Fake Summer Boyfriend

Julian chuckled. “Just as long as my best security tech ends up here in Nevada on the seventeenth.”

“I told you. I’ll give you my decision next week.”

“You’re moving here, and that’s the end of it,” he said flatly.

I stared into the eyes that were annoyingly similar to my own. “This isn’t peewee soccer. You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore.”

“You’re working for my company, and I need my head of semi-underground security tech here.”

“This is my division of the company, and I told you we will discuss it later.”

“I get it,” Julian said, nodding. “If you just need another week or something to finish up that stalker situation, or tie up a few loose details, I understand. Just get back to me as soon as you can.”

He ended the call, and before I could even snap my laptop shot, there was a tiny sound in the hallway.

“Hayden?”

She stepped into view, holding a coffee mug with shaking hands.

I darted over to take it from her and set it on the shelf. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

Her bottom lip was trembling. “You’re moving away?”

“No. I was undecided, but now—”

She was already gone, the door of the guest room shut behind her. I could hear her throwing things into her bag.

“Hayden, it wasn’t finalized,” I said as gently as possible while projecting my voice through the door. “That was an idea my brother and I were tossing around before I met you. But now there’s no way I’m leaving. How could—”

She flung open the door, dressed, with her bag in hand. “Stalker situation? Security company? Semi-underground something? Is that how you’re planning to take care of Craig?”

“You told me not to confront him. But I had to check into his background and make sure he wasn’t even more dangerous.” I couldn’t stand the venom in her eyes. “Please, Hayden, can we talk about this?”

“You’re blocking the door.”

As much as I needed to reach for her, I couldn’t let her feel trapped for even one second. Jumping back against the wall, she stomped down the stairs, then pulled out her phone. “What’s the address here so that I can call a cab?”

“At least let me drive you. Please.”

Hayden’s bottom lip wobbled, and she began to blink too quickly.

Dammit. I’d made the love of my life cry. It was shocking how much that hurt. I’d been joking before about how it caused me pain when she was upset. Now that it was actually happening, it wasn’t in my side. It was in the center of my chest.

“What if I promise not to speak?” I asked quickly. “That way we don’t have to talk about it right now, but I’ll know that you’ve gotten home safely.”

She stared down at her feet for a moment. “Okay.”

We slipped on our shoes in silence, and I grabbed my keys.

Even though the drive was awkward, I was happy that she let me escort her.

At first Hayden sat stiffly with her duffel bag on her lap, but eventually she dropped it to the floor, turning to stare out the window. I turned the music on very softly to a classical station, hoping that would help her chill out.

When we paused for a red light, I glanced at my phone, pretending that I was checking my texts. Keeping the screen carefully angled away from her, I saw that the red blip of Craig’s car was parked right in front of her building.

When we pulled up in front, it broke my heart to see her shudder at the sight of the old black car.

“May I walk you to the door, and give you a hug so that he doesn’t get any ideas?” I asked.