Fake Dating My Rockstar Roommate: A Sweet Standalone Romance (Fake Dates Book 3)

by Maggie Dallen

  What was she feeling about tonight?

  “Toby, I’ve got to…” He didn’t even finish. He left Toby waiting in the kitchen as he followed her to her room, knocking softly, and turning the knob when she called for him to come in.

  He found her still dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, cross-legged on her bed with her laptop in her lap. She snapped it shut quickly, but it was the blush in her cheeks that had his brows arching in curiosity.

  “What are you up to?” he asked. A smile tugged at his lips despite everything. She was so dang cute when she was being secretive.

  “Nothing…” She toyed with the laptop’s edge. “Just…” She cleared her throat. “I was thinking that you were right.”

  He tried not to show his shock. “I was?”

  She nodded. “About a lot of things. For one…” Her gaze lifted to meet his. “I do want to own my own shop.”

  He smiled, his heart clenching tight with pride. “Then that’s what you should do.”

  Her answering smile was crooked and uncertain. “You make it sound so easy.”

  “Not easy,” he agreed. “But if anyone can do it, it’s you.”

  Her cheeks pinkened even more. “Thanks.” She glanced down at the laptop. “Unfortunately there isn’t much available.”

  “Then talk to Billy.”

  She blinked up at him. “What?”

  He held his hands up in surrender. “I’ve learned my lesson about trying to fight your battles, and I’m not suggesting you do anything vindictive because that’s just not your style.”

  She gave him a small smile. “Okay, so then what are you saying?”

  He told her what Toby had discovered. “I think, if you make him an offer, he’ll be all too happy to sell you Java Lava’s.”

  She stared at him with wide eyes and parted lips. “Really?”

  He turned back to where he’d left Toby. His manager’s loud voice carried from the kitchen as he talked on the phone. “If you want, I can have Toby talk to him on your behalf. Be the middle man or—”

  “No,” she said quickly. “I can do this. But thank you.”

  He shifted uncomfortably. There was so much he wanted to say, and he had no idea if she'd want to hear any of it. It was easier to focus on talk of business then to address the fact that he’d be leaving her before the weekend was over.

  The thought made his insides fall flat. He cleared his throat and glanced away from her. “I know you don’t want my help, but if you have any issues getting a loan—”

  “I know,” she said quickly. “And thank you.”

  He looked back and her eyes were wet with tears. He frowned. Now that he was looking at her closer he realized her eyes were rimmed with red.

  She’d been crying.

  His heart wrung itself out like a dishrag.

  Had he done that? Had he hurt her already?

  “Are you going to be okay tonight?” he asked.

  She nodded, her smile small and forced. “I think I can handle it.”

  “I know you can.” He took another step into the room and nodded toward the unopened garment bag he’d left over her dresser chair. “You don’t have to wear that if it doesn’t fit or you don’t like it.”

  Her gaze followed his, and for a second, she didn’t respond. “You got me a dress?”

  He scrubbed the back of his neck. He hadn’t been this nervous since he’d asked Jessie to junior prom way back in the day. “You don’t have to wear it.”

  “That’s...that’s…” She smiled up at him. “That’s really thoughtful.”

  He shrugged. “Sometimes it helps to look the part when you need to play a part.”

  She nodded, her smile fading. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  I don’t want you to play the part. I want you to show up there as my girlfriend.

  The words clogged his throat, making his head reel.

  Was that really what he wanted? Yes. But was it selfish to ask for that? Was it best for her?

  He drew in a deep breath. He’d spent countless years taking what he wanted, and now when he finally wanted something real, something good, something that meant more than anything else in the world…

  He couldn’t just take.

  He let out a shaky breath. “You’re gonna do great.”

  She bit her lip. “I just hope your fans aren’t too disappointed when they finally see us together.”

  He froze. “How could they possibly be disappointed?”

  She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks were pink. “I’m not exactly what they’re used to seeing on your arm, you know?”

  He did know, and he had to grit his teeth to keep from telling her just how little any of those relationships meant to him. “They’re going to love you.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “How do you know?”

  Because I love you.

  The words lodged in his brain, ricocheting against his skull like a ping pong ball.

  I love you.

  Oh crap. He loved her.

  He was silent for too long, and she winced, obviously misunderstanding. “Even if I wear a nice, new dress, I’m not the perfect, chic supermodel they’d expect to see with a rockstar like you.”

  “You’re exactly who should be by my side.” His voice was too thick and gravelly.

  He had so much he wanted to say. But would she even want to hear it?

  She scoffed, looking down at the top of her laptop. “I hope you’re right.”

  “Gina.” He took a step in further, even though he heard Toby ending his call. He didn’t have long. “Why wouldn’t my fans want me to date someone like you?”

  He didn’t give her a chance to respond. He had his own emotions that were dying to get out, but first he needed her to know just how perfect she was. For any man.

  For him.

  “You don’t think my fans would want me to be with a woman who’s kind and selfless? You don’t think they’d want me to date someone who makes me smile and laugh more than I have in a decade?”

