Off-script: My Accidental Fake Boyfriend

Chapter Seventeen

Riley’s POV

My life was beginning to gain more traction than the last best show the theatre performed. I couldn’t completely shake off the incident from yesterday, not entirely at least. I wasn’t even concerned about Alexa anymore, I had convinced myself enough that it was simply Alexa being Alexa.

The part that stayed stuck in my mind was Cole. The way he stepped up for me. And how convincing he sounded while doing it. A genius indeed, because his impromptu acting was beginning to feel more real than my rehearsed performances.

I also couldn’t shake off the flutter in my stomach when his hand rested on my waist. But no. I wasn’t going there, neither would I dwell on it. That was dangerous territory.

“Riles.” June called from the kitchen. She had slept over at my place last night. “You’re good with pasta and meatballs for breakfast, right?”

My ears perked up immediately at the realization that June was cooking. I practically scurried toward the kitchen still dressed in my bunny pajamas.

“Of course I’m fine with it,” I answered excitedly. “I’m literally okay with whatever you make.”

June chuckled softly.

She was wearing the purple apron my mom bought among several other housewarming gifts, though it mostly stayed hanging untouched beside the counter. Well… unless June was cooking.

I wasn’t exactly a fan of cooking, so I relied heavily on instant meals and takeouts. June on the other hand was more of a mommy bear. And not just because she loved cooking and was ridiculously good at it.

That was simply who she was as a friend. She took care of me like I was a child. Her child sometimes. And honestly, there were moments I wondered if she saw me as some helpless toddler.

The smell of tomato sauce and spices filled the apartment warmly while steam rose from the pot on the stove.

“Cool. Now go shower. It’ll be ready by the time you’re done.” She shooed me away gently.

“You’re not even going to let me taste the sauce first?” I pouted.

“No. Go take your shower first, Riles.”

I dragged my feet toward the bathroom while she laughed behind me. I forgot to mention one thing. June could be a very strict mom sometimes.

By the time I got out of the shower and dressed up, breakfast was already served neatly on the counter. I slid into the stool opposite her, immediately reaching for my fork.

“Took you long enough,” she teased.

I smiled, thanking her before taking the first bite.

And wow.

“Okay, this is why I keep you around.”

June snorted.

She barely allowed me three spoonful of peace before she started teasing me about Cole again.

Apparently, the campus blogs were eating every single piece of news involving us like we were the newest bestselling dessert in existence. The narrations online were honestly hilarious.

The campus genuinely believed Cole Donovan had thawed.

Funny.

You could practically feel the emotional frost radiating off him from a mile away.

“How come I never get to witness your moments with Cole firsthand?” June asked dreamily while scrolling through photos of us from yesterday.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” She looked up at me.

“Why have you never had a boyfriend?”

June stilled slightly at my question. Her shoulders tightened for a brief moment before relaxing again.

“Do you also not believe in love?” I continued carefully. “Or do you think love is pain too?”

Honestly, I couldn’t believe I was even asking that.

Maybe because lately, love seemed to be everywhere around me. In scripts. In rehearsals. In arguments with emotionally constipated geniuses.

June stayed quiet for a moment too long before her smile returned.

“I don’t think love is supposed to hurt,” she said lightly. “I’m single because nobody really sees me that way and honestly, I’m okay with it.”

That wasn’t true.

I knew for a fact June had turned down several guys before. She was too pretty to go unnoticed after all. Her blonde hair and soft brown cat-like eyes made people stare without even trying.

“And besides,” she added with a chuckle, “I’m perfectly fine with my fictional book boyfriends. They come with heartache-free drama.”

I laughed immediately.

“Heartache-free drama? You literally cry halfway through every book and then cry again when it ends.”

June burst into laughter, tilting her head backward.

“True,” she admitted. “But we gladly welcome that type of suffering.”

Something about the way she said it lingered strangely in my chest, but before I could think too deeply about it, June narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously.

“Why are you suddenly asking all this though?”

“Oh nothing really.” I waved my fork dismissively. “I just wanted to understand love better so I can fit into my new role more convincingly.”

I held up the script beside me.

“Real Love Hurts.”

June laughed again, thankfully buying the excuse.

Breakfast passed peacefully after that, filled with random conversations and unnecessary laughter over silly things. By the time I stepped out of the apartment, I had fully decided I wanted peace today.

No drama. No scandals. Just me, my script, and the library. Which apparently was too much to ask for.

I headed toward my usual spot in the library only to realize it was beginning to become Noah’s spot too. And this time, he had company. They were actually studying. I was so close to turning around and finding another table when Noah looked up and spotted me.

“Riley!” he called excitedly, his voice slightly above acceptable library standards.

I quickly placed a finger against my lips, shushing him while glancing around nervously to make sure nobody got annoyed.

He grinned sheepishly before mirroring my action. The guy sitting beside him looked between Noah and I before recognition flickered across his face.

“Oh, it’s you.”

My stomach tightened immediately. Wonderful. Which version of me exactly did he recognize? Theatre Riley? Viral kiss Riley? Scandal Riley?

“You’re the girl who crashed our team meeting,” he whispered with a chuckle.

Heat crawled up my neck instantly. Right. That disaster. I nodded awkwardly. “Yeah… sorry about that again.”

“You should totally sit with us,” Noah offered brightly.

How exactly was I supposed to escape this situation politely? I slowly set my things down and settled into the seat while mentally praying for strength not to embarrass myself further. Right then, my phone vibrated.

Cold Genius.

My heartbeat betrayed me instantly.

“We’ve got an emergency. We need to talk. Now.”

He said the second I picked up. No greeting. No explanation. Just immediate disaster, because that always ended up being the narrative whenever we were together.

Oddly enough, relief flooded through me immediately. It was the perfect excuse to leave Noah and his friend before I somehow embarrassed myself again.

And it definitely was not because part of me wanted to see Cole too.