Pretend

6. Larkyn

“You can’t live off your winnings as a runner! You’ll never make enough money. And don’t think I haven’t noticed you’re practically limping. Did you injure yourself again? How do you expect to be a good runner if you keep injuring yourself?” my father yells.

I pull the towel tighter around my body, trying to hold myself back from attacking as I want. My father doesn’t know about the car accident. None of my family does. And I don’t plan on telling any of them.

“I’ll make enough. I’m still working as a yoga instructor. I’ll be able to work more hours when classes are over next week. I’ll survive.”

He shakes his head, hanging it low like he can’t even look at me. “You shouldn’t just get by. You should find a real job. One in the business field, after you hopefully graduate.”

“Stop. I’m graduating in two weeks. Just stop saying that.”

“Fine. I’ll accept you are graduating with a degree you will never use. What good is that? You have the skills, but won’t use them? You’ll be homeless or live off a man!”

I narrow my eyes. He has no idea what I want. He has no idea who I am or what my plans are.

“I won’t be homeless or live off a man! I will make enough money to feed myself and put a roof over my head. That’s all that matters. I don’t care about money. I want to make a difference in people’s lives.” And I do, I just haven’t figured out how I’m going to make a difference yet or what I want to do. All I know is I like running and helping other people stay fit. But I know it won’t be sustainable to do forever.

“You can’t make a difference without money. Charities, foundations run on money. So work hard at a big corporation, make your money, then start something like everyone else.”

“No, I don’t want to work at a big corporation.”

Dad throws his hands up. We’ve had this same argument thousands of times before. I thought tonight with Kade on my arm he might stop. He might let me enjoy the night, but it made no difference.

He walks over to the bar and pours himself a drink as always. This is how he handles things. He drinks.

I won’t stay another second and watch him drink his problems away. Drink me away.

I’m done.

I turn and storm out the door without a goodbye. The door swings open so hard it bounces back a little.

I expect Kade to be standing right outside the door waiting, but I don’t see him. If he’s with Anastasia, I’ll chew him out too.

I turn down the hallway, and the AC hits my still soaking wet body. When I find him, I’ll have him take me back to my apartment. I tried to make this day better, but it’s impossible to do. If I don’t find Kade soon, I’ll call an Uber to take me home. I may not be able to afford it, but this is one of the few times I need to make an exception and figure it out because I can’t stand being here for another minute. I have sixty-seconds to find Kade, and then I’m out of here.

I glance up and see Kade walking down the hallway toward me. He’s not wet. He’s changed clothes and is now wearing an even more dashing suit. This one is a dark blue and makes his grin shine. And he’s holding something sparkly draped over his forearm.

I smile when I see him. Bringing him here may have been a horrible way for him to pay me back, but at least I got to spend some time with a great guy. I thought he was an asshole just like his brother, but he genuinely is a nice guy, even if he does date around too much. Maybe I’ve at least gained a friend out of all of this.

His arms wrap around my body when we meet, and his lips come down on mine. Passionately, not holding back, like I’ve been gone for days instead of minutes. His kiss is desperate for more, and as my lips part, I realize I never want him to stop kissing me. I didn’t think it was possible for a man’s kiss to ruin all other kisses for me. I’ve been kissed plenty of times, and they all had the same effect on me because they were pretty much all the same.

Kade’s kisses, though, awaken parts of my body I didn’t know existed. I feel everything. Excitement. Passion. Need. Ache. All of it. And I want what his kisses promise.

Then, I remember this is fake. He’s kissing me because he’s doing me a favor. Someone must be watching if he’s kissing me.

He gently stops the kiss, his thumb tracing across my lips that are parted and useless after he devoured them.

“Your father was watching,” he says, answering my unasked question.

I nod. I knew that’s why Kade kissed me, but I just wish once he’d kiss me because he wants to. I don’t need more than that, but I need to know on some level this was as real for him as it is beginning to be for me. I can’t separate the pretend from how he makes my body feel. Which is very, very real.

He pushes the silky white fabric into my hands.

“What’s this?” I ask.

He smirks, and puts his hands in his pockets, trying to act innocent. “Your new dress.”

I stare at the beautiful white dress, decorated with gray lace and sparkles. I run the fabric through my hands, and it feels as good as it looks. It’s meant to be worn, but I could just as easily use the heavenly fabric as a blanket in bed it’s so soft.

“No, I just want to go home.”

He narrows his eyes, determined as he grins at me. “I don’t have time to argue with your stubbornness. I know today hasn’t been perfect, but I have a plan to make it a whole heck of a lot better. We don’t have a lot of time; I spilled wine on Anastasia’s dress, but I know as soon as she’s changed she will be ready to make whatever stupid announcement she’s making. So hurry, and get changed.”

