IT’S NOT REAL

JOSEPH

The idea that Sutton had been burned as a kid and dealt with scars her whole life ... affected me. I could tell that she was hurt. Or had been hurt in the past. Most likely by idiot guys who were too stupid and shallow to see past the marks on the outside of her body and look inside. It didn’t take much work to know that Sutton was smart, driven, ambitious and fucking awesome. She was nothing like I’d always thought she was—an evil fire-starting troll.

So, I sent her a text message the moment she walked through the doors of her apartment building, thanking her for the incredible evening. She responded immediately, and I knew that we were both feeling the same kinds of things. I’d actually enjoyed myself with her, forgetting half the time that I was paying her to do this favor for me.

Our date had felt so natural, not forced in any way. It had been genuine and good.

But it wasn’t, and I needed to remember that.

All of this was a facade, a charade, a game we were playing, where I needed to keep a level head in order to win.

THE NEXT MORNING, I woke up to pictures of Sutton and me all over Page Six, the actual newspaper and online. My phone had blown up overnight, but I’d silenced it. If I didn’t do that each night, I’d never get any sleep.

A text from my mom stood out at the top of my list.

Is this the woman you’ve been dating? She’s quite beautiful. And familiar.

I wanted to say yes, but Sutton still hadn’t officially agreed to attend Social Month with me. We hadn’t signed any contracts or made any arrangements. The last thing I wanted to do was jinx it, so I didn’t respond at all, knowing that I’d have to deal with her wrath later.

When I stepped off the elevator, both my mother and Kayla were waiting for me.

“Not now, Mom.” I tried to wave her off, but she shot me a nasty look.

“I remember where I know her from,” she announced like she was about to win some kind of prize before throwing Kayla an inquisitive look, to which Kayla completely ignored. That girl was the one who deserved a prize.

“Is that so?” I tried to play it cool, but I felt myself grow more than a little nervous. My mom could be scary sometimes.

I blew them both off, continued walking into my office, and sat down at my desk before pulling up my emails, trying to give off the impression that I didn’t have time for this, but my mom refused to let it go. She came right inside and closed the doors behind her.

“It’s Kayla’s friend. Am I right? The redhead?” She cocked her head to one side and waited for my response as my eyes met hers.