Chapter Twelve
1664 Words
Riley’s POV
Pinch me if I’m dreaming, but did the cold genius actually just hug me?
For a moment, I was lost in a daze. For a nerd, his body felt surprisingly firm against mine, warm too. He smelled faintly of cedarwood, clean soap, and something crisp I couldn’t place. My hands slowly came up to wrap around him, and only then did he let go, like the spell had finally broken.
Tyler came up to us then.
“Wow,” he teased, looking between us. “You actually did it. You two look like the perfect couple.”
I immediately looked away, my face heating up like I’d just been caught doing something illegal.
“That was…” Cole started, but his voice came out slightly hoarse. He cleared his throat and tried again. “That was all part of the plan.”
“What plan?” I asked, still trying to recover from whatever that hug had just done to my nervous system.
He glanced around briefly before stepping closer and lowering his head toward my ear so he wouldn’t have to speak loudly over the gym noise. Heat instantly crept up my face at how close he suddenly was.
“Nobody’s going to believe we’re dating,” he murmured quietly, “if we don’t build enough data to support the narrative.”
The low timbre of his voice sent an embarrassing shiver down my spine.
Right. This is fake, Riley. Contract, damage control. Nothing more.
I stepped back before my brain started romanticizing things that absolutely did not need romanticizing and he straightened almost immediately. while Tyler watched us with a grin plastered across his face like we were the most entertaining thing on campus“
“Anyways,” Tyler said, draping an arm over my shoulder casually. “We need to talk, Brooks.”
“In someplace more private,” Cole added in a low voice that sounded almost like a grumble. “. “Preferably somewhere without half the gym watching us breathe.”
Only then did I properly look around. People were staring.
A couple girls near the weights were openly whispering while glancing at us every few seconds. Someone else looked suspiciously close to taking a picture.
Seriously? The gym was for working out, not spectating.
“Give me a moment to grab my things,” I muttered before heading toward the locker room.
---
“So,” I asked once we walked out of the gym, “where exactly is this private place without an audience?”
Students still passed by staring at us, whispering as though we were in the middle of some reality show instead of simply walking.
"Well, it’s definitely not a café,” Tyler answered quickly. “At this point, it feels like there are hidden cameras in every café around campus.” He even shuddered after saying it.
“Well, we could go to my place. It’s close by actually.”
“No.”
Tyler and I both turned toward Cole at once. That was a very aggressive no.
He still had on that same unreadable expression, like emotions weren’t included in his system programming.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “That’s a strong no. Care to explain?”
“It’s not ideal,” he answered simply.
“What does that even mean?”
“Fine then,” Tyler jumped in quickly before either of us could continue. “How about we go to ours?”
“No!” I answered immediately.
Tyler stared at me tiredly. “Tell me you’re not just saying no because Cole said no first.”
“Yes, I am,” I admitted with a laugh. “But seriously, why do we get to go to yours when he wouldn’t come to mine?”
"Great,” Tyler sighed. “You’re both stubborn. As the more mature and older one here.....”
“By an hour,” Cole interrupted immediately.
Tyler rolled his eyes. “Still older. I'll make a compromise.”
Then, his entire face lit up.
“I know a guy.”
“That sentence never ends well.” Cole muttered
“What guy?” I asked, already laughing at his expression.
“Some guy that owes me a favor,” he said proudly. “And conveniently owns a pizza place.”
“What?”
By then, Tyler had already pulled out his phone and dialed the number.
“Yo, Dave,” he greeted once the call connected. “About that favor you owe me? Yeah… I kinda want to cash it in now.”
---
And just like that, we were in Tyler’s car heading toward Dave’s pizza place, which had apparently been rented out to us for free.
What kind of favor gets someone an entire pizza shop?
Tyler now sat in the passenger seat because Cole had snatched the car keys from him earlier, muttering something about throwing Tyler out of the car if necessary.
“So,” I started, leaning slightly forward from the backseat. “What exactly did you do for this Dave guy?”
