Page 74 of The Fake Out

I groaned and got out of bed, only to walk out into the hallway to not find someone knocking at the door downstairs but to find a sweaty and shirtless blonde giant on the staircase installing a railing.

“Um…Blaise, what the actual fuck are you doing?” I seethed.

He looked up at me and smiled. “Hi, sweets. Sorry if I woke you. I got coffee and bagels from the coffee shop in town.”

I glared but walked into the kitchen to retrieve the bribes. Why was he installing a railing on my stairwell?

I grumbled as I sat on my shitty futon in my tiny living room and bit into the French toast bagel. How did he know that was my favorite? And with the apple cinnamon cream cheese from the shop, too. I sipped on my black coffee but kept glaring when he walked into the living room with his shirt still off, looking so good. Fuck him for looking that way.

I waved the bag at him, but he shook his head. “Nah, too many carbs for me. I gotta be serious about training right now.”

I glared again and watched him run his fingers through his hair.

“Dude, what the fuck!” I exclaimed

He bent over the couch and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Eat your breakfast.”

“I’m pissed at you,” I said, pushing him away.

“Why?”

“Why did you install a railing in my stairwell? I could lose my deposit.”

“Sweets, calm down. I can take it down when you move out,” he explained and took a sip of his coffee.

I stared at him. That implied we would still be a thing past our expiration date, that he would still have time for me once this was all over.

“I didn’t ask you to do that!”

I shoved the bagel into my mouth before I cursed him out anymore.

He knelt in front of me. “How can I make it better?” He bent his head to kiss my naked legs, his hand drifting toward my panties underneath the t-shirt I wore to bed. Or rather, his t-shirt. I wouldn’t admit it, but I loved that he left it here so I could wear it every night and think of him. That was bad, very bad.

“Don’t,” I warned and put the bagel down on the coffee table.

His blonde head was still facing my legs, and his lips burned across my skin. “Let me apologize.”

“That’s not the point.”

He lifted his head. “Baby, I’m sorry. Tell me what I did wrong. I was trying to help you. I worry about you.”

“You shouldn’t. You’re not my boyfriend!”

His jaw ticked, and he stood up abruptly. “Right. Yeah. Well, I’ll call you when I need another appearance from my fake girlfriend.”

“Blaise…” I sighed, realizing I had overreacted.

But he was already shrugging on his shirt and pulling on his jacket. He didn’t even kiss me goodbye before he clomped down my steps and slammed my front door.

This was supposed to be what I wanted, but it felt like someone had twisted a knife in my chest.

Chapter Twenty-One

BLAISE

TJ hit my shin with his stick while I was putting on my gear. I glared at him. “What?”

“What’s up with you today?” he asked. He crossed his arms over his chest.