The Game That Breaks Us (14 page)

She goes to put her arms around my neck, like we’re about to sway like some awkward teenagers at prom. I shake my head and push her arms away. “That’s not how you dance in a club,” I tell her. “Turn around.” She looks apprehensive. “Trust me.”

She nods once and turns around, fitting her slender body into the space in front of me. She’s so small, fitting perfectly into the curve of my body. I instantly feel protective of her, and I glare at all the guys around us in case they’d dare to try to come near her. 

I put one of my hands on her waist, and the other on her stomach. She tilts her head back against my chest, her eyes closing with a wistful smile touching her lips. Something tugs in my chest—some emotion I can’t even begin to understand. 

We move to the beat of the song, our bodies automatically seeming to know what to do. 

Grace winds her arms behind her and up around my neck. I don’t stop her this time. She pushes her ass against me and I groan.

“You’re playing with fire,” I tell her. “You’re going to get burned.”

She opens her eyes and smiles lazily. 

I clench my teeth. 

Don’t do anything stupid, Bennett. She’s drunk and you’re not. Besides, you
need
her to make you look good. Don’t fuck her and screw things up. Keep your dick in your pants for once
.

“We have to go,” I tell Grace, dragging her off the dance floor and to the exit.

“What?” she protests. “I was having fun.”

“We’re leaving,” I reiterate.

If I don’t get out of here, I’ll ruin everything, and I can’t afford the fallout. 

My eyes feel like they’re sealed together with glue. And not like that glue you use as a kid, either. No, this is the heavy duty stuff, like Gorilla glue or something. 

I slowly peel my eyes open and immediately shut them. The light is too bright and my head pounds like someone beat me with a hammer. 

This is the worst I think I’ve ever felt—and that’s saying something considering the nasty flu I got two years ago. 

I try again to open my eyes, but it’s too much. “Elle,” I groan. “Shut the blinds.”

She laughs and I hear the sound of them being closed. “I have to say, coming home to you two snuggled in bed is hysterical. I was beginning to think you weren’t a real couple. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you kiss.”

I open my eyes again, and this time I can leave them open. “Two of us?”

Elle nods at my bed, holding out a coffee from our favorite shop. I take the cup from her and look beside me in bed.

“You have to be kidding me,” I mutter. 

Bennett’s stretched out beside me, fast asleep with his arm around my waist. I’m going to blame my raging hangover for my oversight in that little detail. 

I can barely remember last night.

But I do remember all the alcohol … and Porn Star. 

I lower my head in shame. I hope to God I didn’t do anything stupid while I was drunk, but knowing my luck, it’s a very real possibility.

I set the coffee cup on the small table beside me bed and shake Bennett’s shoulder roughly.

He stirs and tightens his hold on me. In fact, he pulls so hard that I fall back on the bed as he snuggles me against his chest like some oversized teddy bear. His lips press to my neck. “Mornin’.”

“Ugh,” Elle groans, clutching at her chest. “You guys are too sickeningly cute.”

I want to tell her it’s all for show, but I’m not allowed. 

“Bennett.” I rock against him. “Wake up.”

“Keep doing that. Feels good.”

My pops open. “Ugh, you’re so gross.”

I yank my body from his octopus hold and fall to the floor. Oh, Jesus Christ, I’m only in my bra and panties—
did he undress me?

The sound of me falling to the floor finally wakes him up and he peers at me over the edge of the bed with sleepy eyes and his hair ruffled around his head like a baby bird. I might think he looked cute if I wasn’t so mad. “Why are you on the floor, Princess? That’s dirty, and I thought princesses hated dirt.”

“Ugh!” I stand up and stomp across the room, pulling on a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top so I don’t feel so exposed. “You’re so annoying.”

“Good morning to you too, sweetheart.” He grins and glances at Elle. “Morning.”

She lifts her coffee cup to her. “Good morning, Bennett.”

Bennett sits up and yawns, stretching his arms above his head. 

“Can you put a shirt on?” I snap, looking around for his clothes. “And please, tell me you have pants on.”

“I prefer to sleep in the buff.” He grins crookedly. 

I give him a horrified look. “We didn’t have sex, did we?” I squeak. It’s definitely the wrong thing to say in front of Elle, but I’m panicking. I can’t even remember leaving the club so anything is a possibility.

“I was kidding, Grace,” he sobers. “Jesus fuck, you were drunk off your ass—I wouldn’t have taken advantage of you. You know that.”

I inhale a deep breath, feeling the panic and fear leave my body. 

He stands, and he is in his boxers so I feel infinitely better. He grabs his dress pants off the floor and slips into them. 

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I know you wouldn’t have done that. It’s just … I can’t remember much.”

He nods in understanding. “It’s okay. Want to go get breakfast?” He looks at his phone. “Or lunch, rather?”

I don’t really want to. I’d rather lie in bed and sleep off the rest of this hangover, but I remind myself that I
am
his fake girlfriend, and I kind of have to save face after what just happened in front of Elle.

“Sure.” I nod. “I need to eat,” I lie. The thought of eating actually makes me want to throw up. I look down at the clothes I put on. “I better change. Meet me outside?”