I stare down at the gorgeous dress I would love to squeeze my body into. I know it would make me feel beautiful, and I need that right now.

“How did you get a dress so fast?”

He shrugs. “I have a friend in the fashion industry. He owes me plenty of favors, and was able to get a dress here quickly.”

I try to think of the cons of changing into the dress. It means I’ll have to stay, for at least a little while. I’ll have to listen to Anastasia announce her engagement. I saw the ring. I know that’s what she’s planning. But if I have to listen to her steal the spotlight away from me, then I should at least do it feeling beautiful instead of like a wet mop.

“Fine. I’ll change, and give you fifteen minutes to make this better. Then, we are leaving. Deal?”

He c***s his head to the side and smiles brightly. “Deal.”

I rush into one of the spare bedrooms and change into the dress. It fits me better than any item of clothing I’ve ever worn. I don’t know how Kade was able to get a dress here that is not only my size but tailored to my body.

I ring out my hair, letting my wet hair curl however it is going to curl. And I apply a little lipstick I find of my mother’s in the adjoining bathroom.

I step back and stare at myself in the mirror. I look a little like a bride in the white dress. But I don’t care. I love how I look. I look like a beautiful woman, instead of a girl playing dress up. I might even stay until the party ends to enjoy the dress longer.

I step back into the hallway where Kade is pacing back and forth. He freezes when he sees me, and his mouth drops open. And I swear I see his c**k harden in his pants. Maybe it’s just my wild imagination, but I like to think I’m the one causing his package to grow.

“What do you think?” I ask, twirling around like a little girl.

His hands reach my waist as I spin, and he stops me. His eyes rake up and down my body.

“Beautiful.”

I lick my lips wanting another kiss but knowing I’m not going to get one. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a man call me beautiful before. And it feels damn good.

He tucks his hand gently around my neck and under my hair, staring intensely into my eyes before his lips press firmly against mine. I don’t think about why he’s kissing me. I don’t search for anyone lurking in the hallway that might be the reason for the kiss. I just exist in a world where Kade King is kissing me because I don’t want to ever live in any other world.

He stops, grinning against my lips. “That kiss was because I couldn’t not kiss someone as beautiful as you.”

My heart dances and my legs turn to mush as my body begins dropping to the floor. He holds me up like I’m a rag doll.

He grins wider, showing off his dimples beneath his five o’clock shadow that is beginning to form.

“I’d carry you, but then I’d take away from everyone getting to see how gorgeous you are in your dress.”

I swallow and force my legs to work so I can stand. My legs are strong, muscular. Even if my ankle is in constant agony, my legs should be able to hold me up. I shouldn’t need to rely on Kade to hold me up. But when I’m around him, my body forgets how to do anything other than kiss. I’m surprised I can still breathe without a constant reminder.

His hands slowly move down my side until he finds my hand and interlinks our hands.

“Come on, now for step two of my brilliant plan.”

I laugh. “I’ll be the judge of your plan after this is all over.”

He shrugs. “How am I doing so far?”

We step outside to the patio near the gardens where everyone gathered. They stop talking and stare at us when we step out looking like a bride and groom on their wedding day. I know I won’t ever look this good again, even on my wedding day, so I better enjoy this. There is no telling how much money this dress costs. Thousands of dollars at least.

“Pretty good,” I say weakly, not sure how I feel about being the center of attention.

“My daughter and her date finally decided to join us,” my father says, and everyone chuckles.

He raises his champagne glass as Kade and I am given our own champagne glasses by the waiter to match everyone else outside.

“I’d like to make a quick toast to my daughter Larkyn. To her new life after graduation. May she find her way, and not back under my roof.”

The last part earns him chuckles, and everyone clinks their glasses as they drink to his toast. I’ve suddenly lost my ability to want to drink.

“To new beginnings. May you find a way to shove it to all these high-class idiots who don’t know how amazing you are,” Kade whispers in my ear, as he clinks his glass with mine.

I smile and drink my glass until it’s empty. When I look up, I realize Kade has done the same. I don’t know how many drinks he’s had, but he better be able to drive me home later. I won’t admit to him, but I enjoyed riding in his McLaren.

Anastasia grabs her fiancé’s hand and starts to pull him forward as she glances at our father to let him know she’s ready to make her announcement.

He smiles at her because of course, he’s happy his princess has found love. But if I were announcing I was getting married, he’d think I was a gold digger who doesn’t want to work.

“I think we should go. I changed my mind. I can’t watch this, no matter how beautiful I feel,” I whisper into Kade’s ear, pulling his hand to lead him out of here quickly. I don’t care if Anastasia knows why I’m leaving, I can’t stay.

Kade kisses the top of my hand, and I’m thankful he’s going to go without a fight.

