Rule #6: You Can't Fall for Your Fake Summer Fling: A Standalone Sweet High School Romance (The Rules of Love)

by Anne-Marie Meyer

  He glanced up at me. “You’ve never been in love?”

  Heat permeated my cheeks as I shook my head. “No.”

  The smile on his lips was soft. Like he thought what I’d just said was adorable. “Well, you think that I’m the greatest thing that has ever walked the Earth. You can’t wait to be touched by me. To talk to me.”

  I swallowed. It sounded nice, doing those things. And if I were honest with myself, I kind of wanted to do all of them.

  “And you’ll do that for me?” I asked, wanting to make sure that he didn’t just want another girl to fawn over him.

  He raised his gaze up to study me. “Yes,” he said. His expression stilled, as if he were wanting me to feel the weight of what he’d just said.

  That set my heart galloping. My mouth went dry. Great. This was off to an amazing start. I was already freaking out at just talking about touching. How was I going to handle actual touching?

  Man, I was in trouble.

  “Rule number two…” He lifted his finger to his lips as he thought.

  His pink, full lips. The ones that I couldn’t help but stare at. What did they feel like? What did Cayden taste like?

  When he didn’t continue, I glanced up to see Cayden watching me. His lips tipped up into a smile as he pulled back. “Why are you staring at me?” he asked.

  My whole body flushed with heat. He’d caught me, and I couldn’t think of any way to get out of this.

  I shrugged as I glanced down to pick some nonexistent lint from my dress. “I wasn’t staring,” I said, but my voice gave me away. I was a terrible liar.

  He turned his phone off and set it next to him. “I think I know when a girl is staring at me.” He leaned closer. “Were these what you were staring at?” He puckered his lips, and of course, my gaze dipped down to them.

  Frustrated, I turned away and wrapped my arms around my chest. I felt so vulnerable. Like all the control I’d worked so hard to cultivate was slowly slipping from my grasp. How was I going to answer Cayden? Was I supposed to tell him that there hadn’t ever been a guy in my life who’d wanted to kiss me?

  In the past, I’d been okay with my single status. I’d been fine with the fact that there weren’t any guys in my life—not even Dad. But here, facing a guy who had probably kissed half of Hollywood, it made me feel raw.

  A warm hand settled on my arm. Cayden had scooted closer and was staring down at me.

  “You can tell me,” he said in a tone of voice that I’d never heard from him before. It was soft and genuine and sent shivers down my back.

  I dropped my gaze to my lap, wanting to trust him. Wanting to finally allow someone into my crazy, chaotic life. I’d spent so long building walls, I wondered what it would feel like to let one down.

  “But…” I started, and my throat closed. It was as if my body was trying to protect me. It knew I was opening myself up to getting hurt. I’d been so broken ever since Dad left that I’d never allowed anyone in.

  When I glanced over at him again and saw the earnestness in his gaze, I parted my lips and forced out the words that my mind was screaming at me not to say.

  “I’ve never dated anyone.” My voice was so quiet that Cayden leaned in.

  “What?” he asked.

  I cleared my throat and tried again. “I’ve never had a boyfriend and I’ve never been kissed.”

  As the last word left my lips, Cayden’s gaze dropped down to my mouth. His eyebrows rose as his gaze roamed my face before settling on my eyes.

  He shook his head. “I find that hard to believe.”

  Confused, I studied him. “Why?”

  His gaze softened as he reached up to tuck my hair behind my ear. “You’re beautiful and funny. Guys would have to be blind and stupid to not see that.”

  My whole body went numb as his words washed over me. For a moment, I was paralyzed. My body needed time to process what he’d said. And then the thought that he might be joking hit me like a punch to the gut. Why would he kid at a time like this?

  I turned away from him as I wrapped my arms around my stomach. “That’s not funny,” I said.

  Cayden fell silent. Then, he reached out to press his fingers to my chin. The slight pressure caused me to glance up and meet his gaze.

  “I wasn’t being funny.” His voice was low and gruff.

  I blinked a few times as the seriousness of his tone registered with me. “I…” I swallowed. “Why?”

