Redeemed (Dirty Air 4)

And in all honesty, I do. I like the way Chloe makes me feel normal again. It’s something I need more of, and this sacrifice seems like a small price to pay. I can build my confidence around her while she uses me as a prop.

“I feel like I’m getting the better end of the deal here.”

I shake my head from side to side. “I can assure you that you’re most definitely not.”

“Well...If you insist, I suppose it’s not the worst idea out there.” Her blue eyes brighten as they land on me.

I sit taller in my chair and lean in. “I’ll only ask for one favor in return.”

“What?”

“Join Marko and me for dinner tomorrow. It’s his last night before he leaves, and he hasn’t stopped talking about you since he first met you.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s about time we get to know each other. The real us.”

“For consistency. Smart.”

She wants consistency, I want someone to ease the loneliness I’ll feel once Marko leaves. This solution is the best of both worlds.

And with a nod of her head, I know I’ve got her trapped. She gets to spend time with her dad because of me, and I get to feel like a better version of myself.

It’s a win-fucking-win.

15

Chloe

“Let me get this straight: Santiago is famous, you lied to your dad and told him that Santiago is your boyfriend, and you plan on hosting a dinner like a happy couple to spend more time with said father who still doesn’t know your true identity?” Brooke’s voice echoes through the phone.

“Yes.” I pinch the bridge of my nose and fall onto my mattress with a loud thud. “On a scale 0 to 10, how bad is this idea?”

“You broke the rating system in the best kind of way. Imagine how fun this will be.” Brooke’s fingers typing across a keyboard echo through the speaker. “Wait. Santiago is really fucking famous! Oh my God!”

I pull the phone away from my ear. “Brooke! Stop googling him!”

“But he’s worth over 100 million dollars! How the hell did you trap this guy?”

“It’s fake, so I didn’t exactly trap him.”

“Well, damn. It’s never too late to try. You should charge him for your ‘girlfriend’ services. He can spare a few thousand dollars. Trust me. I’m checking out the layout of his yacht right freaking now! You know, because your boyfriend had GQ interview him.”

“He’s the one who should be charging me. I’m the one who needs his help now.”

“Ugh, you’re no fun.” Her mouse clicks in the background. She mumbles something about a private car collection and a house in Spain before I stop her.

“Can you quit prying into his life?”

“No. This is the most fun I’ve had all year! Have pity on a small-town girl who needs a little romance in her life.”

“You were born in New York City.”

“Excuse me, Little Miss Buzzkill. Fine. I was born with a small-town heart. Plus, it’s not every day your best friend dates someone famous! Give me a break. You’d be disappointed if I didn’t google him for you.”

“Fake dating. And I don’t want to know what the internet says about him.”

“What about the reports on how he’s hung like a horse?”