A hand tugs me to the center of the crowd with Kade being the one forcing me in.

I glare at him, not liking whatever he’s doing.

He flashes me his handsome grin and gives me a tiny wink.

I can’t help but stop protesting when he looks at me like he is now.

“Thank you, Mr. Veil, for your toast, but I’d like to offer one of my own. My toast is to the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met. To a woman, I’m desperately in love with, and can’t imagine living without.”

I bite my lip to keep from grinning at his fake words. I don’t care that they are fake. I love hearing them. I could live in this fantasy world forever. Even deal with my stupid family and their friends if it meant hearing him say such wonderful things about me.

“I love you so much, Larkyn. You’re beautiful, smart, feisty, stubborn. And I couldn’t have built a more perfect woman for myself if I tried. I’ve been searching for a woman like you for a long time. And I kick myself every day for not finding you sooner, especially when you were this close to me.”

His words have a bit of truth to them, even though I know he means as friends. He’s sad we weren’t friends earlier. I am too, but I’m sure we will keep in touch after this day is over and make up for lost time.

Kade holds my hand tighter, as he bends down on one knee.

My eyes widen staring at him, and the crowd gasps all at once at the sight of him on one knee.

He pulls something out of his jacket pocket. But I can’t focus on the object, all I can do is stare into his eyes and try to figure out what the hell is happening.

“Larkyn Day, I love you. Marry me?”

Yep, he’s lost his damn mind.

He’s smirking, and I know he thinks he’s come up with the perfect plan to stop Anastasia. And he has. I just don’t think he’s thought this through. He’s making my dreams come true today, only to crush me tomorrow. We aren’t in love. We aren’t getting married. This is all a ruse. And tomorrow it will all be over. We can keep pretending for a while, but we aren’t getting married.

He winks at me though, and I can’t help but go along with his ridiculous plan. Even if it’s going to hurt me tomorrow, it will be worth it today.

“Yes,” I say, barely getting the words out.

“She said yes!” he shouts so the crowd can hear my answer.

Cheering and applause break out, and Kade stands up and slips a ring onto my finger. Where the hell did he get a ring?

And then he kisses me. Hard. Long. A kiss that makes me forget this isn’t real. That Kade King isn’t mine. And I’m not his.

But today, I am.

When the kiss ends, people begin hurriedly approaching us, bombarding us with questions, and ogling the ring I haven’t even had the chance to look at myself.

“Oh my god! Look at the size of the ring. Is it eight carats or ten?” the woman stares at Kade.

He smirks. “Ten.”

My eyes come unglued as I stare at him. How the hell does he have a ten carat engagement ring for a fake proposal?

He shrugs at me knowing I have a lot of questions for him. I know he’s rich and has a lot of friends. That’s apparently how I’m wearing this expensive dress right now. But I don’t care how many friends he has in the jewelry business. No one would lend him this expensive of a ring for one day, on this quick of a notice.

“Excuse me. I need to thank my fiancé. Privately,” I say winking at them, knowing I just caused a new wave of gossip as they think I’m about to take Kade into one of the bedrooms to f**k him.

I grab Kade’s hand, and I pull him into the house, but people continue to follow us in. As much as I like sticking it to my sister and family, I’m done with being the center of the attention and the reason for the gossip.

So I keep guiding Kade out the front of the house, and this time, he doesn’t argue or pull me back to the crowd that has now gathered outside of the house.

“Thank you all for coming to celebrate our engagement and Larkyn’s graduation. We would love some time to celebrate before we decide on a date. But it will be soon,” Kade says, winking at the crowd that is asking us questions about when the wedding will be.

Kade opens the door to his car and helps me inside, before jumping in himself and speeding off.

I hit him playfully on the shoulder. “You’re so bad. Why did you let them think there is going to be a wedding soon? And oh my god!” I grab the ring off my finger and thrust it into his hand.

“I can’t be wearing a ring this expensive. If I lose it, I’ll be paying you back my entire life. I’ll have to sell my kidney to make a down p*****t on paying you back.”

He smirks, pulls over abruptly, and shoves the ring back onto my finger.

“Did you hear me? I can’t afford to pay you back if I lost this ring.”

“I know. It’s not on loan.”

I narrow my eyes.

“How did you get the ring then? Please tell me you didn’t steal it off of someone’s finger when they weren’t looking.”

He laughs. “No, it belonged to my mother.”

Shit.

“I can’t wear it, it’s irreplaceable,” I say, trying to get the ring off, but it’s now stuck on my swollen finger. Great.

I feel the panic rising in my chest.

“Stop,” he says, holding onto my hand.

I freeze. If I don’t move, there is no way I can lose the ring.

“I want you to wear the ring.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to pretend marry you.”