Chapter 7

 

 

How the hell could anyone cheat on her? She’s gorgeous and sweet and obviously smart. She rides dirt bikes and works at a bike shop. She is literally the definition of my dream girl.

And some jackhole threw her away for a fling? I don’t get it. Maybe he got hit on the head and forgot he was already dating the greatest girl on this side of the planet.

I close my eyes and let the hot bubbly water soothe muscles I just worked out. It’s not nearly as much fun keeping my right arm out of the water, but being in here with Jenn makes up for that small annoyance. I’m glad I took the risk and came in here. The hot tub feels amazing and I’ve made a new friend.

Well, maybe. I’m not sure if we’re in friends territory yet. But I know that’s all we can be. First of all, she’s way out of my league. Like ten thousand miles away from my league. And of course, the ever-present problem that comes with being a professional motocross racer – I’ll be gone as soon as this arm heals. My buddy and teammate Zach knew he couldn’t get attached because of our busy schedules and yet he recently went and got himself attached anyway. Dumbass. He seems really happy though, and I guess they’ll find a way to make it work. I know I wouldn’t be that lucky. There’s no sense in trying to date anyone.

I don’t think relationship bliss is in the cards for me. The more I think about it, the more I realize I have no idea how to date someone. Motocross has been my life for as long as I can remember. Mikey and I spent every waking second at the local track, and the only time I saw girls was in school. I had a couple girlfriends in junior high, which didn’t really count because all we did was hold hands in the hallway. And then in high school, I traveled every weekend for the races, going to every track within driving distance, and Mikey got famous with his professional racing deal, and I just didn’t have time for girls. I like girls. A lot. But there’s never been time.

Now, I’m sitting across from one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen and she’s got this content if not a little sad look on her face and I’d give my left nut to swim across the distance and kiss her.

But I wouldn’t even know how.

And she’s newly single, so kissing her would be a pretty jackass thing to do. She needs time to heal and get over him. And she needs to find someone better than me to date.

“So how are you liking Breaux Valley?” Jenn asks, breaking my contemplative silence.

“It’s… different,” I say honestly. “Quiet small towns are the complete opposite of my life back in Orlando.”

She nods like she understands. “Bella said the same thing. I’ve never been to Orlando, but it seems fun.”

“It is,” I say, and then because I’m not thinking well, I add, “I’ll take you some time.”

She brightens. “Harry Potter world?”

“Totally,” I say with a smile. “I’ve never been.”

“What! Why not? It looks awesome.”

I shrug. “I grew up in Orlando, but I don’t stay there very often. Now that I’m on Team Loco I travel a lot.”

“Well, we should totally go to Harry Potter world one day.”

“It’s a date,” I say. My heart races at the words and Jenn smiles.

Her smile quickly fades and she looks sad again as she runs her fingers through the water. Her lip quivers a bit but I think she’s holding back showing any emotions.

“It’s okay to be sad,” I tell her. “I’ve never been in a long relationship, but I can imagine it sucks when it’s over.”

She nods and her lip quivers again. She brings her wet hands to her face, wiping away tears. “I’m not sad, I’m just—” Her voice quavers and I’ve never wanted to hug someone as badly as I do now.

I should keep my distance. She’s newly single and we’re half-naked after all. I should definitely not hug her.

Jenn exhales and sits up straighter. She shakes her head as if she’s clearing it of whatever she’s thinking. “I’m not sad. I’m just pissed. I mean, why does he get to slip out of our relationship like that?”

She snaps her fingers but it doesn’t make much noise. “He hasn’t even said he’s sorry, I mean what the actual fuck.”

Damn, she’s sexy as hell when she cusses. I like this angry side of her.

“You should make him sorry,” I say.

She looks up at me, a hopeful glint in her eye. “What do you mean?”

“Get revenge.”

“And how do I do that?”

I consider it for a moment. “Date his best friend. No—date his enemy! Who does he think is his biggest competition on the track? Who is faster than he is? You should date that guy.”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s Rafael. I really don’t think I should date a thirty-year-old husband and father.”

“Damn,” I say, shaking my head. “Yeah, probably shouldn’t do that.”

She grins. “Plus he works at my dad’s shop and he’s kind of like a brother to me, so that would just be terrible.”

I laugh. “Okay, so don’t date the faster racer. Date someone he doesn’t like.”

She lets her fingers float on the bubbly surface of the water. I’m trying to be a good friend here but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t wishing I could see that bikini under all these bubbles.

