PTE

on. Her nerves were already all over the place-she had just gotten fired, her phone bill w

le

ion either. What was she even doing letting a random guy into her car? But somehow,

take a left at the end of this

owned.

ea

we going

'll

alk. She wanted to ask more, but something

ployees seemed to recognize him. Before she could eve

king-he tossed

, brushing past her to

linked, holding up

, that same unbothered look o

m, annoyed. Who did

went in a

pulled up. Not her car. Definitely not. The driver

my car?" she a

ride's better," he said ca

already shutting behind her. She was too

ce at on a normal day. The kind of place where the menu did

een them. Evie kept glancing around. The place was elegant, clean, and totally out of her price range. She

even ope

g on the table as he leaned for

ally he said it. "Yeah," she mumbled, her

e he'd expected that.

e I do. Why else would I be here

using. "Good," he said simply, th

nked aga

ight in the eye. "

quickly, scooting back in her seat. "Are you insane? I

es. "Relax. No one'

ou lured me with coffee, dragged me to a mall, made me

in smoothly. "A thousan

oze. "

to be my girlfriend. You'll come to a few events, smile wh

t him like he

lm, as if this offer was the

"You want me... a broke, recently-fired stran

xactly wh

y m

lant shrug. "You're

me an h

anaged to be interesting, unpredictable, and not fake. That's rare. Mos

I thought you

ill thi

A li

ckled.

"And what's in it for

erything for the duration of the arrangement. But you'll

him like he was one big red

thousand do

literally cried

ottom lip. "Th

in again. "

t answer

en

get de

grinning. "We'll t

t walked into, but she knew one thing-it came

-guy-after-dinner existence he lived in. Instead, the car glided to a stop in fron

ed. "You're n

eady stepping out, tossing the valet his k

ive stars. A revolving door that looked like

ng marched into jury duty. "I have a home, you know. With

"That couch won't teach you how

"That's the f

the elevator door open.

to the suite, Evie f

nd still have space left over for a hot yoga class. The ceilings were high, th

velvet armchair and motioned to

ng star

hat? How to walk like your w

ou've never been questi

rms. "So... delus

she'd just won a prize.

, the

. You're walking like y

pigeons. Met

is time, glide. Like

me the

ot at a s

ure have to do

ou belong, and the

g under her breath bu

the

a $900 bottle lik

ing her mouth. "I've never

his mouth twit

ractice how to pause before answering-just enough to seem thoughtful. Every tin

he added, watching h

ent. "You're making

-awareness

sat down on the edge of the couch, arms

a. You're the guest of honor. The host approa

er shoulders relax. Chin u

ct, move for her. Calm, graceful, like she wasn't trying to

e said softly. "The lighting is stunni

ping back-she dipped into

didn't

ightened

nked.

.Mi

ed to his lap.

r head. "Was

n't sa

e impr

erving j

otally im

se, half-smirking. "Don't

o l

hifted-calmer,

n't overshare. And if you're meeting someone older-parents, partne

odded

et some sleep.

d. "Six? As

rre

ich people hate sl

here's somet

uest bedroom. "If I wake up tomorrow and this turn

murmured, "It wa