“I don’t think that would be smart.”

“Why not?” I asked, sounding and looking like the picture of innocence.

Pearl gave me a dirty look–a look I didn’t mind at all. “Because this big fake relationship is the only thing standing between me and a mouth-breather named Landon or a dozen other guys like him. Guys my parents will think are perfect for me and won’t stop shoving in my face.”

“So… You’re saying you need me?”

“You didn’t seem this obnoxious when we met six months ago.”

“I was on my best behavior. You know how it is. Those early days of dating are the most important. Besides, you kind of threw up on me before I had a chance to really let my true colors show.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said, almost to herself. “We don’t have to like each other. We don’t even have to talk when we’re alone. ” She raised her eyebrows, gave me a tight-lipped smile, and plugged her ears up with headphones.

“Alright,” I said, standing and stretching. “But I need a shower.”

“What?” she asked, tugging her earbud out, clearly annoyed.

“I said I need a shower.” I pointed to the frosted glass door beside our bed. For reasons I couldn’t fathom, they’d made the door to the bathroom out of frosted glass like the kind you’d use on a shower door. It would do about as good at providing privacy as a thong, and I was going to enjoy amusing myself with the setup. The door was right beside the bed, meaning Pearl could see just about everything in the bathroom except into the shower. For that, she’d have to get up and walk to the foot of the bed.

For a moment, I thought she was going to curse at me or loudly proclaim she was leaving. That was what I’d expected, at least. Instead, she chose a different strategy. She pretended not to give a shit.

Bold choice, Peal.

I gave her one last look, still halfway expecting to call her bluff and watch her rush out of the room in annoyance. Instead, she lifted her phone and started idly flicking her finger across the screen. The only hint that she was far less calm and unconcerned than she was letting on was the moment she lifted her eyes to mine and quickly darted them back to the screen.

I stripped off my suit jacket, stared unbuttoning my shirt, and kicked off my shoes. A few seconds after I’d closed the “frosted” glass behind me, I was in my birthday suit and the shower water was running. Her shape on the bed was a dark smudge, but I didn’t miss when her head turned my way more than a few times.

Once the water was hot, I stepped in and got to cleaning my already clean body.

I ran my hands through my hair, wondering what the hell I was doing, exactly. Was I trying to punish her? Was I pissed that she was trying to pretend that kiss hadn’t been fucking insane? She had to have felt it, too. That kind of thing wasn’t one-sided. You didn’t get a kiss like that from only one participant, and we both knew it.