Are you Carter Woods? I saw you with Lily on TV last night. I had no idea the two of you were a couple. And that story you told about how you fell in love? It was beautiful.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed our story,” Carter says, darting his worried gaze toward me.
“I’m Jillian, I’m one of the paralegals for Lily,” the woman says, holding out her hand to Carter.
Carter shakes her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Jillian.”
“Lily is already in her office, but if you are looking for a place to be alone, there is a restroom on the top floor that nobody ever uses.” She winks at him.
Carter smiles. “Thanks for the tip.”
I start walking to Lily’s office, and Carter jogs after me seconds later.
“Hold up, Victoria.”
I slow because I know he will make a bigger scene if I don’t walk with him.
“We can’t do this. A random stranger from Lily’s office noticed you, and we are barely even inside the building. We will get caught if we go on a date.”
Carter stops in front of me. “You promised. One date. I will take you to the most hidden restaurant I can find. No one will know. Okay?”
I nod, hoping that something will happen between now and then that will not let me go on that date. Because I know, if I go, he’s going to be charming and wonderful and perfect. He’s going to buy me flowers and hold my hand. He’s going to tell me all the lovely reasons he likes me. He’s going to give me his jacket when I get cold and then turn into an animal who kisses me and then fucks me in the cab on the way home. And, after a date like that, I’m going to fall. Completely and fully in love with him because I’ve wanted him since we were kids. I’ve wanted nothing more than to make him fall desperately in love with me, but he was always with someone else.
I can’t let myself fall in love with him. Because, as much as I want to think that he has changed, I know he hasn’t. One day, he will flip the switch again and turn back into the monster I know he has hidden deep inside.
We walk upstairs to Lily’s office. I knock before entering. I walk in with Carter close behind.
Then, Lily attacks Carter.
Lily’s arms wrap around his neck as she launches at him. And then she presses her lips against his and kisses him. Not a chaste kiss. Not a thank you so much for saving my butt yesterday kiss. A real I want you right here, and I don’t care who is watching kiss.
My mouth falls open at the sight, but I quickly recover. I twirl my hair around my finger, trying to distract myself. I try to force my eyes away from the two of them kissing. But, even if I could manage to somehow tear my eyes away, I could never stop seeing the two of them together over and over in my head.
I knew that sleeping with Carter was going to result in agony. And I was right. I can tell by the look on Carter’s face that he is just as shocked as I am about the kiss, that this isn’t what he wants. But it doesn’t matter. This is our life now. He has to pretend to date Lily. That’s the job. And it’s going to be the worst pain I’ve ever felt, watching him with another woman. It doesn’t matter that it’s pretend to Carter. It’s clearly not pretend to Lily.
Carter slowly pushes her back from his lips, and he stares at her with wide eyes. He wipes his lips. “Um…it’s good to see you, too,” Carter says, backing up toward the door like he wants to run.
I want him to run, too. Forget about this stupid job and just run. I’ll chase after him. It can be just like when we were kids, and he chased me all over the playground. Except, this time, when I catch him, he won’t push me down. He’ll fuck me.
Lily’s face lights up. “It’s a very, very good day, Carter. The best day in fact.”
Carter rubs the back of his neck. “And why is it the best day?”
“Because I have the most amazing boyfriend ever.”
“I’m not your—”
A knock on the door stops Carter from speaking.
“Yes?” Lily asks.
“I have a DVD from last night for you,” says a small, petite woman when she pokes