  Her lips parted again, her eyes impossibly wide.

  “And besides, Gina, it doesn’t matter what my fans want. Not when it comes to you. I’m proud to have you there at my side.”

  As he said it he realized it was true. He’d spent twenty years worrying about what his fans thought. Wondering what his label wanted. Wondering how a woman’s image could benefit his own.

  How had he gone so long living like that?

  “Aston? Buddy?” Toby’s voice drew closer. His time was almost up.

  She got to her feet, setting the laptop aside. For a second he thought she might try and stop him.

  “So just do me a favor, okay?” he said.

  “What’s that?”

  He smiled at her, taking in that sweetheart face, those wide, totally readable eyes, and the unruly curls that tumbled around her shoulders.

  “Just be you tonight.” He swallowed hard. “Because you are perfect.”

  For me, he added mentally. You are perfect for me.

  Toby called out from the other room. “Aston, man, you’d better hurry up if you want to beat the crowd.”

  He appeared behind Aston, his eyes still on his phone. “I know that PR woman helping to throw this event has a handle on the media, but you’ll want me there to help keep it under control.”

  Aston nodded, his gaze fixed on her. “I’ll see you there?”

  Her smile was watery but real. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  She couldn’t miss it because she’d given her word, and she’d never go back on her word. Gina was nothing if not loyal and honest to a fault. She was quite literally the best person he knew.

  And he couldn’t live without her.

  This insight was so sudden and so clear, he walked out her room feeling gutted and slayed and basically like the walking dead.

  He couldn’t live without her. Because he loved her.

  Crazy as it might be, he was in love with his fake girlfriend.

&nb
sp; That was the truth. That was genuinely how he felt. And she deserved to know it. Whether she wanted the same or not, she deserved to know how he felt.

  He almost turned back right then and there but he heard Gina closing her bedroom door behind him. She’d be getting ready for tonight, and Toby was at the end of the hall wearing an expectant look.

  “You ready to put on a show tonight?” Toby asked as they headed toward the door.

  Put on a show?

  No.

  But that wasn’t what this event tonight would be. That wasn’t what these songs he’d been working on were about either.

  This wasn’t about taking what he wanted or showing the world what it wanted to see. It was about being real. For once.

  For her.

  “I’m ready,” he said.

  For the first time in a long time he was going to perform, but he wasn’t going to put on an act. There would be no show. Just the truth.

  He was going to show Gina just exactly how much he loved her.

  Seventeen

  Gina wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to do or say tonight to let Aston know that she had feelings for him.

  She had no idea how she was going to summon up the courage to say, I want you. I want you to stay. I want you in my life. I want to be your girlfriend. For real.

  She’d do it, but first she was here.

  At Java Lava’s.

  In a fancy dress.

  She fidgeted with the deliciously soft silk that clung to her curves. It fit her perfectly, and the style was not at all what she would have picked out for herself, but so very perfect once she put it on.

  A deep red, the dress hugged her curves without making her feel too revealing. Instead, she felt...glamorous. Almost like a celebrity herself.

  She drew in a deep breath and reached for the door handle. Confronting Billy seemed a heck of a lot easier than the talk that was to come with Aston.

  He was hunched over a laptop, his expression one of comical surprise when she strode in.

  His brows lowered. “Gina? What are you doing here?”

  She dropped her purse on the table with a clatter. The shop had just closed so they were alone. “I don’t have a lot of time, so I’m just gonna cut to the chase.” She crossed her arms and met his stare. “I’m here to make a deal.”

  Twenty minutes later, she walked back out, her head held high and Billy already half forgotten.

  It had taken a few minutes for him to realize that she knew just how badly off he was. Once he realized that, he’d crumpled right before her eyes.

  Talk about masks and facades. It had become instantly clear that Billy was nothing but smoke and mirrors as she’d watched all the smarmy false confidence disappear.

  But unlike Aston, when Billy’s walls dropped, she didn’t like what she saw. He was a weak man with a small mind. He was selfish through and through.

  Aston wasn’t. He thought he was because of choices he’d made and the lifestyle he’d pursued. But when all his masks were stripped away, he was good. He was kind. He was understanding. He was generous, and challenging, and supportive.

  He was the man she wanted. And it was high time she told him so.

  She shoved her shoulders back and tilted her chin up high as she marched down the sidewalk toward the library.

  If she caught the attention of the media and crowds outside, she barely noticed. All that paled in comparison to the feat before her.

  She’d only just made it into the lobby when she heard her name being called.

  Samantha cut through the crowd, looking almost unrecognizable with her hair curled and some makeup on. The bright red lipstick and the gorgeous green dress made her a knockout.

  How had Gina never realized how striking she was?

  Samantha tugged her toward the stacks, which was the current ‘backstage’ area. “Gina, I just wanted to say…” Her friend stopped and started and then stopped and started again.