Cole briefly glanced at me through the rearview mirror before returning his attention to the road. Tyler, meanwhile, turned fully in his seat to face me, excitement practically glowing off him.
“It’s a long story.”
“More like a chaotic one,” Cole muttered.
Tyler ignored him instantly.
“Let’s just say,” he started proudly, “I helped him get the love of his life.”
He paused dramatically.
“And she’s a very hot blonde.”
I laughed.
“After you almost hooked up with her,” Cole added dryly.
“That is completely irrelevant information.”
“You literally flirted with her first.”
“That’s not my fault,” Tyler defended. “My charm is overwhelming.”
I shook my head laughing softly.
Watching the twins together was oddly fascinating. Tyler was loud, expressive, impossible to ignore, while Cole was quiet, controlled, and constantly one step away from looking annoyed. They were complete opposites somehow functioning perfectly together.
And strangely enough… being around them felt easy. Comfortable. Dangerously comfortable if I may add.
---
The pizza shop smelled like melted cheese, garlic butter, and freshly baked dough the moment we walked in.
Dave turned out to be a dark-skinned guy with curly black hair, round glasses, and dimples that appeared whenever he smiled nervously. He handed Tyler the keys while looking at the three of us like we were celebrities.
I still couldn’t believe he locked down his entire shop just because Tyler asked.
We settled inside and locked the doors behind us, pulling the blinds shut too. What could they possibly want to talk about that needed this much secrecy?
“Finally,” Tyler announced, dropping into a booth seat. “Okay Brooks, we needed to straighten out some things for your… well, contract relationship to actually look believable.”
I looked between both brothers. Cole had gone quiet again.
“Well,” I asked cautiously, “things like what?”
“To convince the public,” Cole answered, “we have to publicly tick certain boxes. Public appearances. Shared spaces. Things couples normally."
He sounded like he was explaining a science project.
“Wait,” I blurted suddenly. “We’re not going to kiss again or anything, right?”
“No,” Cole answered immediately.
“Great,” I said quickly. “Because that’s going too far, even for a contract.”
Cole arched a brow. “You didn’t seem to think so during the festival.”
“That was a temporary mental breakdown.”
"You kissed me with alarming confidence for someone having a breakdown.”
“You were still a stranger.”
“You barely know me now.”
“Okayyyyy…” Tyler dragged out loudly. “Can we reduce the tension in here before I suffocate?”
“There’s no tension,” Cole and I answered at the same time.
Tyler looked way too pleased with himself.
"What my brother is trying to say,” he continued smugly, “is that you two need to actually look comfortable together. And honestly? I think you both need to know each other better for this to work. ”
Cole frowned slightly like even the idea exhausted him.
“I don’t think Mr. Grumpy over here would be willing to do that,” I teased.
“It seems you’ve suddenly grown nerves,” Cole replied smoothly. “Where’s the girl who was begging me to attend lunch with her mother? I think I liked her better.”
“Oh please,” I shot back. “Do you think you’re up for the challenge? Try walking in my shoes for once.”
He leaned back slightly. “What are the terms?”
“You attend my rehearsals at least three times a week,” I started. “You help me practice lines if needed. You attend my shows. And you actually try learning something about acting because honestly? You’re failing at it.”
That last part was a lie. Cole was terrifyingly good at pretending. The hug from earlier and lunch with my mom proves that much.
He smirked faintly. “Then what about you?”
“I’ll hang around your lab or wherever you disappear to all day. I’ll attend your hackathons and attempt to understand whatever coding language you people speak.”
“Programming language,” he corrected automatically.
“See? Nerd.”
Tyler laughed loudly.
“I mean,” I continued, “we’ll be spending enough time together for people to believe it.”
“She’s got a point actually,” Tyler nodded.
Cole stayed quiet for a moment before finally extending his hand toward me.
“Fine,” he said simply. “Deal.”
I stared at his hand briefly before shaking it. His grip was warm. Steady.
And somehow, this whole arrangement suddenly felt a lot more dangerous than it did before.
- Writer
