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

Chapter Twenty-One

Lincoln

My friends and I are working out in the gym. The others chat about random things as we use the machines, but I’m mostly quiet. Thinking about what happened between Callie and me yesterday. The kiss.

Honestly? I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. I was up all night tossing and turning as I relived every single second of it. I’ve never obsessed over a kiss before. Maybe because up until that moment, kissing didn’t really mean much to me. Sure, it was nice when I kissed other girls and heck, it was a nice distraction from the stress of life. But they didn’t have such a huge impact on me.

A part of me convinces me that I can’t stop thinking about the kiss because I haven’t had a girlfriend in a long time. Maybe my body was lacking it or something. But a larger part of me knows that’s not true. The kiss meant something because of the person behind those warm, soft lips.

Cursing under my breath, I drop the weights before they crash on my head. Darn it. I’m distracted again. But after such an intense kiss that made me feel things I’ve never felt before, can anyone blame me?

“What’s up?” Jett’s girlfriend, Dana, asks as she places her hand on my shoulder. She’s working out with her boyfriend, but I suppose she must have seen me almost get killed by that weight. The other guys are too busy comparing muscles to notice.

Sitting up, I push some hair that’s sticking to my forehead out of my face. Dana tosses me a towel, and I thank her and dab my face.

“So what’s wrong with you?” she asks.

“Just have a lot on my mind.”

“You’ve been having lots of stuff on your mind lately. Can I attribute that to a certain blonde beauty?”

I don’t say anything as I dab my neck and the top of my chest.

“Fine, I won’t pry. It’s not really my business, anyway.”

No, it’s not. But it’s nice to talk to someone about this. Or at least have someone notice that I’m not right. Ever since Callie and I decided to fake date, everything has been off with me.

And the kiss just made things even more confusing.

Is Callie upset with me? She was the one who pushed us to kiss and told me she was fine. But then why were things so weird in the car? My appetite flew out the window and it seemed like she wanted to get as far away from me as possible.

“I kissed my girlfriend in public yesterday,” I find myself saying.

“Yeah, I think the whole world saw it.”

I think the reason why I was so against it was because I don’t like showing off my relationship in public. Even though I’m a public figure, some things need to be kept private. Like a mind-blowing, hot-as-heck kiss with the woman who’s supposed to be my fake girlfriend and whom I shouldn’t be thinking about more than I have to.

Sighing, I dab my face again.

“Dude, the kiss was sizzling,” Dana says as she bangs her shoulder into mine. “People have been going crazy. Girls are so jealous of Callie. I know you hate being in the spotlight, but at least they’re saying positive things about you and not negative.”

She’s right. If Callie and I wouldn’t have kissed, who knows what conclusions they would have drawn? And who knows what rumors they would have started? I’d never want to put Callie through that. Once our fake relationship is over, I hope she can return to a normal life. My life won’t be normal, but all that matters is that hers will be.

“It’s so obvious you love her,” Dana continues, a smile on her face that’s telling me she’s happy for me. Dana met Jett in college and they’ve been together ever since. I consider her a good friend.

My eyes go wide. “Did you say love?”

She rolls her eyes. “You can hide many things from the world, Lincoln Walker, but I see right through you. You love Callie. It’s not something to be ashamed of. When you feel something, Linc, you feel it hard. So I’m not surprised you’re giving Callie all your love and attention. It’s very sweet.”

I almost want to laugh out loud at how wrong she is. I don’t love Callie. How can I love someone I just met? Someone who’s my fake girlfriend? Someone who will exit my life in three weeks and whom I’ll probably never see again. Yes, I’d like us to remain friends, but what are the odds of us actually keeping in touch?

“Don’t make a face,” she admonishes.

“I’m not. You just don’t get it.”

She lifts a brow. “Get what?”

“Never mind. Thanks for the talk.”

After patting my shoulder, she walks off.

I think about what she said, then snort. How could I look like I’m in love when I’m not Callie’s real boyfriend? Why am I thinking about her more than I’m supposed to? And why am I feeling things I shouldn’t be feeling?

Despite what my mind wants to tell me, it’s not because I’m lonely or because I haven’t had a girlfriend in a while. I feel a connection to Callie. I didn’t understand it until we kissed. Our connection goes beyond this world. It’s deep and confusing, but so amazing at the same time.

Will I kiss her again?

I sure as heck want to, but not when I’m forced to. Which means it will never happen.

Does she want it to happen again?

I curse under my breath again for getting so bent out of shape about this. I’m pretty sure Callie isn’t even thinking about me or the special moment we shared yesterday.

I’ve never felt this insecure and vulnerable before. It scares me a little.

Chris walks over to me. “We’re going for drinks after we’re done here. You in?”

“Sure.” Anything to take my mind off a certain beautiful fake girlfriend of mine whom I can’t seem to get out of my head.

After I’m done my workout, I check my phone for a possible text from Callie. Nothing other than an update from Mom and Dad about their cruise.

Hmm. She hasn’t texted me. And I haven’t contacted her. Honestly, I don’t know if I should give her some space. Things were very awkward between us yesterday and I don’t want to make her more uncomfortable than she already is. I realize I will have to text her at some point—we do have an arrangement after all—but I’ll give her some space in case she wants to make sense of what happened. And to give myself some space as well. Not that I’m sure I can even make sense of it.

I was enjoying my time with her. I loved talking to her and seeing her eyes shine, especially when we found books. But now I feel like I want to be close to her. To delve into her mind and heart. To know her.

The guys and I shower before heading to the bar. I get in my car and stare at my phone, my fingers hovering over the keypad. What do I say to her? “Hey, are we cool?” or “Yesterday was so weird, right?” No. I definitely should not bring up yesterday. What if she wants to forget it happened?

I end up unable to send her a text, even though I want to. I don’t realize I’m sitting in the car, going back and forth wondering what I should say to her, until Jason texts, asking me where I am.

Sighing, I tell him I’m on my way and pull out of the parking lot.