Fake Summer Boyfriend

Then she sat back and raised her eyebrow. “But you’re not psychic.”

“But you have to admit we do have a deep connection,” I insisted.

A shadow fell across the front windshield, and Hayden flinched, glancing over to see a businessman walking by the car.

Taking her hand, I caressed her skin gently with my fingers. “I’m so sorry that Craig made you so jumpy, baby. I’m going to work very hard to help you get over that.”

Hayden stared toward the glove compartment for a moment, her eyes unfocused. Then she looked at me. “No. I don’t want to waste any more time. I need to get over things. I want to be done with it right now.”

“Okay. How can I help?”

I would have done absolutely anything she wanted. Yet I was surprised by the devilish gleam in her eye.

“Could you please drive me to Craig’s place?”

Chapter 17

_____

Hayden

For the first time in ages, I didn’t have that creepy crick in the back of my neck, from darting my head around to see if I was being watched.

The apprehension had been replaced by anger.

As Leif drove to a residential neighborhood, I realized it didn’t have to make sense. Somehow, now that I was completely secure in our love, and now that I knew we really were going to make it, it was like there was room in my heart for new emotions.

Like the magnitude of how unbelievably pissed off I was at Craig for being a creep, and at myself for not having the guts to confront him sooner.

Leif pulled up in front of a house where Craig and an older woman were pulling weeds from the front garden.

“I assume that’s his mom?” I asked.

“She must be.”

Craig looked up and completely froze when he saw Leif’s car. Surprisingly, I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I thought I’d be. Why bother being anxious when I knew that Leif was going to be close by?

“Would you mind waiting here?” I asked. “I feel this is something I have to do myself.”

Leif frowned, his jaw tight. “What if I get out of the car, but don’t come any closer?”

I reached over to squeeze his hand. “Good compromise. Thank you.”

He got out and came around to open my door, then closed it and leaned against the car while I walked toward Craig.

“Hi,” I said brightly. “Sorry to bother you, I only need a moment.”

His eyes were wild with fright as he looked between me, his mother, and Leif. “Why don’t we go inside?”

“No, right here is fine,” I said pleasantly.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to use a tick more volume than usual, so that nobody would miss a word.

“I just wanted to thank you so much for stalking me for the past four weeks. Although seeing your car outside my work, my favorite diner, and my apartment every single day was absolutely terrifying, it really did turn out for the best.”

His mother stood up slowly, brushing her gardening gloves against her dirty jeans as she pinned him with a glare. “What’s all this about, Craig?”

“He’s been absolutely terrible to me,” I said, stil