Chapter 2

MEGAN

‘Marley…. I swear…”

I gritted, my fingers digging into my hands, almost drawing out blood. She said her blind date was an ugly, trust-fund kid, yet, the smug, arrogant six-foot-four across from me was the total opposite.

I sat upright and cleared my throat. Although, I was met with something unexpected, that didn’t stop me from starting what I came here for. Ruining the blind date. “I’m sorry for calling you an ugly alien. There was a miscommunication from my end.”

Vinn, although still shocked, leaned back and dragged in a deep breath. “Vancleaf magazine asked me for a cover last month. I said no. I didn’t need their photographer to make me look worse than I am.”

I scoffed, nodding slowly. One thing was for sure; Vinn Graham didn’t beat the arrogant allegations. Everything about him screamed smug and arrogant. I wouldn’t be shocked if he thinks the world is centered around him.

I watched as he picked up his water, took a sip, and set it down with a soft clink. “So if you were expecting some rich guy with a face like a melted candle, you must be in for some disappointment.”

“About that..” I gritted, taking in deep breath to calm myself down. “I told you there was a miscommunication from my end. My past dates’ faces looked like melted candles, like you said, so I had no expectations of you.”

“Well, so now that you’ve been blessed with a handsome face like mine, can we make this date a success?”

Marley owes me an extra five hundred for this. One thousand. Make it two. My brain is charging rent for listening to this.

“Why did you agree to this blind date?” I asked.

He looked like someone who could pull a hundred women with just a wink. Someone like him doesn’t go on a blind date when he can get whoever he wants.

“Because I was forced to.” He shrugged, tapping away on his phone.

“Well, same here.” I added. “So my plan is to not make this date work.”

His gaze snapped up to mine at once.

“What do you mean? You’re going to reject this handsome face?”

There he goes again. Good Lord, please help me. And while you’re at it, remind me why I didn’t take the $3000 and just fake food poisoning instead.

“As much as you’re handsome, you’re definitely not my type.” I shook my head, leaning back into the chair.

“I’m everybody’s type.” I would have appreciated it if he had said ‘I’m hot and I know it,’ instead. “And moreover this date determines my future.”

A chuckle ripped out of my throat. “A trust-fund kid like you? What future is brighter than the one you have now?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business. Let’s just have a successful date, wrap it up and tell our grandparents we are compatible.” He looked bored. Like he’d rather be anywhere else than here. “Do you think your grandmother would let this slide if you ruin this date?”

“She would take my car, freeze my account or worse, disown me.” I tsked. “I actually don’t mind. I don’t want to be tied down by some arrangement, thank you.”

Just as I was about to stand up, the door to the restaurant swung open and a group of boys walked in, chatting and laughing.

I squinted, trying to recognize the boy who seemed to be leading the group. It took me half a second to place him. James Martin. My crush. Captain of the Holly Boys team. He is the reason I’d chosen to study physiotherapy at Vancleaf College, so I can get closer to him.

“I….i need to go.”

My cheeks flushed as I pushed to my feet. I wasn’t prepared to see my crush in a restaurant while I was playing the role of a stand-in on a blind date. It was low-key embarrassing.

I hated the way my skin itched at the thought.

At that moment, I wished the ground could open and swallow me up.

And lastly, I wished I could afford my tuition f*e without taking a job like this. A job that required me to be a stand-in.

Just before I could walk past Vinn, he grabbed hold of my wrist, stopping me at once. “I said we have to make this date a successful one.”

My face burned. Not the cute kind of flush. I wasn’t interested in making this fake blind date a successful one.

“Let go of me…” I spoke and my voice shook. I hated that.

I just wanted to be out of there immediately.

“Can I get your number, then? For a second date?” Vinn’s grip on my wrist remained tight, casual but immovable.

‘I needed to leave.’ This was all I could think of, when my eyes found a glass of water on the table before my brain did, and just as I was about to snatch it and throw it at him, I felt a warm body beside me and a strong arm grabbed Vinn’s wrist.

“She said you should let go of her.” James’ deep voice cut through the restaurant, low and flat.

My stomach flipped the second I heard James’s voice. He actually stood up for me. No one has ever done that for me, and I honestly didn’t know what to do with that feeling.

Vinn’s eyes flicked from the hand on his wrist to James’ face. The hatred in his eyes wasn’t hidden. It was bare, ugly, and locked on James like he’d been waiting long for this moment.

Did they know each other before now? I was curious.

“And who the hell are you to butt in?” Vinn spat, his jaw tightening.

He looked like he was about to slam James across the restaurant.

James didn’t back down either.

They were at each other’s throats and I wanted to disappear. Humiliation crawled under my skin. Looking at James that moment was impossible. He’d see it. The shame and disgust I was feeling.

“Last I checked, she’s my damn date,” Vinn continued. His voice was deadly. Territorial. Possessive. “Mind your business and fuck off.”

“And if I don’t?” James didn’t let go of Vinn’s wrist. There was a small, deadly smile on his lips. “What the hell are you going to do about it?”

Can Mother Earth just open up and swallow me up and at least, put an end to this humiliation ritual?