Nathan is the picture of comfort beside me. He has one hand on my thigh and continues to field questions as Sydney drills him about the basketball team and what it was like winning the NCAA tournament last year. My roommate is either overdoing it to include me and Nathan or she’s a closet hardcore basketball fan.

I, on the other hand, am a nervous wreck. Our agreement has fully sunk in and the fact I agreed to pay him to pretend to be my boyfriend is making me spiral a bit. I know it’s not the same as buying, say a place on the volleyball team or admission to a top university, but using money to solve problems still feels icky. Though, I meant what I said to him. It’s nice to give money to someone who actually needs it instead of to people who just need to buy a third vacation home.

Nathan’s big hand rests on my bare leg. He’s got these big, powerful, long fingers that really work for me.

“Anybody need another drink. Nathan?” Shaw asks and takes one step toward the house.

Nathan shakes his head.

Shaw gives him a confused look. “You’ve been milking that same beer for the last hour.”

“Keeping tabs on me?” he asks and then follows it up with, “I’m not drinking much anymore.”

Shaw laughs. “Riiight.”

“Really?” I can’t keep the surprise out of my tone. The way he drank the night we met, the tolerance, the fact he was carrying a freaking flask, I had him pegged for a total party guy.

“It’s a recent development,” he admits, looking a little embarrassed. Then, with a sexy smirk, he leans in. “One too many mornings waking up naked to some crazy girl kicking me out of her place.”

He’d said it just to me, but Shaw must have been listening because he pipes in, “Beer goggles. I so get that, my man. I’ve woken up next to some real dogs. You too, huh?”

Without taking his eyes from me, Nathan shakes his head. “Nah, my beer goggles have just as perfect vision as I do.”

“Awww,” Sydney squeals with delight. I don’t glance around but I know everyone is watching us.

I crowd his space, my chest pressed against his shoulder and my lips at his ear so to everyone else it looks like a sweet, private moment. “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t we?”

He turns his head and brushes his lips against mine. “Learn to take a compliment, Chloe. I’m the type of fake boyfriend who likes to give them.”

I let out a shaky breath once he turns back to face the group. This fake dating thing is going to be tricky.

Shaw leaves and comes back juggling seven cups of beer, which he hands out. Everyone takes one despite no one speaking up when he asked.