Strip

“Don’t you people have anything that goes down a little lower? Like close to her knees?” he asked the attendant sharply.

“We certainly do, sir.”

“Let her try those instead.”

Sarah knitted her brows in confusion, though she kept her mouth shut. Deep down, she agreed the short dresses were pretty, but she was completely unaccustomed to wearing anything so revealing in public.

She walked back inside with the attendant. When she emerged again, she was wearing wide-leg baggy trousers and a chic cropped sweater.

He offered a firm nod. “That looks great. Next one.”

“I’m tired already,” she pouted, crossing her arms.

He nodded back coolly. “Try five more, and then you can call it quits.”

She let out a soft groan but complied. A short while later, they were standing at the register. Blake swiped a sleek black card, and the machine chimed instantly. A long receipt was printed and handed to him.

He tossed the receipt onto the counter and collected the heavy shopping bags from the attendant. Taking an additional gift bag she handed over, he turned and walked out of the boutique.

She followed close behind, a tiny, unstoppable smile touching the corners of her lips as she trailed him.

He stowed the bags securely in the trunk before opening her door. She climbed in, and he got into the driver’s side, starting the engine and speeding onto the smooth highway in complete silence.

“You’re driving like you actually know where my workplace is,” Sarah chimed in, breaking the quiet.

“Maybe I do.”

“How did you even find out?”

“Cut down on the questions. I’m trying to drive.”

“You just want me to stop asking.”

“Maybe.”

She pouted, pulling out her phone and tapping away at the screen to distract herself.

The car gradually slowed down, making her look up. They were parked directly in front of her cafe.

“You really *do* know the exact place!”

“Yeah. I kind of stumbled upon you here once. What’s your position?”

“Sales supervisor. Evening shift.”

“I’ll be back here by eight to pick you up.”

“You really don’t have to do that! We don’t exactly have an audience here. But yeah, I do close at eight…… good guess.”

“I don’t need an audience. Run along, Butterfly—you’re almost late.”

She checked her watch, gasped upon realizing he was right, gave him a quick wave, and rushed inside the building.

Blake started to remind her about the shopping bags still sitting in the trunk, but he thought better of it, pulled back onto the road, and drove off.

Sarah signed into her shift, and the evening passed in a blur. The cafe was packed with customers trooping in and out, leaving her with zero time to process the chaotic events of her day as she took order after order.

Finally, eight o'clock arrived, and the cafe officially closed its doors. After finishing up the cleaning alongside her coworkers, she grabbed her purse, ready to head home.

One of her female colleagues ran straight up to her, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Sarah! A literal white Ferrari and an insanely hot guy are waiting for you outside!” she squealed. “How on earth did you meet him?! Who is he?!”

The outburst instantly drew the attention of the rest of the staff, who all turned to stare at Sarah in complete shock.

“Thank you,” Sarah muttered quickly, slipping past them and heading straight out the front door.

Blake was leaning casually against the sleek frame of his car, scrolling through his phone as he waited for her.

“Hi, Blake. You actually came.”

She walked toward him, taking in the sight of him in one long, quiet breath.

“I told you I would. Hop in.” He pulled the passenger door open for her. She slid inside, and he shut it securely before walking around to the driver's seat and pulling out into traffic.

“How was work?” he asked, attempting small talk.

“Work was good, though there were way too many customers.”

He offered a sympathetic nod. “Sorry about that,” he murmured softly.

The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence as she directed him through a series of turns until the car idled in front of a modest, modern house.

She unbuckled her seatbelt. “Thanks for the ride.”

He killed the engine, stepped out, opened the trunk, and pulled out all the shopping bags.

“Here,” he said, handing them over to her.

She smiled softly, taking the heavy handles into her hands. “Thank you for today. I really appreciate it. The 'fake girlfriend' package sure comes in handy.”

A faint smile touched his lips as she waved goodbye and walked toward her front porch. Blake climbed back into the driver's seat, rolling the window down before calling out to her.

“Go inside where I can see you. I’ll drive off after you’re safely indoors.”

She headed inside, aware of his steady gaze on her back until she disappeared down the hallway. He let his eyes linger on the door for a moment longer before finally driving away.

Sarah stepped into her apartment. As she approached her bedroom, she could hear hushed laughter and conversation coming from inside.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. She knew for a fact she had locked her bedroom door, yet it was standing completely wide open now.

Shaking her head, she stepped across the threshold.

Shaking her head, she stepped across the threshold.

“Bunny! If you’re going to break into my house, at least lock the door after your break-in!” she shouted, kicking off her sneakers and slipping into a comfortable pair of house slippers.

Bunny came sprinting out of the bedroom, headed straight for the glossy shopping bags in Sarah's hands.

“You guys went shopping?! On day one of the relationship?! I am so jealous!” Bunny fanned her face dramatically with her hands.

Sarah’s eyes went wide as she collapsed heavily onto the bed. “What are you even doing in my house?!”

“I was waiting for you to get home!” Bunny answered instantly, dumping out the contents of the shopping bags and scattering the designer clothes all over the duvet.

“Oh my god! I love this dress! It would look incredible on me!” she gasped, holding the short spaghetti-strap dress up against her body to inspect it.

“I’m exhausted, Bunny. I need to wash up and sleep.” Sarah pushed herself up from the bed and began walking toward the bathroom, pausing at the doorway. “And don’t you dare wear any of those clothes before I do! That is my fake-relationship hazard pay, at the very least!”

Bunny waved a hand nonchalantly, completely absorbed in admiring the fabrics.

Sarah took a long, steaming shower. Wrapping herself in a plush towel, she stepped back into her bedroom, changed into simple pajamas, and climbed onto the bed beside Bunny, who had neatly folded the clothes back into their bags and placed them inside the wardrobe.

“Hey, those clothes are honestly stunning. You’re definitely wearing one of them tomorrow. I’m positive this whole 'fake' thing is going to become very real the moment you step out of your stupid comfort zone,” Bunny said, her eyes glued back to her phone screen