CHAPTER 5 WILLOW

The last time I had spoken to Aiden was at an Omega party. He had smiled at

me flirtatiously, pouring me a beer. That was a year ago, a few weeks after I’d

started dating Theo.

And because I knew how hostile both brothers were towards each other, I didn’t

let myself linger at the alcohol stand. I had accepted my beer and made my

excuse.

Since then, we’ve avoided each other, even though we run in the same social

circles.

I never thought I would get so entangled with a guy like Aiden until today. And

now, he’s sitting on my porch, shit-eating grin in place, eyeing me speculatively

as I approach.

“What the hell was that about today?” he asks, once I’m close enough. “The ice

rink. The public kiss. That nasty little fight with Theo.”

“I’m sorry,” I blurt, hating the timing of this conversation.

I planned to talk to him tomorrow, once I had perfected the details of my apology.

I guess I’ll just have to wing it.

“I know I took you by surprise with that kiss. I never meant for it to happen. It just

did.”

“Thompson.” He gets off the porch, rising to his full height. He stands over a foot

taller than me.

I’m grateful for the space between us. I don’t think I can bear proximity with the

pseudo-stranger I had kissed for revenge’s sake.

It seems ridiculous now. The kiss. The public fight with Theo.

“Do you know what everyone is saying?” he asks. Without waiting for my

response, he continues. “They are calling you my girlfriend.” He laughs

sarcastically. “I don’t do girlfriends, Thompson. How the fuck are you going to fix

this shit?”

“I don’t know right now, but I’m sure I’ll think of something. Give me until

tomorrow, and I’ll find a way to remedy this situation.” I swallow down the lump in

my throat, unnerved at the speculative way he’s staring at me.

“My brother must have really done a number on you, seeing as how you stooped

low enough to use me in making him jealous.”

“That’s not—” I grit my teeth. “Fine. I used you to make him jealous. You must be

aware of the rumours he’s been spreading about me.”

“Are they true though? You being a prude and all.” He looks like he’s fighting the

urge to laugh.

“That hardly matters right now. Thanks to your co-operation, those nasty rumours

have been laid to rest. As I said, I’ll find a way to kill the girlfriend rumours

tomorrow. You have my word. I also owe you a favour for helping me. I’ll try to

pay you back as soon as I can. I could treat you to lunch or score tickets to a

basketball game. My dad knows all sorts of people. I’m sure he can get me the

tickets if I asked.”

“Hmmm,” he muses. “I must admit, that sounds tempting.” A pause. “So, it’s

really over? You and my brother?”

“Yes,” I answer, without hesitation.

“In that case, how would you like to keep the ruse going for a little longer?”

“What?” I must have misheard him. “I don’t understand. Did you say what I think

it is you said?”

He’s leaning against a pillar, lazing grin stretching the corners of his mouth, eyes

half drooped in amusement. “Yeah, Thompson. It’ll be fun.”

Aiden is handsome in a bad boy sort of way. Wild, black locks. Scorching dark

eyes that somehow have specks of gold in them. A hard mouth that breaks into

frequent grins. He’s a walking bag of contradictions, yet for some reason, he’d

saved me today, and now, he wants to keep the ruse going.

“But what about that thing you just said about not doing girlfriends?” My breath

hitches as he approaches me, getting all up in my personal space.

But he doesn’t touch me. He merely takes my duffel bag, slinging it over his

shoulder.

“It’s not a big deal, sunshine. You want revenge on the dick who dumped you. I

want the fun of shoving our fake relationship in all their faces. Think about how

pissed Theo’s gonna be when he sees you at the frat house, wearing nothing but

my shirt. He’s gonna lose his fucking marbles.”

His eyes are gleaming as he thinks about it. For all his talk about wanting to do

this for fun, deep down, I know it’s personal on some levels—a cheeky, devious

way to get back at his most heated rival.

”Let’s say we do this,” I exhale. “Exactly how long are we keeping up a ruse like

this?”

“A month, give or take.” He shrugs. “That should be enough time to ruin Theo, as

well as his newfound relationship.” That sounds like music to my ears, and of

course, Aiden knows it. “So, you in?”

“I’m in.” I square my shoulders. “We can start by going to a basketball game.”

"What is it with you and basketball? You a fan?"

Is Aiden Cross mocking me right now?

"Actually, I'm not. Theo's a fan though. He's been moaning for weeks about being

unable to score front row tickets to the NBA finals."

“And you can?” his brows shoot up, and he doesn’t seem to be mocking me

anymore. If anything, he sounds impressed.

I grin. “Yeah. I can get us front-row tickets to the NBA Finals. Theo’s going to die

when he finds out. We’ll post pictures on IG and everything.”

“Wow, Thompson. You’re more devious than I thought.” He matches my grin and

throws in a wink for the fun of it. “I like it. So, when’s the game?”

“Two days from now.”

“It’s a date then…” he pauses for a moment before he adds, “… girlfriend.”

I know he’s playing around and that none of this is real. Yet, I can’t help the way

my insides react to being called his girlfriend.

“I’m not a prude, by the way.” I purse my lips. “Just in case you were wondering.”

I’ll never know Aiden’s response to that tiny bit of information, because the house

lights come on just then, lighting up the entire front yard.