Single And In Love With My Fake Boyfriend (Single Girls Club #1)

Chapter Sixteen

Callie

I’m happy to report that most of my coworkers don’t bombard me with questions about Lincoln anymore. Of course, some still grill me for details (like Julia), but for the most part, work is back to normal.

One thing that has changed, though? The paper. Ever since Phoebe’s article about Lincoln and Hector’s interview with me have been published, The Spring Falls Press has gotten much more attention than we had in the past. For the past few days, Becca has been calling meeting after meeting, trying to come up with articles that will hook more readers and keep our momentum going. We don’t want to turn into a celebrity or gossip paper, so she refuses to feature any more articles involving Lincoln or me. I leave every meeting feeling quite stressed.

“Ugh,” I grumble to Julia as I plop down at my desk. “I feel a splitting headache approaching.”

“I know what you mean. Here’s to my second cup of coffee.” She takes a long sip.

For now, I’m still focusing on reviewing books and movies because I haven’t offered Becca anything worth writing about yet. She shot down most of my ideas, claiming they’ve all been done before.

“How about you distract me with stories about you and Lincoln,” Julia says as she boots up her computer.

“How about I don’t,” I mutter as I put on my headphones to watch one of the movies that came out this week.

“You have no idea how lucky you are. You’re dating the most eligible bachelor of the year and you don’t seem fazed by it.”

Ha. If she knew just how fake our relationship is.

“He’s a person, Julia,” I tell her. “A human who has thoughts and feelings just like everyone else. As his girlfriend, I don’t see him as ‘the most eligible bachelor of the year.’ For me, he’s just Lincoln.”

She watches me for a few seconds before grinning. “That was so beautiful.”

“Um, okay…”

“No, you’re totally right. Sometimes people get so caught up in a celebrity that they don’t realize he’s a person just like everyone else. Of course you don’t see him that way. You know him in a way none of us ever could. You’re probably the only person who can get away with arguing with him.”

That has me chuckling. “Well, actually, we don’t argue a lot, thankfully. He’s pretty easygoing and considerate. I love that he’s able to look at someone else’s perspective and maybe see things differently than what he originally thought.”

Her eyes shine. “Oh my gosh, that was so beautiful. You guys are so perfect for each other. Lincoln looks at you like you’re the most important person on the planet. Actually, he looks at you like you’re the only person on the planet.”

That was what I wished for since I was a teen—to be so special to a person and for that person to be just as special to me. Just my luck that the only time I’m getting to experience that is with a fake relationship with my former crush.

“And how do I look at him…?” I ask.

She grins. “Like you won the lottery.”

Well, at least we’re both managing to pull off this charade. I have no idea how I’m doing this, since I’m terrible at lying. But I’ve noticed that it’s been getting easier the more time that passes. This fake relationship just might turn me into the crook I never wanted to be.

I’m about to start the movie, but my phone rings. When I glance at the screen, I see Lincoln Walker. I freeze for a second. Why is he calling me at work?

“Ooh, your boyfriend,” Julia says with a giggle. “He must miss you a lot. That’s so cute.”

Becca doesn’t like when we take personal calls during work, but I can’t just ignore his call. So I give Julia a quick smile and then scurry off to an empty conference room. After closing the door, I accept the call. “Hey, Lincoln.”

“Hey. Is it okay that I called you at work? I managed to slip away during practice and can only talk for a few minutes.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Is something wrong?” I have no idea why my heart is racing. Maybe because my brain is conjuring up all these scenarios why he would suddenly call me at work? “Do we have a major problem? Did someone threaten my life and will I need a bodyguard from now on? Did you have such a horrible time at my parents’ that you want nothing to do with me? Or—”

“No, nothing like that,” he assures me. “Sorry if I scared you. And you know I had a wonderful time at your parents’. You would have to do a lot more before I’d want nothing to do with you. I always enjoy myself when I’m with you.”

My eyes get so wide they nearly pop off my face. He likes hanging out with me? My stomach twists like a pretzel.

I don’t have a chance to dwell on it because he says, “Are you doing anything after work?”

