“I’m sorry.” I whispered the words for the millionth time as we walked back to our room.

“What’s there to be sorry for?” She looked away.

“I know he did something. Otherwise you wouldn’t have looked so upset. What I don’t understand is why you won’t tell me.”

“It’s not worth you fighting with your brother over.”

“We never get along.” I couldn’t begin to tell her how deep our rift went. I didn’t even really understand it. We’d been close as kids, but at some point all that changed.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m never going to see him again after this week.” She spoke with complete finality.

“You might. I mean he is my brother.”

“He doesn’t go to Harrison anymore.” She picked up her pace.

“But it’s at least possible that you’re going to spend time with my family again… or have they scared you so thoroughly that you won’t?” I tried to keep my voice light, but what was she saying? We hadn’t discussed the future at all, but I assumed she was at least considering seeing where things went when we got back to campus.

“I kind of assumed this was a one shot deal.”

“The pretending sure, but I mean everything’s changed, right?” I refused to believe I was imagining things. Something had changed, and it wasn’t just about sex.

She shrugged. “Not everything.”

“Unless I’m completely losing it, we have spent an entire week having sex.” Panic and slight anger warred with my determination to keep my voice calm. She was upset, I couldn’t make it worse.

“You’re not losing it. We have.” She touched the diamond necklace self-consciously. It looked perfect on her, and despite the seriousness of the situation I was imagining what she’d look like wearing only that. Her next words snapped me back to reality. “But that doesn’t change everything.”

“Sure it does. It means this isn’t just pretend.” I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one was listening.

“The relationship is pretend. The back story. All that’s changed is that I now know what you’re like in bed.”

I forced myself to ignore the disappointment coursing through me at her words. Did she really think that’s all this was? Sex? “And how am I in bed?”

“You already know the answer.”

“I do?”

“Yes. Not that we’re doing that tonight.”

“You mean my brother being a prick turned you off?”

She smiled slightly. “Just a little.”

“Why don’t we find a movie to watch or something then?” I refused to end the week on a bad note. Sex or not, I wanted her to have a good time.

“Sure, but first I need to give you this back.” She touched the necklace again.

“Why?” I had no interest in taking it back.

“Because it belongs to you.”

“But diamonds aren’t my thing.” I inserted the room key and opened the door. Hopefully she’d stop arguing. The necklace belonged to her now.

“You know what I mean.” She followed me inside.

“My grandmother wants you to have it.” And I wanted her to have it. How could I take back something that looked so perfect on her? I could tell she liked it.

“She also thinks we’re about to get engaged.” She unclasped the necklace. “Just take it back.”

“Are you sure?” I hesitated to accept it while I struggled to come up with another reason she had to keep it. “You don’t want it?”

“Kyle, please.” There was a desperate note to her tone that killed my fight. I didn’t want to upset her. I’d find a way to give it back to her later.

“If you’re sure.” I accepted the necklace and the case she pushed into my other hand.

“I’m sure.” She walked over to the window and looked out.

“I’m going to miss this place.” I wasn’t talking about the hotel. I was talking about the room and everything the last week had stood for. I wished not for the first time that our pretend relationship could be real. Maybe it could be, but first I had to convince Jade.

“It’s been a fun week.” There was something sad about her words. I’d never wanted to know what someone was thinking more.