Bennett grins and flops down on my bed. “Nah. I think I’ll stay right here and enjoy the show. You don’t have anything to hide from me, sweetheart.” He winks.

I take a deep breath so that I don’t yell at him or send him a death glare. 

Bennett James is dancing across my last nerve and I haven’t even been awake fifteen minutes. 

“Fine.” I give him an evil smile and shimmy out of my shorts. I don’t even care that Elle is in the room and getting a show as well—living in a dorm together we’ve seen each other in all different stages of undress, it’s just how it is.

I turn around and bend over, searching through one of my drawers, purposely wiggling my ass in the process. I hear Bennett hiss, and I smile with satisfaction. I grab a pair of jeans and put them on with my back turned to him. I glance over my shoulder and give him a coy smile. 

I leave my tank top on and grab a loose, over-the-shoulder, purple sweater from my closet and tug it on. My hairbrush sits on my dresser and I grab it, swiping it through my hair before pulling it up into a messy bun. 

“I’m ready. Where’s your shirt?” I grin at him as he stares at me dumbfounded from the bed.

“Th-The floor.”

I search the floor and find his white button-down, tossing it at him. “A little dressy for breakfast, don’t you think?” I laugh.

He shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “Yeah,” he mumbles. “Better swing by my dorm and change.” He glances at Elle as he stands and puts his shirt on. “Do you want to come get something to eat with us?”

She shakes her head and crosses her leg, her gaze focused on her phone. “Thanks, but I’m meeting some friends.”

“What friends?” I ask, confused.

“Celine and Makenna. They live across the hall from us.” She points like I don’t know what across the hall means.

“Oh, right.” I shake my head. 

“You’d like them,” she tells me. “If you didn’t spend all your time studying and with lover boy.” She nods her head at Bennett.

He chuckles. “I’m sorry for keeping her from you.”

“You better be sorry,” she chortles. To me she says, “We’re in need of a girls’ night. What do you think?”

“Sure.” I grab my purse off my desk and sling it across my shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”

Bennett follows me out into the hall. I see a group of three girls standing by the elevator and I quickly veer in the other direction to the stairs. Bennett chuckles behind me. 

“What are you so scared of?” He laughs behind me as I start down the stairs. 

I halt and whip around. “You’re wearing the same clothes from last night. You know what people would think.”

He grips the banister and leans down to where I stand three steps below him. “So what? The entire campus already
knows
we’re dating, so I’m pretty sure they assume we’re having sex as well.” My cheeks flame and his mouth parts in surprise. “Are you a virgin?” I look away and start down the steps then, embarrassment clinging to me like a second skin. 

It’s not like I
chose
to be a virgin. There was just never a guy I liked enough and my dad and brothers made it even more difficult on top of that. 

We reach the last stairs and I sprint forward to push open the door but Bennett’s faster. He comes up behind me and holds the door closed with his body pressed against the back of mine. My breath falters and I freeze.

“We’re not done talking Grace.”

I whip around. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

He peers down at me, his hazel eyes taking in more than I wish they would. “There’s loads to talk about.” He moves a little bit closer, which puts our bodies completely aligned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know I needed to. What’s it to you?”

“Fuck, Grace. I just … I don’t know. I feel like I should’ve known.”

“I’m your
fake
girlfriend Bennett—so my virginity really isn’t any of your business, and if I’d fucked half the student body that wouldn’t be your business, either.”

His jaw clenches and he shakes his head, his hair brushing my forehead in the process. “That’s not why I feel like I should’ve known,” he says softer. “If I’d known I wouldn’t have …”

“You wouldn’t have what?” I ask, my back flush against the door. Every time I breathe, my chest rubs up against him and I
hate
that I like it. 

“I don’t know,” he says gruffly. “I guess I wouldn’t have made some of the shitty jokes and innuendos I have.”

“Being a virgin doesn’t make me a prude. You can say whatever you want. I promise I won’t go running for the hills.”

He smiles slightly. “Then what was that mini freak out in your room?”

I sigh. “I couldn’t remember what happened last night, remember? Virgin or not, I’d think anyone sensible would be a little worried about what they’d done.”

He nods. “Right.”

He pulls away slightly—just enough for me to not feel like my personal space has been invaded anymore. 

“I never want to talk about this again,” I tell him, lifting my chin defiantly. “It’s not important.”

He nods and moves back completely so I’m finally able to open the door. “You’re the boss.”

I nod too. “Okay. Glad we’re on the same page.” I open the door and step out into the afternoon sunlight. “Ugh, kill me.” I shield my eyes, barely able to keep them open. My head begins throbbing with a renewed force.

Bennett and I make the trek across campus, and as per usual, people stare and take photos. I don’t understand it. Bennett’s just a person—he’s
normal
, even if his head is inflated to the size of Alaska. 

Bennett reaches for my free hand and entwines our fingers together. He smiles down at me and then brushes his lips against my cheek. 

It’s all a show, but no one but us knows that.

I just hate that it feels so real.