  His brows furrowed as he moved his hand to cradle my cheek. His thumb ran over my lips. “You’re beautiful, Scarlett Lamoroux.”

  My heart was pounding so hard that I could hear it in my ears. I wanted to say he was joking. I wanted to convince myself that he was acting. But the depth of his gaze and the seriousness of his tone told me that wasn’t true.

  Cayden Rivers thought I was beautiful.

  I don’t know why, but tears filled my eyes. I felt stupid for getting so emotional over this. I didn’t need anyone’s approval. Sure, I was quirky and weird, but I was okay with that. I’d spent most of my life figuring that I probably wouldn’t find someone who liked me for me. And I thought I’d come to terms with it. The fact that it was now staring me in the face made me emotional.

  Cayden seemed to appreciate what I had to offer…and, well, that felt strange. But strange enough to cry over?

  Man, I felt so ridiculous.

  I forced a relaxed smile as I straightened and blinked to get my tears to disappear. It took a few seconds, but I got control over my emotions.

  Cayden leaned back, noting that I needed a moment to calm myself down.

  I patted my cheeks and took a few deep breaths. Once I was put together, I glanced over at him and smiled. “Sorry about that,” I said, grateful that my voice decided to find itself and came out confident and assured.

  Cayden’s genuine smile emerged. “Of course.”

  I rolled my shoulders and tipped my face towards the sky. Thankfully, I was 100% back to normal.

  I waved toward his phone. “Rules,” I said.

  Cayden reached over and grabbed his phone. After turning it on, he found where he’d been writing and raised his finger. “Any rule you would like written down?”

  I chewed my lip as I thought. “Should we maybe discuss our breakup? You don’t want to be tied to me forever.”

  He glanced up at me and held my gaze for a moment. Then he nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. We should probably discuss that.”

  I tapped my finger against my lips. “We don’t want you to do anything that ruins the image we worked so hard to create. So I’m thinking after a few weeks I…cheat on you?” I glanced over at him to gauge his reaction.

  “Wow. All the way to cheating?”

  I reached out and whacked his shoulder. “I don’t know. I’ve never done this. How else would we break up?” All I could think of were the celebrity breakups that Michelle would read to me. Most of them involved a relationship with their current co-star.

  Cayden just chuckled. “We could break up due to irreconcilable differences, but no, you went all the way to cheating.” He glanced up at me through his ridiculously long eyelashes. “That’s dark, Scar.”

  I folded my arms as I shot him a scowl. “Okay. An amicable split,” I said.

  He nodded and typed it out. When he finished, he glanced up at me again. “Anything else?”

  I shook my head and then stopped. “We have to promise not to fall for each other.” I meant it as a joke, but from the serious expression that crossed Cayden’s face, I almost wished I could take it back.

  He sucked in his breath and shook his head. “I’m not sure I can promise that,” he said, drawing out every syllable like he wanted me to cling to his every word.

  The world around me slowed as Cayden leaned in, holding my gaze like it was a life raft.

  “You can’t?” I asked as my mouth took on a mind of its own and leaned in to Cayden. My mind felt murky, and the only thing that was crystal clear was that I wanted to kiss Cayd
en.

  He shook his head as he dropped his gaze to my lips. “I can’t promise that after a few weeks, one of us won’t be irrevocably, undeniably smitten with the other.”

  My whole body stilled. The only thing I could see was Cayden, and I couldn’t deny my feelings for him. “Really?” I asked.

  He nodded. Then, he dipped forward until we were cheek to cheek. His lips inches from my ear. I shivered at his closeness. My body yearned for his touch.

  “I’m just that irresistible.”

  My body slammed into the present at his words. The rush from pure warmth to annoyance left me with whiplash.

  He laughed and pulled back, shooting me his Cayden Rivers smile as he slipped his phone into his pocket.

  I let out a “har, har,” as I unfolded my legs out from under me and stood. I shot him my best that wasn’t funny glare as I shoved his shoulder.

  He shrugged as he reached up and grabbed my hand. Then, as he wrapped his fingers around mine, he leaned in. “Rule number one,” he said. His breath was warm on my ear.

