Pretend I'm Yours (Pretend 1)

“Find another girl to date. Larkyn is only dating you for your money. I won’t give her any money unless she gets a grown-up job, which she can’t get without a degree. She thinks she doesn’t have to work. Work is beneath her. She’s just a spoiled, rich girl who will take everything you have without giving anything in return. She’ll live off your money until there is nothing left. Larkyn is like her mother in that way,” he says.

I see red. I’ve never punched anyone before, but right now I want to. I’ve only known Larkyn for a short period, but I know that almost every word he spoke is untrue. She doesn’t care about my money. She wouldn’t even take it when she should have. I don’t know how smart she is. I don’t know if she will graduate or get a job after college, but I know she is fully capable of taking care of herself.

I open my mouth to yell at the man when I realize Larkyn is ready to defend herself.

Her mother, on the other hand, looks bored. Likes she’s heard this conversation too many times to care anymore.

Anastasia is smiling smugly, behind her father.

“Excuse me, I need to talk to my father. Alone,” Larkyn says, pulling out of my arms.

I grab her hand at the last second, jerking her to me so I can taste her lips one last time, and prove to her father I am her boyfriend. That I’m not letting her go easily.

She gets lost in our kiss, forgetting her family is here until her father clears his throat.

She lowers herself down, after having to stand on her tiptoes to kiss me. I think I could get used to our height difference. Her body is so tiny I could easily throw her around in bed.

She walks away confidently, without any sign of the trauma that occurred to her body.

I’m left standing with the rest of her family. Her mother turns away to the bar to grab another drink, leaving me alone with Anastasia and her date.

Nope, I’m not going to stay around and make conversation with this bitch.

I follow after Larkyn, so I can be near whenever she finishes talking to her father. She might need comforting after dealing with him. I thought my father was an asshole; this man is just as bad or worse.

They dart into what I assume is an office, and Larkyn gives me a thank you, but I got this smile and wink before closing the door behind her, leaving me alone in the hallway still dripping wet.

I really don’t know what I was thinking.

I remove my jacket, now ruined, along with my tie, and start unbuttoning my shirt as I eavesdrop on the conversation behind the door.

I can’t hear everything, but I do hear…

You’re broke.

No job.

No degree.

No future.

Kade isn’t going to save you. You’re not worth the trouble.

All words spoken by her father. He’s yelling. Her voice must be softer, calmer because I can’t hear a word she is saying.

I sigh.

She needs me more than I thought. She needs me more than just for tonight.

I swallow hard, rubbing my neck, trying to figure out what to do next.

Anastasia walks over and places her hand on my bare chest. “Too bad we never got a second chance. We were good together.”

I frown, grab her hand, and remove it from my chest before she touches the priceless piece of jewelry that always hangs from my neck.

“Any chance we could work out if we gave it another shot?” she asks, moving her hips side to side as she bats her eyelashes at me.

“I thought you were here with a date?” I ask.