Don’t Fall Inlove With Me
844 Words
AURELIE
"I can't believe I'm saying yes to this."
I'd never been in a professor's office before, never had a reason to. Now I was sitting in a leather chair, staring at the man who'd taken my dignity in one fell swoop.
"Say it again," he said.
I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe I'm saying yes to this."
"Perfect." He murmured, leaning back in his chair. "I was worried you'd be difficult."
"I am difficult. I'm the most difficult person you'll ever meet."
"Good. I like a challenge."
I wanted to throw something at his head. Instead, I crossed my arms and tried to look like someone who made good decisions. "Aren't you scared? That people will find out?"
"About the bar or about the deal?"
"Either. Both. All of it."
He was quiet for a moment. Then he stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the campus below. I told myself that I only said yes because I needed him to tutor me and I couldn't afford to lose the scholarship but something tells me it's something else.
And somehow I was scared of what would happen if someone found out about it... I could lose my scholarship. Max could lose his job.
But looking into those eyes, I didn't care.
"I've told you the reason I am doing this," he said.
I sighed. "That's not what I asked."
He turned and looked at me. "I'm scared every day," he said. "Of my brother. Of my father. Of the one mistake that finally brings everything crashing down."
I nodded. "So what's the plan?" I asked. "We just... show up places together? Hold hands? Make googly eyes?"
"Googly eyes?"
"Don't judge my terminology."
He smiled. It was different from the bar smile, softer, more real. "We pretend we're not pretending. That's the key. If anyone asks, we're just two people who happened to meet and hit it off. That's all. Just... chemistry."
"We have chemistry?"
"We had s*x in a car."
Heat flooded my cheeks. "Fine. Whatever. When do we start?"
"Tonight..." he said and my jaw dropped. I wasn't expecting to be entering into the role so soon. "My father's expecting me for dinner tonight. It's a family dinner."
He grabbed his blazer from the back of his chair. "You're coming with me."
"I'm what?"
"You're my girlfriend. Girlfriends attend family dinners."
He was gone before I could argue.
*****
There was a package sitting in front of my door when I got home.
Thankfully, my parents or worse, Chloe, hadn't seen the package.
It was a gown... Long, black, silk, with a V neck that probably went a little bit low.
There was a note pinned to it:
For tonight. Don't argue. —M
I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
It fit perfectly. Of course it did.
Suddenly, a knock sounded on my door. Who could it be now?
I opened it.
Chloe stood in the hallway, holding a bouquet of flowers. Wilted roses.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
She shoved the flowers into my hands anyway. "I am sorry about everything I said.”
"You're sorry?”
I laughed. I couldn't help it. It came out sharp and broken. "I don't need your apologies. I don't need your flowers." I stepped back, grabbed the door handle. "Keep your trash, Chloe. I've upgraded."
I closed the door in her face.
*****
Max was waiting outside my apartment building, leaning against a black car that looked so much expensive.
He was wearing a gray suit. No tie. The top button of his shirt was undone. His dark hair was slightly tousled, like he'd been running his hands through it.
I stopped breathing. He looked... Looked handsome. Handsome didn't feel like the right word.
"Like the dress," he said.
"Like the suit."
"It's just a suit."
"Hmm"
He opened the passenger door for me. "Get in. We have an hour drive, and there's a lot you need to know."
The car interior smelled like him. I sank into the seat, trying not to think about how right this felt. How natural. How dangerous.
"Rule number one," he said, pulling out of the lot. "Don't let my father provoke you. He'll try. He'll say things about your background, your education, your family. Don't react."
"Easy."
"Rule number two. Don't be alone with my brother, Ethan. Ever. He's charming and he's a snake, and he'll use anything you say against me."
"What about your mother?"
"She is Dead. Ten years ago. Don't bring her up."
I swallowed. "Okay."
"Rule number three." He glanced at me. "Don't fall in love with me."
"Excuse me?"
"It's a fake relationship. Feelings complicate things. I don't want either of us getting hurt."
"Trust me," I said, staring out the window. "I'm not the falling-in-love type."
"Good."
"Good."
We drove in silence for a while. The city gave way to suburbs, then to trees, then to gates. Huge iron gates, the kind where rich people live.
Max slowed the car. "Ready?" he asked.
- Writer
