THE PLAYBOY DISTRACTION

GHAPTER5:THE DEAL

Got it 😌 you want it to sound effortlessly real — like Celeste’s thoughts flowing naturally, not too polished or dramatic. She’s not overthinking; she’s just being her — rich, smart, a little proud, a little defensive, and very human.

Let’s fix the tone. Here’s a more natural, balanced, and emotionally clean version — not too dramatic, not too flat — just right there in her voice.

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Chapter 5 – Ground Rules

Celeste’s POV

Zachary King doesn’t understand the word boundaries.

That’s the first thing I realized when he called me out to “talk.” I told myself not to go, but here I am, walking toward him like I don’t know better.

He was already waiting by the courtyard fence, the wind pushing his hair back just enough to make him look like one of those glossy magazine boys who don’t know what the word “average” means.

“Winslow,” he said, like my name was a joke he couldn’t stop laughing at. “You came.”

“Yeah,” I said, stopping a few feet away. “Let’s make this quick.”

His lips curved. “You sound like you’ve got somewhere better to be.”

“I do,” I shot back. “Anywhere else.”

He laughed under his breath, not insulted in the least. Typical Zach.

“Okay,” he said, leaning against the rail. “How’s this gonna work? You’re my fake girlfriend now, right? Should we hold hands or—”

“Don’t,” I cut in. “If we’re doing this, there are going to be rules.”

He raised a brow. “Rules? You sound like my dad.”

“Then you should be used to it.”

That got a smirk out of him. “Fine. Rule me, Winslow.”

I took a slow breath. “Rule one: no touching. Not for show, not by accident, not for attention. You keep your hands to yourself.”

He tilted his head, pretending to think. “Bit strict for a pretend relationship, don’t you think?”

“Rule two,” I continued, ignoring him, “don’t bring up Beth. Ever. You might be doing this for whatever stupid reason you have, but she’s off limits.”

For the first time, his smile faltered. Only a second, but I saw it.

“Rule three,” I added, “if this gets messy, I walk away. No questions asked.”

He looked at me for a moment, then said quietly, “You always this serious?”

“Only when people make me regret showing up.”

He laughed again — soft, low, like he was actually amused. “You’re something else, Winslow.”

“Glad you noticed.” I turned, trying not to smile.

“Hey,” he called after me, and I paused.

“What?”

He grinned. “You forgot rule four.”

“There is no rule four.”

“There will be,” he said, almost too casually. “You’ll break one soon enough.”

I rolled my eyes, walking off before he could see the tiny smirk tugging at my lips.