Page 27 of Movers and Fakers

The thought makes me cringe.

“I hope not. Best-case scenario: everyone moves on within a week and forgets all about us.”

Marigold laughs. “Don’t hold your breath. The man is like royalty around here! He finds his way into every conversation.”

I frown and look at Jasmine, hoping she’ll refute Marigold’s pessimism. She gives me a sympathetic look and pats my arm.

“Marigold’s probably right. I wouldn’t count on things dying down so fast. Shepherd and I are in the limelight a lot, and Hayes is probably more well known than him.”

Hayes would love to hear this conversation. He’s been called royalty and that he’s more popular than the university’s star quarterback.

“Ugh.”

Jasmine squeezes my wrist.

“You can always tell him you changed your mind.”

I let myself think for a moment. Truly consider texting Hayes and backing out. I turn my phone over in my lap. The screen unlocks and reveals the messages awaiting me. Hayes’s blinks up at me.

Prince Charming: You’re amazing. Incredible. Perfect. I know I can’t pay you, but I’ll pay you back. In the meantime, I’ll be the best fake boyfriend you could ever ask for. I promise.

Something about his text reassures me. Without responding to my friends, I reply to him.

Aurora: Do you even know how to be a boyfriend? I heard you’ve never gone past a first date.

Hayes: Lucky for me, I’ve got a great tutor.

He punctuates the message with a winky face. I swallow.

“Aurora?” Marigold’s voice makes me look up from my phone.

“I-I’m gonna do it,” I announce. “The worst that happens is I call the whole thing off.”

That’s actually not the worst-case scenario, and saying so didn’t make me feel any better. In truth, the worst thing that could happen is me humiliating myself in front of Hayes and everyone else, because he’s not the only one who’s never been in a relationship. And I’m afraid my inexperience is going to show a whole lot more than his.

Chapter fourteen

Distractions

Hayes Rosewood

For the second time this semester, I’m in shock that Aurora said yes. To tutor me for money is one thing, but to fake date? For free? I feel like I’ve won two back-to-back fights where the odds were stacked against me. And even though she hasn’t texted me since Saturday night, I can’t stop smiling.

A few girls giggle and wave as they pass me in the hallway. I nod to them from where I’m leaning against the wall outside of the Digital Logic classroom but don’t try to talk to them. Now that I have a girlfriend, that wouldn’t be appropriate. I guess I could talk to a woman without flirting with her. Not sure I’ve ever tried it, though.

I spot Aurora making her way through the crowded hallway with her earbuds in. Though her posture is tall and graceful as ever, she keeps her eyes downcast, so she doesn’t see me waiting. I grip the cup I’m holding a little tighter. Condensation drips through the fingertips of my right hand and onto the top of my black sneaker. My hand feels like it might fall off from carrying an iced drink in October, but this is the one thing besides pink and ballet that I know about Aurora. Her coffee order.

She turns to the classroom, and I hold out the coffee in front of her, making her stop short. I rattle the cup a little as she removes an earbud.

“For you.”

Her brows pull together.

“Why would you do that?”

A group of girls in sorority T-shirts pass us, unabashedly staring. Aurora notices and glares at them. They walk a little faster, making me chuckle.

“Your reputation is going to be worse than mine if you keep that up,” I tease, and push the cup toward her. “It’s salted caramel.”