  Even though all I wanted to do was pull away, to get some distance between us, I didn’t.

  One, because I’d made a promise to help Cayden. And two, and this was deep, deep down there…I didn’t want to.

  Chapter Eleven

  Thankfully, for the next few hours, Cayden and I kept the conversation light. It helped that he knew just about everyone there. All the partygoers were eager to either clap him on the back—the guys—or fawn over him while batting their eyelashes—the girls. No one seemed to really notice I was standing next to him until he pointed me out.

  Then I got a quick hello before they focused their attention back on Cayden.

  I wandered off during a particularly heated conversation between Cayden and Tommy about something that happened while they were on a set in Italy last year. As much as I tried to not let it bother me, hearing about all the girls that Tommy claimed they’d “conquered” really wasn’t what I called fun.

  Plus, I hated it when Cayden had his signature smile on. It was so fake and forced that it frustrated me to see it.

  I liked Cayden. That was it. I didn’t need all this other stuff that went with Cayden Rivers.

  While I was filling a plate full of tiny little finger foods, there was a loud whoop and everyone in the party turned. I glanced over to see Rosalie Pink walk in.

  Now, I didn’t really know who she was besides being Cayden’s co-star, but from the way she literally glided into the room, I was pretty sure she was the belle of the ball. Guys’ jaws were on the floor while girls huffed and rolled their eyes when she walked in.

  I’m pretty sure the only other place I’d seen reactions like that were in the movies. Which was funny to think. I mean, I was literally hanging out with movie stars.

  I felt someone move to stand next to me. I glanced over to see Michelle. She seemed just as transfixed by Rosalie as everyone else in the room.

  “So this is Cayden’s co-star?” I asked as I slipped a pig-in-a-blanket into my mouth.

  Michelle nodded. “Isn’t she elegant?” she asked, peeking over at me.

  I shrugged. Sure. Maybe. What made a person elegant? The way they walked? Talked? Dressed?

  From the way her white satin dress flowed around Rosalie like a cloud, I found myself thinking, yep, elegant.

  “Yeah,” I whispered.

  Michelle linked arms with me as we watched Rosalie greet the crowd. She smiled and nodded at everyone who reached out to her. It felt as if we were in the presence of royalty.

  And then she stopped at Cayden and her smiled changed into something I wasn’t sure I liked. Her skin glowed as she leaned in and kissed Cayden’s cheeks.

  He smiled as he returned the kisses. Then they made their way over to the bar, and Cayden leaned against the counter while Rosalie slipped onto a nearby stool.

  “Wow,” Michelle whispered.

  I snapped my gaze over to her to see that she, too, was studying Cayden and Rosalie. I hesitated, hoping she’d clue me in, but no such luck. Instead, she stood there with pinched lips, staring at Hollywood’s hottest co-stars.

  “Michelle,” I hissed.

  She glanced over at me and a sheepish smile spread across her lips. “I’m sorry.” Then, reading my expression like a book, she covered her mouth with her hand and leaned in. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Just friends chatting.”

  My eyebrows rose as my gaze slipped back to Cayden and the princess of cinema. A very odd and unsettling feeling rose up inside of me. I hated to think that I was actually jealous of Rosalie—but I was.

  I mean, she was standing there, obviously flirting with Cayden. There were a lot of reasons to be jealous.

  One, she knew what she was doing. She didn’t look uncomfortable or completely out of her element. In fact, just the way her hand rested on his arm made me jealous. When I touched Cayden, it felt awkward—like I was trying to be someone I wasn’t.

  Which lead me to reason number two. I was not Cayden’s anything. Being his fake girlfriend meant nothing. From the way Rosalie was leaning into Cayden’s chest and smiling up at him, fake was not how I would describe anything between them. Cayden looked genuinely interested in what she was saying and vice versa.

  They looked perfect together.

  Swallowing down my emotions, I blinked back the tears that were forming on my lids and turned to make a beeline for the door.

  As I neared the exit, I bumped into something, and it wasn’t until icy cold liquid was seeping down my dress that I realized that something was actually a partygoer. Now with a very empty drink.

