THE SHIRTLESS CHEF IS MY FAKE BOYFRIEND

THE RIDE

A week later, I stood outside my apartment building with a suitcase at my feet.

A cheap rental car was parked at the curb. Henry leaned against it, wearing a tight white T-shirt that showed off his muscular build.

I tried not to look at him.

I failed.

Mandy came out of the building behind me and looked from me to Henry, then at the suitcase.

“Good luck explaining this surprise to your mom.”

I let out a nervous sigh.

“If my mom kills me, you get my vinyls.”

Mandy's eyes widened.

“Your vinyls?”

“All of them.”

Mandy immediately turned to Henry.

“Bring her back alive, apron guy.”

Henry gave me a quick look and opened the driver's door.

“I will.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Very reassuring.”

I put my suitcase in the trunk and got into the car.

A few minutes later, we were on the road.

I sat stiffly, my hands folded tightly in my lap. I stared out the window, trying to calm myself down.

Henry, meanwhile, seemed completely relaxed behind the wheel.

“My mom has no idea you're coming,” I finally said.

Henry glanced at me.

“I like surprises.”

I turned toward him.

“You do realize this isn't exactly a small surprise, right?”

He shrugged.

“Your mother will survive.”

“You don't know my mother.”

“Not yet.”

I sighed and looked back out the window.

That was the problem.

He was far too relaxed about all of this.

I was the one who had to walk back into my parents' house after an entire year away. I was the one who had to face Ian and Ruby.

And now I was bringing home a man my family had never even heard of.

A man I'd only met the night before.

A man who was supposed to pretend to be my boyfriend.

I suddenly remembered something.

“We need to talk about sleeping arrangements.”

Henry glanced at me.

“Sleeping arrangements?”

“My parents' house has four bedrooms.”

“So we share your old room.”

I turned toward him.

“What? No.”

Henry looked amused.

“You want to walk into your parents' house with a fake boyfriend and ask for separate rooms?”

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it.

I hated that he had a point.

“That doesn't mean we have to share a bed.”

“I didn't say we had to.”

“Good.”

I crossed my arms.

“I'll sleep in the bed. You get the floor.”

Henry laughed.

“The floor?”

“Yes.”

He shook his head.

“Fine.”

I relaxed a little.

“Fine.”

For a few seconds, we drove in silence.

Then Henry glanced at me, a smirk forming on his face.

“We'll see, princesa.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“What does that mean?”

Henry looked back at the road.

“It means we'll see.”

I knew that tone.

It was the same tone he'd used the night before when he told me that every girl fell for him.

I'd already agreed to his rules.

I'd agreed to pretend he was my boyfriend.

I'd even agreed to share my old room with him.

But one thing was already clear.

Henry Silva was going to make this much harder than I'd expected