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

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Callie

After Lincoln and I finish cleaning up the kitchen, I go to “my room” to video call my friends and catch them up with what’s been happening.

“There she is!” Lizzie gushes when their faces pop up on my screen. They’re sitting on the couch, still dressed in pajamas. “Feels like we haven’t seen you in ages. We miss you!”

“I miss you guys, too.”

“We’re so glad you’re safe,” Emily says. “Lincoln is so sweet for letting you crash at his place.”

“I know,” I say with a smile, warmth touching every part of me when I think back to how relieved I was by his offer. “The flooding here is terrible. Is it bad back home?”

“Super terrible,” Alex says. “We’re probably stuck inside until tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah, same here. I’m staying another night at Lincoln’s.”

“What does his place look like?” Lizzie asks, practically bouncing on the couch. “Is it decent or does it look like a bachelor pad?”

“It’s pretty good,” I say, giving them more details. I make sure to keep my voice down so Lincoln won’t overhear. “He’s doing everything he can to make me feel comfy and at home. I’m really so thankful to him.”

Emily’s eyes shine like she’s reading the most romantic book of the year.

“At least your fake boyfriend is a great guy,” Alex says. “We don’t have to worry about you being stuck in his apartment. He—” She cuts herself off when she notices my clothes. “Wait, what the heck are you wearing?”

With a grin, I stand so my body can fit in the frame. “It’s Lincoln’s shirt.” I try not to squeal, but I’m sure I’m failing miserably. “He also gave me pants, but they couldn’t stay up. How do I look?” I do a quick spin.

“Like you’re his real girlfriend!” Lizzie says.

Why does that make me feel like the happiest person in the world?

“His shirt really does look good on you,” Emily says, also wearing a huge smile. “Oh my gosh, I know this is fake and everything, but it’s like a book come to life!”

“Did he like what he saw?” Lizzie asks with even larger eyes. “Did you catch him checking you out?”

Pressing my hands to my flaming cheeks, I nod.

“Yay! This is awesome!” Lizzie jumps to her feet and does a small victory dance.

Alex grabs the hem of her pajama shirt and tries to yank her back on the couch. “Lizzie, I don’t think this is a good thing. This could be very dangerous for Callie,” she says in a serious tone. “Lincoln and Callie are not boyfriend and girlfriend. And since Lincoln is being the perfect host, it would be very easy for her to fall for him.” She turns her attention to me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I hold up my hands. “I appreciate your concern, Alex, but I’m not going to fall for him. I’m very well aware that these things only happen in books and movies. Why would a guy like him ever choose someone like me?” I spin around again and smile. “But wearing his shirt is a lot of fun. It’s kind of romantic—in a fake kind of way. Spencer never lent me his shirt.”

Alex frowns. “I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s just that the more time you spend with him, the closer you guys seem to get. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I sit back on the bed. “Look, once I’m no longer a refugee from the rain, life will get back to normal. Back to random people snapping photos of us every ten minutes and back to my face being plastered all over social media. It’s nice to escape all of that for a bit. This is like the only time Lincoln and I are truly…alone.”

Emily and Lizzie exchange excited smiles. I know what they’re thinking—if Lincoln and I are truly alone, anything can happen. But have things been happening? I mean, he did call me beautiful. And the way he caressed my cheek…

“Why are you blushing and smiling?” Lizzie demands.

I blink, snapping out of it. “What? Um…Lincoln called me beautiful inside and out. And he said I’m becoming very special to him—”

“Oh my freaking gosh!—”

“—but as a friend.”

Lizzie’s lips snap shut and she scowls. “As a friend? Bummer.”

“Did he really call you beautiful?” Emily asks with wide eyes. “Why would he call you that if he doesn’t have feelings for you?”

“Because he appreciates her as a person?” Alex offers. “He keeps telling you he loves that you guys are friends. Don’t think it’s more than that.”

“I don’t,” I tell her, though a part of me wonders if that’s a lie. “Like I keep telling you guys—I know exactly where we stand.”

Alex looks like she doesn’t believe me, Lizzie looks extremely disappointed, and Emily looks like her dreams are crushed.

“Anyway, what are you guys planning to do the whole day?” I ask them.

“Read!” they cry.

I laugh. “Of course.” There’s nothing like reading on a rainy day.

“What about you and Lincoln?” Lizzie asks.

I shrug. “I don’t know. Probably watch some movies.”

“Make sure they’re super romantic,” Emily says.

Alex shakes her head at her.

“We tried watching a romantic TV show last night. But I…um, I kind of fell asleep.”

“You fell asleep during a romantic TV show?” Lizzie shoots herself in the head and collapses on the couch.

“It wasn’t romantic at all!” I tell them with a chuckle. “Either it’s extremely slow burn or it’s totally misleading. But I fell asleep on the couch and when I woke up? I found myself wrapped in a blanket and um…” My cheeks sizzle.

“And what ?” they demand.

“Lincoln’s arms were around me.”

Lizzie and Emily explode off the couch while Alex once again looks concerned. It takes some time to get everyone to calm down and explain that it was just an accident. Lincoln fell asleep, too, and he didn’t mean to wrap his arms around me. It just happened in his sleep.

“This could have been so romantic if you guys weren’t fake,” Emily says with the most disappointed expression I’ve ever seen on her face. “Ugh, I can’t believe you’re in the right situation, but with the wrong guy.”

“Hey, you never know,” Lizzie says. “Maybe he is the right guy.”

“Are we doing this again?” Alex grumbles.

“No, we’re not,” I say. “And you guys are making me speak too loudly. I bet he heard half the conversation.”

Lizzie waggles her brows. “Maybe you wanted him to hear the conversation.”

“Alex, please punch Lizzie for me.”

“Gladly.” Alex makes a move to playfully slap her shoulder, but Lizzie launches herself off the couch with a yelp and flees the room.

Emily shakes her head at them with a laugh before putting her attention on me. “It looks like you and Lincoln are having a good time. We’re really glad you’re okay. We were so worried when it started pouring.”

“Thanks. I just miss you guys.”

After Lizzie returns to the couch, we continue catching up. I want to know every detail of what they did over the last few hours.