  I yelped as I rushed past them and out the door. The warm evening air surrounded me, and I slipped into the shadows, the sound of the party muffled as the door shut behind me.

  Desperate to get ahold of my emotions and my spiraling feelings, I leaned against the house and tipped my head back.

  I stared up at the stars—or what I could see of them through the foggy air—and focused on my breathing just like Dr. Nelson had taught me. I was in control. I could handle this.

  There was absolutely no way I was falling for Cayden Rivers. Anything that I thought or felt about him was just hormones. I mean, I was in the presence of the hottest guy in Hollywood. And I am a girl. I have eyes. I know a perfectly symmetrical nose and cheekbones when I see them.

  And Cayden had it all.

  Plus, he was nice. Which just made things worse. I could hate a player. But a kind, generous, patient guy?

  I was rapidly realizing that it was my Kryptonite.

  “You okay?” Cayden’s deep, sexy, and emotion-stirring voice broke through my thoughts.

  Despite my better judgment, I turned to look at him. Those bright, soul-searching eyes broke right through the meager wall I was attempting to put up.

  When did he notice I’d left? I mean, he’d seemed pretty wrapped up in whatever Princess Rosalie was saying. And the fact that he’d known just where to find me made me feel…strange. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I furrowed my brow. “When…how?”

  He shrugged. “You’re my fake girlfriend. It’s my job to keep an eye on you.” He leaned in, his fingers hovering just above my arm. “Are you okay?”

  My mind was swallowed up in his words, but I managed to shrug and motion toward my back. “I’m a bit cooler now,” I said, my voice low.

  His eyebrows knit together as he glanced at my dress. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Cayden asked as he touched my shoulder.

  The feeling of him standing close to me, and the depth of his voice, was doing very strange things to my insides. I felt as if I were having an out-of-body experience.

  It took my breath away.

  “I’m okay,” I whispered. It was as if everything I was feeling had risen to my throat and was competing with my ability to talk.

  Perfect.

  That was just what I needed. Cayden realizing that our fake relationship might not be so fake for me.

  My feelings wer
e rapidly morphing from platonic to something much more.

  His gaze stayed on my face as, from the corner of my eye, I saw him lean in.

  I cleared my throat and stepped forward, breaking our contact.

  There was no way I wanted to act on the feelings I was having. What if I misunderstood his gestures, and everything that I had worked so hard to create in order to protect myself was gone.

  Bye, bye.

  The silence between us was palpable as I stood there with my arms wrapped around my chest, trying to contain my pounding heart. I’d never felt like this for anyone, and it was terrifying me.

  “Are you okay?” Cayden asked. I could feel his worry as he stared at me.

  “I just want to go home,” I said.

  “Are you sure?”

  I tried not to wince at the hurt that was evident in his voice. He sounded sad and worried at the same time.

  “Yeah. I’m just tired, that’s all.”

  He nodded as he pulled out his keys and phone. “Let me text Bryant and let him know.”

  I texted Michelle that I was fine while Cayden texted Bryant. She responded with a sad face, a goofy face, and then a heart-eyes smile. I clicked off my phone and glanced over to see that Cayden was still waiting for a reply. After a few seconds, his phone chimed.

  “Bryant will get a car to drive him and Michelle home.” He slipped his phone into his pocket and shrugged. “I guess you’re stuck with me.”

  I smiled and nodded, hoping he wouldn’t see just how okay I was with that.

  We walked in silence to the valet, who rushed off to get his car. Before I knew it, I was in the passenger seat while Cayden shut my door, rounded the car, and got into the driver’s seat.

  He pulled out of the gate and leaned back, resting his wrist on the steering wheel. Some music carried from the speakers, and Cayden bobbed his head to the beat every so often.

  It was relaxing, sitting here next to Cayden. Maybe it was the party, or the complete lack of control I felt when I was around strangers, but the farther we got from Tommy’s house, the better I felt.

  As the realization of what I’d asked Cayden to do washed over me, I felt like an idiot. “I’m so sorry,” I said.