the room and hands a basketball off to Berta who’s hovering in the corner. He’s blond and tan like Mia’s mom and sister, but way taller than anyone else. He may not be quite as gorgeous as the other three, but he’s a rockstar to me.

  “Evan, must you stomp through the house like an elephant?” Mrs. Black scowls at him.

  “Sorry, Mom.” He leans over the wide table and kisses her on the cheek then ruffles Bianca’s hair. She sneers and bats his hand away.

  “Hey Sis.” Evan props his arm up on Mia’s head, but she just smiles at him.

  “Ev, this is Austin.”

  I can’t help it; I’m like a starstruck little girl. I gaze up at him with my mouth half open and hold out a hand without looking where I’m sticking it. He takes it with a chuckle, engulfing it with his own massive hand. His fingers can probably wrap halfway around a basketball.

  “Hey,” he says, and takes the seat across from his mother. I sit down next to him without thinking and start flapping my mouth.

  “It’s so great to meet you. I’m a really big fan.” I cringe as soon as the words come out, and I think Mia rolls her eyes at me. “I mean, the Lakers, that’s my team. It’s my dream to play for them someday.” Okay, that was just as bad. Now he’s gonna think I’m some wannabe.

  “You play?” He looks me up and down, and I feel like I’ve been judged and found lacking. Man, this family has a way of making you feel small without saying a word.

  “Uh, yeah. I’ve been the team captain since 9th grade. I play football, too.” Nice, now he probably thinks I’m bragging.

  “Austin is a really great athlete. Best in the school,” Mia says, sticking up for me, and I smile at her.

  “Maybe we can shoot some hoops after dinner; you can show me what you got,” he says, and I’m sure I look like a kid on Christmas Day.

  “Yeah, man. Totally. That’d be awesome.”

  Berta sets a salad in front of me, and I wait for Mia to pick a fork and start eating before I touch mine. There’s some kind of sweet and tangy dressing on it already, and some lea
ves I don’t recognize, but it’s pretty good. I decide to focus on eating instead of talking — less chance I’ll make a fool of myself.

  The conversation jumps from one person to another as they talk about their day, and I can’t believe how cool these people are. I can’t help myself from asking questions, and it’s probably obvious I’m starstruck. Mia’s dad is directing a Marvel superhero movie with a ton of really famous actors, Mia’s sister had a photo shoot for a fashion magazine, and her brother broke a record for free throws in his last game. I’m starting to understand why Mia thinks she’s a nobody.

  She doesn’t say anything all through dinner, and no one asks her any questions either, but when dessert comes out, I nudge her under the table and whisper in her ear, “Ask about the party.”

  She blushes, and I squeeze her knee to encourage her, but that only flusters her more. I decide to help out.

  “Mia, isn’t your birthday this weekend? What are you doing to celebrate?”

  Mia glares at me, but then casually throws out the idea. “I was thinking I might like to have a party on Saturday.”

  Bianca raises her sculpted eyebrows. “You want to have a party? Now that’s something I never thought I’d hear.”

  Her mother reaches across the table and pats Mia on the hand. “Well, I think it’s a wonderful idea. But it’s such short notice. I’m not sure we can get everything arranged by this weekend, darling. I wish you’d said something earlier.”

  I elbow Mia, and she scowls at me. “Uh, actually, I don’t want a fancy party, just some pizza and chips and stuff. Dance music on the stereo. A few friends. You know, teenagers.”

  Mia’s mother frowns and glances at her husband, who shrugs and goes back to his dessert. Bianca has her mouth open, and Evan is grinning.

  “Sounds cool, Mia. I went to a ton of parties like that when I was in high school. You should definitely have one,” Evan says.

  “Do you even have any friends besides Kerri?” Bianca sneers, and Mia turns red.

  “Bianca, that’s very rude.” Her mother frowns at her.

  I wrap my arm around her and keep it there even though she stiffens under me. “Mia’s got tons of friends. We might need to set a cut off or this place will be packed.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Mia

  Austin’s words hit me in the gut as I’m walking back upstairs. “Hey Bianca, wait up. Can I talk to you for a second?”

  I peek at them through the railing, and Austin is pressed up against Bianca’s side, whispering in her ear, and she’s smiling and nodding and touching him. I dig my fingernails into the wood banister. Of course he’s interested in Bianca; who wouldn’t be? She’s rich and gorgeous and on the verge of becoming famous. He’s probably asking her out right now. Jerkface.

  For one second, I was starting to think that Austin might actually like me. The way he put his hand on my leg in the Jeep, the way he promised to help me plan my party, and the way he looked at me when we were sitting next to each other on the bed — I could swear he wanted to kiss me.

  But the minute I introduced him to my family, I disappeared. I could tell he was starstruck by them. I’m sure that’s the real reason he agreed to this whole charade. He just wanted a chance to meet celebrities. The way he kissed up to my dad, telling him how much he loved all his movies, the way he fawned over my brother, the way he gawked at Bianca when she came in — he’s never looked at me like that. But then, I’m no super model. I’m barely average in the looks department, and next to my family I’m a total dud. Let’s face it, the only thing I have to offer is a decent brain — not exactly a turn-on.

  I stomp to the end of the upstairs hall where there’s a view of the basketball court. Austin and Evan are doing layups, and Austin is actually holding his own. I can’t help myself — I watch for a minute, mesmerized by the way his muscles flex beneath that poured caramel shirt he’s wearing. After a while, sweat starts to soak through, and he pulls it out of his waistband and fans himself with the hem, giving me a glimpse of rippling abs. Eventually, he yanks the shirt off. Oh my God, his chest is amazing. Sweat is dripping down his pecs, and the muscles shine under the lights that illuminate the court.

