Page 27 of Ice Cold Chemistry
“Can you? Because so far, you’ve mostly just glared at me.”
“I glare at everyone. It’s not personal.”
“Well, make it personal. In the other direction.”
He nods slowly, like he’s filing this information away. “Anything else?”
“One more thing.” I take a breath. “If at any point this stops working, or it gets too complicated, or either of us wants out—we end it. No questions asked. No hard feelings.”
“Agreed.”
I extend my hand. “Partners?”
He looks at my hand for a moment before taking it.
His grip is warm and firm. His palm is calloused and rough, and his fingers practically swallow mine. Something zings through me—a little spark of curiosity that I definitely should not be feeling for my fake boyfriend.
I ignore it.
“Partners,” he says.
We shake once and then let go. My hand feels weirdly cold without his.
“So,” I say, trying to fill the sudden awkwardness, “what do fake boyfriends call their fake girlfriends?”
He stares at me blankly.
“Nicknames, Banks. Couples have nicknamesfor each other. Babe. Honey. Sweetheart.” I wave my hand. “Something that doesn’t sound like a business transaction.”
He looks like I’ve just asked him to solve a complex math problem. “I don’t… do nicknames.”
“Well, you’re going to have to learn. You can’t just call me Garrett in public and expect people to believe we’re dating.”
“What do you want me to call you?”
“I don’t know. Something natural. Something that sounds like you actually like me.”
He’s quiet for a moment, thinking. Then he says, “Win.”
“Win?”
“Short for Winnie.” He shrugs one shoulder. “It’s simple.”
It is simple. It’s also kind of cute coming from him—not that I’d ever tell him that.
“Okay,” I say. “Win. I can work with that.” I tilt my head. “What should I call you?”
“Banks.”
I smirk.
“It’s my name.”
“I know, but couples usually have… softer names for each other. What do the guys call you besides Banks?”
“The Wall.” He pauses. “Brick. Murdery McMurderface. That one’s from Logan.”
I snort. “Okay, none of those are going to work.”
