“Okay, but what happens if we mess up? If we make a mistake or we aren’t believable? What happens when we’re back at school?”

“You don’t think a week is enough for him to get over it?”

“You really aren’t a people person, are you?”

“We’ll figure it out. You can break up with me when we’re back, and then if Josh makes a move again, I’ll just tell him you broke my heart and I’m not ready.”

“Can’t break what you don’t have,” he quips, not even giving me time to respond. “It’s messy, and you’re going to get caught. So, count me out.”

“I’ll pay you,” I offer.

That makes Wyatt pause. “What did you say?”

“I’ll pay you,” I say again, staring at the worn shirt Wyatt’s wearing, with his frayed jeans and bare feet. He needs a lot of new things, like a new laptop, a new uniform, new clothes, a new phone. Money can get him all those things easily. “I’ll pay you to be my fake boyfriend.”

“You’re lucky I haven’t punched you yet.”

“I’m just offering. You obviously need the money—”

“Oh, I obviously need the money?” He raises his voice, something I don’t think I’ve ever heard him do. Clearly I’ve said the wrong thing. But I can still recover here.

“It’s just to pay you for your time, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Wyatt scoffs, finally stepping away to go back to his desk. “You did. You meant everything by it. And you can find someone else to help you.”

“I don’t have time,” I tell him. “The flight leaves tomorrow.”

“Then you’d better get to work.”

“None of my friends are available,” I tell him. “There is no time. Plus, I need a queer dude who won’t mind holding hands or kissing a guy on the cheek.”

Wyatt turns away from me. “You should still find someone else to help you.”

I lean forward, putting my hands on his desk. “I didn’t mean anything by the money comment, I swear.”

“Well, you can’t always get what you want.”

“I’m on my hands and knees here, Fowler—”

“No, you aren’t,” he says.

“I’ll do it if you want me to.” I’m so desperate that I’m actually considering it.

Wyatt looks away. “I don’t want you to beg. I’m not interested in that.”

“Okay, then … what do you want?”