  Ugh. I can’t watch this, it’s too depressing. A fake boyfriend may help my rep a little, but it only makes my heart ache worse, wishing it could be for real. I turn away and go back to my room. I’ve got homework to do, anyway.

  A while later, Austin knocks on my door. “Hey Mia, can I come in?”

  “Sure.”

  He’s put his shirt back on, and when he walks in, my eyes immediately focus on his chest and the way the sweaty fabric clings even tighter to his muscles. The sweat makes his cologne more intense, and the smell of it mixed with his own masculine scent overwhelms the room and my brain, and I fantasize about him coming closer and wrapping himself around me and me running my hands over him.

  And then he has to go and ruin it.

  “That was so awesome! I can’t believe I just shot hoops with Evan Black. Your family is so cool, Mia. I guess I should’ve been doing homework, but…” He shrugs like it just couldn’t be helped.

  Reality smacks me in the face, and I remember that he’s not really here for me, he’s not really my boyfriend, and I doubt he’ll ever think of me as anything but his tutor.

  “I guess I should go, it’s getting late.” He picks up his bag and slings it over his shoulder, and half of me wants to tell him to stay, wants to say that I don’t mind staying up late and we should work more on his homework or he could tutor me in kissing or something, but the other half of me wants him to leave before I get any more stupid ideas about him and me ever being a thing.

  “I don’t have practice tomorrow, so maybe we can get an earlier start?”

  “Sure.” I promised to tutor him, and it’s not like he’s breaking the deal. He only agreed to pretend to be my boyfriend, not fall in love with me.

  * * *

  ❤️❤️❤️

  * * *

  “What’s wrong with you? You look like you ate mud for breakfast.” Kerri leans against the locker next to mine.

  I turn and lay my cheek against the cold metal, pouting. “Austin stayed for dinner last night and met my family.”

  “So?”

  “So, everybody in my family is cooler and more interesting than me,” I say a little louder and grumpier than I meant to. Thankfully, nobody is paying attention.

  “Oh.” Kerri’s face falls.

  “Yeah. He couldn’t take his eyes off Bianca, he couldn’t stop asking my dad questions about his latest movie, and he spent the rest of the evening playing basketball with Evan.” I roll my eyes and flop back against my locker, sighing.

  “At least he took his shirt off for that.” I smile at the memory, and Kerri smirks and wiggles her eyebrows.

  “He liked the idea about the party, though, and he promised to take care of everything.”

  “Well, that was nice.” Kerri looks as confused as I feel. When he wasn’t cozying up to my family, he was being really sweet to me, and I just can’t figure him out. Is he a jerk who’s only pretending to like me so I’ll help him, or is he really a nice guy who might actually care about me, even if just a little?

  She waves it off like it doesn’t matter, and she’s right, it shouldn’t. I never expected him to like me, so it shouldn’t bother me if he doesn’t, but for some reason I can’t quit thinking about the times when he acted like he did.

  “Austin’s just a gateway boyfriend, anyway. Going out with him makes you look more dateable to other guys. That’s what you should focus on. Who do you really want?”

  I picture his friends and the other guys in school I’ve ogled from afar but never had the guts to talk to. I can think of a dozen guys I’ve had a crush on over the years, and Austin isn’t one of them. He was too far out of my league to even fantasize about, plus he’s been going out with Chloe forever. So why is it he’s the only guy I can think about now?

  “Don’t l
ook now, but here he comes. Think you’ll get another good morning kiss?” Kerri’s eyes flash like disco balls, and the first thing I do is whip my head around to look.

  “My ears are itching, are you talking about me?” Austin leans over me with that movie star smile. I should know, I’ve seen enough of them, and Austin definitely has what it takes. He’s the one that ought to have a celebrity family, not me.

  Kerri pokes her head around my shoulder. “Mia says you’re planning her birthday party. It better be awesome, cuz my parties are hard to beat.”

  Austin quirks his lip and raises one eyebrow. “Mia said it’s usually just you two, eating pizza and watching DVDs.”

  Kerri sticks her hands on her hips and rolls her head. “Yeah, well, I have every Marvel movie ever made, so, like I said.”

  Austin chuckles, and the sound makes my insides curl up. “I think I can do better than that.” He points a finger at me as he starts to walk away. “See you at lunch today, Mia?”

  I start to nod, but then he heads back towards me.

  “Oh, wait. I forgot one thing.” He wraps his arms tight around my waist, pulling me against his body, and lowers his head to mine, taking my lips like they’re his property. One hand slides up my back and into my hair, and I spend half a second worrying that he’ll feel the extension clips, but then I’m distracted by his other hand which is inching towards my butt.

  He pulls away after what seems like an eternity but it’s way too soon, and I’m left gasping for breath as he glides through the crowds like it didn’t mean anything to him at all.

  “Oh my God, Mia, if that’s what he kisses like when he’s not into a girl, can you imagine what it’s like when he is?”

  I think I would combust if Austin’s kisses were any hotter, and I use a notebook to fan my face.

  Like clockwork, Austin finds me again at lunch time and holds my hand on the way to the cafeteria. I have to admit, he’s doing a great job pretending to be my boyfriend. He’d make a good actor if he ever wanted to be on screen. Maybe that’s why I’m deluded enough to think he might actually like me.