But God, she wanted to try so badly with him, but she was scared, too. Not of the possibility of him someday getting sick like his sister, but spending who knew how many years trying to find someone who affected her so deeply, so completely, as he did. A man who felt like he was meant just for her, because they were so in sync, so compatible, that they just belonged together and everything else would work itself out. But he wasn’t willing to take that chance, nor would she ever force him to.
For her, there would be life before Eric . . . and life after him. And she already knew that the latter was going to be so much worse than the former.
The fireworks finally died down, and everyone stood up and collected their blankets and belongings. Another half an hour of hugs and goodbyes to family and relatives, and promises to Evie’s parents that they’d visit soon—untrue since she planned to inform her mom and dad in a few weeks that the two of them had broken up—and she and Eric were heading back to their cabin. Once inside, they started packing their bags since they were getting an early morning start back to San Diego, both of them quiet as they gathered up their things.
Wanting to break the uncomfortable silence, Evie glanced over at Eric as he took his T-shirts from the dresser drawer and set them in his bag. “Once we get back home, I’ll be sure to leave you a glowing review on the beta version of the Boyfriend Experience app,” she said, even though the thought of him dating other women made her feel a little stabby, as well as made her heart die a bit inside. “You were an awesome fake boyfriend.”
He stopped moving and looked at her, his expression suddenly serious. “Evie, I never put myself on the app to be hired out,” he said, surprising her. “The owner, Dylan Stone, who is a friend of mine, did it as a joke and without my knowledge. And I’m not a chauffeur. I own a car service company with a friend.”
What? She shook her head in confusion as she tried to process everything he’d just said. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“I’m not actually a boyfriend for hire. I don’t hire out my boyfriend services for money on a regular basis, or as a side job, and I sure as hell won’t do it again once we get back home. You were my first, last, and only ‘client.’”
She rubbed her forehead where a frown had formed. “I’m still not following.”
He walked over to where she was standing on the other side of the bed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I suppose I owe you an apology, but I can’t say I’m sorry about this weekend with you.” He picked up her hands in his. “Dylan signed me up for the app behind my back, and when I realized what he’d done, I wasn’t going to accept your request. But then he swiped my phone and answered your notification before I realized what he was doing and accepted your coffee date the next morning on my behalf.”
“And still . . . you could have canceled.”
“I was going to explain everything in person at the coffee shop, but then I met you and . . . well, I couldn’t say no. I didn’t want to say no.” His sincerity rang true in his tone. “You fascinated me like no other woman ever has, and honestly I was hooked. I thought it would be fun and nothing serious . . . but I never counted on you getting under my skin, Evie.”
She swallowed hard at what he’d just admitted and confirmed about his feelings toward her. She wasn’t angry about him not telling her the truth from the beginning, or even upset, because he’d done nothing malicious. He didn’t sign up for the app . . . but he’d gone through with the Boyfriend Experience once he’d met her. Because she’d fascinated him and he’d been hooked.
“It probably makes me a certified asshole for—”
She covered his mouth with her hand. “It doesn’t make you anything of the sort. You’ve been amazing and more than I ever could have asked for in a fake boyfriend,” she teased, then realized she didn’t want to go back to the city with regrets, which meant putting her heart on the line and letting the chips fall where they might.
“You did your job exceptionally well, and I’d do anything to make what’s between us as real as what I think we’re both feeling.”
He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, his expression pained. “Fuck . . .” he swore beneath his breath, and when he opened his eyes again, they were filled with anguish. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to fall for you.”