16. Amelia

Amelia (We Can’t be Friends by Ariana Grande)

I’m not the one going on a date so tell me why I’m in Everett’s room, seated on his bed, watching his every move.

He’s changed outfits like three times now.

Three.

This guy is too eager for this date thing!

I mean, fine, I told him to go... but why is he so excited? His excitement irritates me.

Is it that he hasn’t noticed that I haven’t been myself since Sunday or is he blind?

“Which one should I wear?” He asks, turning toward me with two T-shirts held up.

One is black. The other is dark green.

I stare at them for approximately two seconds.

“I don't know.”

“This one, then.” He picks the black one and tosses it onto the edge of his bed.

My brows draw together.

I feel like stomping on it... or soaking it in water—hell, I fell like throwing all his clothes in a running bathtub! Or should I deflate his tires?

Fuck, Amelia, get a grip.

For straight six days now, I’ve been convincing myself: He’s not your boyfriend, Amelia. You’re in a fake relationship with him. He can choose to do whatever he likes.

But then… even at that, I haven’t been myself... I don’t know what’s wrong with me... or maybe I do and I’m just...

He told me that during the course of our deal, I must remain exclusive to him, so... isn’t he supposed to be exclusive to me too?

Oh, shit. I forgot. I was the one who forced him to go on the date.

“You’re coming back home tonight, right?” I suddenly ask, fisting my hands at my sides.

“Hmm—”

Hmm what? Don’t tell me he’s seriously thinking about his response.

“Why? You want me to come home?”

“You know what? Forget I asked.” I climb down his bed and march out of his room.

But as I make past him, I can swear he has a smirk on.

Wicked man!

“Of course, I am, Hart.” He responds just as I slam his door.

My steps falter but soon, I shut my door shut and get under the covers.

“Fuck you, Everett.”

A couple of minutes later, I hear a knock on the door.

He’s come to say he’s leaving...

“Maid!”

Spencer?

My brows furrow and I hurry to open the door.

“We’ve run out of groceries. Everett said he’ll take you to the supermarket on his way out.” He munches on the pack of peanuts in his hand, “he’s waiting downstairs. Get dressed ASAP—don’t keep him late for his date.”

My blood boils.

“Got it.” I force out and slam the door in his face.

“Don’t forget to get condoms!” I hear him yell.

Gross! I grimace, but that’s not what bothers me right now.

He’s downstairs... So now he doesn’t know how to come tell me... Nah, fuck you Everett Griffin.

I throw on an oversized T-shirt, a pair of biker shorts and slides, then grab my phone from the bed.

For some unknown reason, my mind drifts back to the first night I spent here.

Ethan's T-shirt...

Christ.

This guy now lives rent-free in my head.

Hmph.

 I head downstairs at once.

“Where is he?” I glance around.

“Outside. In the truck.” Harper responds from the couch.

The boys are playing Call of Duty.

I tut and head out.

Grumpily, I get in the passenger’s side and I fold my hands on my chest.

Rachel Lancaster was in this car on… How have I gone from admiring Rachel to beefing her? I still admire her though... I just...

“Fasten your seatbelt.” Everett’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

I do as told and he starts the vehicle and zooms off.

I glance at him and take a look at his outfit. Black fitted T-shirt, dark-wash jeans, clean white sneakers, leather wristwatch… and his hair is slightly tousled, and he has his signature subtle cologne emitting from his body.

He’s all dressed up, but it’s not for me.

“What? You wanna snack on me?”

He throws a sideways glance at me and I look away immediately.

“You wish.”

The truck falls into complete silence.

“You’ve been giving me an attitude of late. Why is that?” Everett asks, breaking the silence.

So, he noticed.

“No, I haven’t.” I Iie.

He doesn’t say anything in response.

Soon, we arrive at The Greens, but Everett simply drives past the grocery store.

“Wait! You’re supposed to drop me here.” I frown as I protest.