“Jay has a lot of enemies,” she says finally. “He’s kind of an asshole. But I can’t exactly snap my fingers and date some guy.”

Something tells me she could do just that if she had the desire.

“Maybe I should just go on with my life and act like it didn’t affect me,” she says, running her fingers through the water. “I’ll keep going to the track and riding and he can just fuck off. I’ll ignore him. I’ll show that I’m living my life just fine without him.”

A delightful and terrible idea comes to me. “Or… you could get a fake boyfriend.”

“What, like hire an escort?” she says with a snort.

I shake my head. “Date a professional racer.”

Her eyes go wide. I swear I think she might blush. Her tongue slips across her bottom lip before she speaks. “And that professional racer would be…”

I grin and point to myself. “Aiden Strauss, five week fake lover, at your service.”

She laughs. Actually laughs. Her eyes crinkle at the corners and the sound of her happiness is like music to my ears.

She shakes her head and flicks her fingers in the water, sending a small bit of it at my chest. “Very funny,” she says.

“Hey! I’m being serious.” I put a hand to my chest like I’m offended. “Am I not good enough? I know I’m broken, but I am still a pro. I bet it would piss the hell out of your ex.”

“It’s more like you’re too good,” she says, her eyes meeting mine for just a fraction of a second before darting away. “You’re famous. No one would believe you’d actually date me.”

This girl is so very wrong. I would date her in a heartbeat if I thought I could. If I lived here full time and didn’t have a crazy career, I’d be putting all the moves on her, trying to make her mine.

Instead, I play it cool. “It’s easy. Picture it—you arrive at the track with Aiden Strauss. Everyone’s like ‘oh my god, there’s a famous racer!’ and as they approach me for an autograph, I slide my arm around you and tug you close to me. I place a kiss on your head. All the girls swoon and wish they were you.”

Her mouth parts slightly as she watches me talk. I take her interest as encouragement to keep talking out this fantasy. “I say, ‘no autographs right now.. I’m with my girl’ and everyone looks sad but they’re also looking at you with admiration. I mean, you’re dating THE Aiden Strauss. We sit on the bleachers and watch the races, and I snuggle you close to my side, keeping my arm possessively around you. If you’re thirsty, I get you a drink. I am a doting, loyal, caring boyfriend. That jackhole ex of yours shows up and someone says, ‘dude did you see Jenn’s new boyfriend?’ and he looks over and sees you being perfectly happy with a real man, and he suddenly realizes his mistake. His dick shrivels up and falls off because it knows he will never be man enough to date again.”

Jenn bursts out laughing. “Oh my God,” she says, covering her mouth with her hand. “That was perfect.”

“I know. I should be a romance author or something.”

When her laughter subsides, she bites down on her bottom lip, looking a little shy. Like maybe she wants to accept my offer but doesn’t know how.

“What have you got to lose?” I say. “Five week fake boyfriend. I guarantee you it’ll piss him off. You’ll get your revenge.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t use you like that.”

“It’s not using me,” I say. “I’m offering. I’m stuck here for the next five weeks so what else would I be doing? Plus, you can even dump me when it’s over.”

“Aww, I wouldn’t dump you,” she says playfully. It sends some kind of shockwave right through my heart. I know she’s playing, but I like hearing the words.

“This is silly,” she says after a beat. “I mean… pretend dating? You’re not really serious, are you?”

“I’m dead serious,” I say. “It’d be an honor to be your fake boyfriend.”

In my head, I substitute the word fake for real, and it makes my insides go all fuzzy. God, I would love to be her real boyfriend. I’d love a life that allows relationships. Of course, who knows if I’d be any good at it. Maybe this fake thing is exactly what I need. I can figure out exactly how to be a good boyfriend for when the time comes that I can date without my career getting in the way.

I look across at Jenn and I know I’m shooting myself in the foot. There’s no way I won’t fall for her just a little bit, even though I know it’s all pretend. She’s the whole package. But it’s better this way. We can go into it knowing it’s just a fling, just a pretend arrangement. That way no one gets hurt.

It’s probably better if she turns me down, but I desperately hope she says yes.

“So what’ll it be?” I ask, my heart pounding. “Want to fake date me and piss off your ex?”

Her beautiful pink lips slide into a grin. Her eyes narrow. “I think you’re crazy. But… maybe I’m crazy too.”

I smirk. “So let’s be crazy together.”