“Nope, nothing at all,” I say. “I mean, nothing too important. Well, that’s not to say lying in bed and reading for hours isn’t important. I would do that every second if I could. I mean, I don’t have anything, like, important to do—” I squeeze my eyes shut and mentally kick myself. “Sorry, I’m rambling. To answer your question, no I’m not doing anything too important after work. Why?”

“I was wondering if you’re game about coming over to my place and watching movies. I owe you a romance and you owe me an action movie.”

My eyes once again get super large. He actually wants to watch movies with me? I thought he just said that to be polite. I didn’t think he’d actually want to do it.

“Callie?” he asks.

I snap out of it and shake my head. “There will be no cameras around,” I blurt before I can stop myself. “No reporters. No one to see us hanging out.”

I swear I can feel him smiling. “I know. That’s the point.”

For some reason, warmth fills every part of me. Did he just admit that he really does like hanging out with me?

Ugh, I really need to stop dissecting every word that comes out of his mouth. Lincoln has told me that he sees me as a friend. So he wants to hang out with me as a friend . Just as I’d like to hang out with him as a friend, too.

“Do I get to pick the romance movie?” I ask.

“Of course. And I get to pick the action movie.”

“Do I also get to pick the snacks?”

“Heck no. My house, my snacks.” He pauses for a second before laughing. “I’m just kidding. Of course you can pick whatever snacks you want. Text me the list and I’ll pick them up.”

“Thanks. Because you know you can never get between a girl and her snacks.”

“Really? Okay, I’ll need to file that in my brain somewhere. Note to self: make sure to allow my amazing girlfriend to choose her own snacks, lest she blow my head off,” he jokes.

That has me bursting out laughing. But then I quickly put my hand over my mouth. The last thing I want is to get in trouble at work.

“As much as I’m enjoying this conversation, I need to get back to work,” I say, every part of me urging me to retract those words. Lincoln and I have never spoken on the phone like this before. In the past, it was usually to schedule “dates.” I never thought it would feel so good to let loose and just joke around with him. “I have a date with a really messed up cowboy.”

“What?” he asks, sounding super alarmed. “Wait, are you talking about me? I’m a messed-up cowboy? I don’t own a cowboy hat. I do have cowboy boots, though. Don’t ask.”

I find myself giggling again. “No, not you. I was about to watch a movie that was released last weekend. I’m supposed to review it.”

“Ah, got it.”

“I admit I need to know about that cowboy boots story. But maybe later? I really need to get back to work.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you. I should get back to practice before Coach has me for dinner.”

“I wouldn’t blame him. I already know you taste super sweet.” My eyes snap wide open when I realize what just came out of my mouth. “I mean, you’re a sweet guy,” I quickly explain. “Not that you actually taste sweet. I mean, maybe you do. Are you prone to misquote bites? I heard they tend to go after people with sweet blood, though some claim that’s been proven to be a myth…”

He chuckles softly. “No worries, Callie. I understood what you meant. And thanks. That was very sweet of you.”

We both laugh at that.

“But I should really let you go,” he continues. “I’ll pick you up around seven?”

“Oh, that’s sweet of you, but I’ll drive over. See you at seven. And make sure to pick a good movie.”

“Oh, I will. See you later.”

“Bye.”

I end the call and press my phone to my chest, my cheeks lifting in a huge grin. I stand near the door and replay our conversation over and over in my head. I didn’t know Lincoln was funny. I love the fact that he can make me laugh like that. And he doesn’t make me feel silly when I accidentally blurt something I shouldn’t. Spencer didn’t either, but honestly? I don’t think I was ever so nervous around him. Maybe in the beginning, but I doubt I blurted silly things.

Ugh, screw Spencer. Why does he still occupy my mind?

When I get back to my seat, I feel Julia’s eyes on me. I don’t pay much attention to her because I need to start the movie and write my review, but from the corner of my eye, I catch her grinning.

“What?” I ask.

“You came out of the conference room with the largest smile I’ve ever seen on you. And your eyes are shining.”

My face heating up, I grab my headphones and yank them on. “I really need to get to work, Julia. Becca will fry my butt if I don’t get this review done.”

“Oh all right,” she grumbles as she focuses back on her research.

I’m having trouble concentrating on the movie because I keep replaying the conversation with Lincoln. Honestly? I wish I could write a review about that and not this weird movie.