Chapter 4: Let's do This

Vanessa's POV

"Vanessa, your ride to school is here!" Mom called from downstairs.

I stopped halfway through putting a notebook into my bag.

My ride?

I crossed to the window and pulled the curtain aside.

A black Jeep sat outside our house. Cole leaned against the driver's door in his school uniform, looking entirely too comfortable for someone who had appeared at my home without permission.

I stared at him carefully; he looked good, annoyingly good.

"What the hell are you doing?" I muttered.

"Vanessa!"

"I'm coming!"

I grabbed my bag and went downstairs.

Mom stood in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and the kind of smile that immediately made me suspicious.

"Who is he?"

"Nobody."

"So Mr. Nobody is waiting outside to drive you to school?"

"Apparently."

"Mr. Nobody is handsome."

"Ew, Mom."

"What? I have eyes."

"I can tell him to leave. Dad can take me."

"You will do no such thing."

I stared at her. This was the same woman who wanted the full name, phone number, family history, and probably blood type of anyone who drove me anywhere.

"He came to the door, introduced himself properly, and asked whether he could drive you," she said. "Very respectful."

"What did he say?"

"Ask him."

"Mom."

"Go to school."

"We're just friends."

The word felt inaccurate.

Mom raised one eyebrow. "Of course."

I left before she could embarrass me further.

Cole waved when he saw me.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Good morning to you too."

"How did you get my address?"

"School directory."

"That feels illegal."

"It isn't."

"And what did you tell my mother?"

Cole folded his arms. "That's because I'm charming. Have you seen this smile?"

I hated that he had a point.

"You are unbelievably full of yourself."

"No one needs to tell me that, little bunny. I know."

I stopped. "Excuse me?"

"Little bunny."

"Don't ever call me that again."

His grin widened.

"I'm serious."

"You're also cute when you're angry."

"I am going back inside."

He laughed and opened the passenger door.

I should have stayed annoyed. Unfortunately, his laughter made that difficult.

Once we were on the road, he glanced at me.

"I'm sorry the bunny thing pissed you off."

His voice was different now, stripped of the teasing.

"It's fine. Just don't get comfortable."

"Too late."

I looked out the window so he wouldn't see me smile.

A few minutes passed.

"So, are you in?" he asked.

"In what?"

"The plan."

"You mean your insane idea."

"My brilliant idea."

"I told you I'd think about it."

"And?"

"And then you showed up at my house and somehow charmed my mother."

"I'm still waiting for the answer."

"What did you tell her?"

"That's between me and your mother."

"You are so annoying."

"I know. But if we're doing this, Vanessa, we have to commit."

"To fake dating."

"Yes."

"You keep leaving out the fake part."

"Because saying 'fake girlfriend' every five seconds sounds stupid."

"It is stupid."

"Yet here you are, with me."

I looked down at my hands.

If people believed I was with Cole Grayson, the bullying would probably change overnight.

Nobody wanted to make an enemy of a Grayson.

That was also what frightened me.

"The last popular boy who decided he wanted me turned me into a bet."

Cole's fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

"If everyone finds out this isn't real, you walk away as Cole Grayson. I become a joke again."

"I know."

"No, you don't."

"I know enough." His answer was calm. "I won't let that happen."

"You can't promise that."

"I can promise I won't be the person who does it to you."

That shut me up. "Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"I told you."

"Therapy?"

"Yes."

"But I already promised I wouldn't tell."

"I know."

"So you don't actually need to do this."

He glanced at me briefly. "Maybe I want to."

"Why?"

"You're asking too many questions before eight in the morning."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

I studied his face before exhaling. "Fine."

"Fine what?"

"I'll do it."

His smile appeared immediately.

"But there are rules."

"Of course there are."

"No embarrassing me."

"I would never."

"You sound dishonest."

"I'm offended."

"No making decisions for me."

"Reasonable."

"And no bunny."

He laughed. "Absolutely not."

"Cole."

"I agreed to the important rules."

By the time the school came into view, the amusement had drained out of me.

Cars filled the parking lot as students stood in groups near the entrance.

I rubbed my palms over my jeans.

He parked but didn't open his door. "Vanessa."

"I'm fine."

"You've been staring at the entrance for thirty seconds."

He reached across the console and held out his hand.

I looked at his palm before placing my hand in it.

His fingers closed around mine.

"Breathe, bunny."

I glared at him. "I told you not to call me that."

"And it worked. You're annoyed with me instead of panicking."

I hated that he was right.

"Are you ready?"

People were already noticing his Jeep.

I squeezed his hand once before letting go. "Let's do this."