“We’ll do the shopping together on our way back. It’s late and I can’t bear to leave you alone...”

My heart warms. He cares about me... Everett still cares about me. I smile.

That might not last for long though... as all his care will soon be given to only Rachel. Huff.

“So, you want me to, what, be the third wheel on your date?”

He shrugs. “You don’t have to sit at our table... better still, you can stay back in the truck.”

I blink speechlessly at him. But I remain silent.

This man is intentionally getting on my nerves. I know this from how the corner of his mouth is lifted in a smirk.

Not long after, we arrive at Olive Dining.

Hm, how considerate. They settled for a restaurant between Gladdis and Pitchers.

Huff. I’ve never been here before.

Everett turns off the engine and opens the door to exit the car.

“I'm staying here. Just leave the windows down.” I mutter.

He glances at me, scoffs and leaves the car.

Wait, what?

I watch him walk round the truck, and then he pulls open the passenger side door.

My brows furrow.

Wordlessly, he takes my hand and helps me down to the ground.

“What are you doing? I don’t want to go in there.”

I’m already jealous as it is—don’t make me go through more torture, please. My eyes glisten.

Yet, Everett ignores me. He holds my hand firmly and calmly leads the way inside the restaurant.

Upon entering, we're greeted by the warm aroma of grilled food and herbs. The restaurant is cozy without being stuffy, with soft amber lights hanging above wooden tables and quiet music playing somewhere in the background.

Everett stops for a second to survey the area and soon, he’s moving again, with me trailing closing behind. His hand is still wrapped around mine.

My head is an absolute fucking mess right now.

We eventually reach a table tucked farther inside the restaurant.

And there she is.

Rachel.

She’s already seated, looking effortlessly beautiful.

Her long, dark hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders, framing a delicate face with full lips and bright, expressive eyes. She’s dressed simply but somehow manages to look like she belongs on the cover of a magazine.

Pretty, much.

 “Hi. I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting.” Everett’s voice is warm and pleasant to the ears.

“Hello. Oh no, I was here early.” Rachel flashes a charming smile as she stands up.

Her eyes trail down to our joined hands.

I shift on my feet but I don’t pull away. In fact, I almost give his hand a squeeze.

Yes, he’s mine. Even if he isn’t... but that’s not the point.

She immediately looks away and embraces Everett.

After they disengage, she smiles at me, “hello, Amelia.”

“Hi.” I force out, swallowing.

“Let’s sit.” Rachel gestures.

However…

“Actually, we won’t be staying.”

Rachel's smile falters. “What?”

Everett looks at her calmly.

“I came to clear something up. I'm not your secret admirer.”

“!!!” My head snaps towards him.

He continues before Rachel can speak. “And I have a girlfriend.”

His eyes find mine and his expression is so soft. “Her.”

My breath catches.

“Amelia Hart.”

“So, I apologize, but I can’t stay for this date.”

All this while, I remain frozen on the spot, my head completely blank.

Before I can get a grip of myself, Everett has turned and is tugging me out of the restaurant.

Soon, we reach the vehicle. He helps me get in and we’re on our way back home.

To say I’m shocked is an understatement.

Everett turned Rachel Lancaster down!

For… me?

“Don’t worry. I’ll do the shopping, you can rest here.” He mutters as he turns off the car engine after we arrive at The Greens.

I watch his retreating form as he walks off and disappears inside the grocery store.

Everett… is this still a deal? You’re making me go insane.

A while later, he exits the store and approaches, carrying shopping bags.

“Here,” he pokes a straw in a bottle of chocolate drink and hands it to me as he settles behind the steering wheel.

My favorite.

He knows...?

I take it silently and sip.

Soon, we resume our silent ride home.

I stare out the window, the bottle of chocolate drink resting between my hands.

This man turned Rachel down, called me his girlfriend... and for the first time, I’m so terrified that I might actually want him to mean it. That I might actually want this deal to be real.