  Gina was already antsy and Samantha’s nerves put her even more on edge. Finally, she gripped Samantha’s arms and met her gaze. “Samantha. Spit it out.”

  Her friend winced and squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m so sorry. I’m the one who sent you that text.”

  It took Gina a solid three seconds to figure out what Samantha was talking about. When it finally registered, she gasped. “That was you?”

  Samantha nodded, peeking at her through one eye. “I’m so sorry.”

  Gina dropped her hands. “Why?”

  “Why?” Samantha repeated.

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “Because it led to…” She waved a hand wildly to encompass the crowded lobby. “All this.”

  Gina nodded, a laugh bubbling up before she could stop it. On instinct, she pulled Samantha into her arms for a quick, hard hug. “Oh Samantha, all this was the best thing to ever happen to me.”

  After a second, Samantha relaxed slightly and lifted one hand to pat her back. “Yeah?”

  “Yes,” Gina said firmly. And it was the truth. No matter what happened when she confronted Aston, this past week had changed everything for her.

  Even if she ended up heartbroken, she at least knew for certain that she would never again settle for someone like Billy.

  She’d never settle for less than she deserved. In love, in work, and even in friendships.

  With that in mind, she leaned back to look at Samantha. “Thank you. Honestly. You were a good friend for telling me the truth about Billy.”

  Samantha’s cheeks were red as she dipped her head. “Oh, I’m so glad you think so. I didn’t know what to do, and I know sending a text wasn’t exactly brave but—”

  “It was perfect,” she said, her smile growing.

  The sound of a commotion behind them had Gina spinning around to face the makeshift stage. The small intimate nature of the event not only kept the expenses down but let them charge a small fortune per ticket.

  It also meant the small library was packed with people.

  All people who stood in the way between her and Aston.

  “I’ve got to go,” she said to Samantha. “I need to catch Aston.”

  But her path was blocked. She spotted her brother in his deputy uniform by the front doors. “Colton, I need to talk to Aston,” she said. “Can you help?”

  He took one look at her pleading eyes and hurried into action, using his uniform and that booming voice of his to help clear a path.

  She was only half aware of the whispers that followed in her wake. And truthfully, they didn’t bother her at all. Her whole life she’d heard whispers and gossip about her father, her family.

  She straightened her shoulders and stood a little taller. Maybe her less-than-awesome family history actually made her the perfect type of woman to be by Aston’s side.

  The thought gave her courage, and when she spotted Vanessa and Addison in the crowd, they gave her another boost with their encouraging smiles.

  They believed in her. Colton and Trent believed in her.

  But Aston...well, he’d helped her to believe in herself. And that was the most precious gift she’d ever been given.

  Trent spotted them from the front of the crowd and moved toward them to help get her to the front.

  But they were too late.

  Just as she reached the front row of folding chairs, Aston stepped out onto the makeshift stage.

  It was actually the area of the children’s section where the librarian sat to read to the children. Seeing Aston up there about to perform so that more kids could be read to and learn and have a safe space…

  Her eyes welled with tears even as her heart swelled with pride.

  His charming grin was...well, charming. But it wasn’t fake. She didn’t need to be up close to know that he was being genuine up there. And when his gaze drifted over the audience and landed on her, she froze.

  His gaze seemed to hold her in place with its heat and intensity.

  For a second it was like there were just the two o
f them there in this room.

  “Thanks so much for having me,” Aston said, dragging his gaze away from her to address the crowd. He launched into a speech about all the good this library had done and all it could go on to do with the help of the fine people in the audience.

  It was a nice speech. A genuine speech. And she knew for certain she wasn’t the only one touched by how seriously he was taking his job here tonight.

  There was an occasional flash from a camera or a phone, and she knew somewhere someone was filming this. Toby and Vanessa had been strict on who could cover this show and how it could be released.

  But none of that mattered now. She didn’t care at all that he was in the public eye. That his life—and anyone who was in it—would have to deal with the downsides of his fame along with the benefits.

  All that mattered was him.

  If he’d have her.

  She was only half listening, too focused on what she was going to say to Aston when his performance ended, that she nearly missed it when he changed the topic...to her.

  “For me, this library is special for one reason.” He cast a sweet smile her way. “As many of you know, one of your residents has won my heart, so any place that is special to her is special to me.”

  Her heart nearly burst with emotions, but she clamped her lips together tightly as every eye and camera turned in her direction.

  This was for show, that was all. This was all part of the show.

  “The thing is…” He softly strummed his guitar on stage. It was a nervous habit and it had her insides roiling in response. Why was he suddenly nervous? Performing was what he did.

  Putting on an act was second nature to him.

  He cleared his throat and this time his gaze collided with hers. “The thing is, the real story with me and Gina isn’t at all what you’ve read.”

  Her lips parted in surprise. What was he doing? Through the blood rushing past her ears she was dimly aware that Colton and Trent were bookending her in a protective stance and that the crowd was whispering loudly now.

  “I have fallen for Gina Parker,” he said, still meeting her gaze. “But not like you all think.”

  Her heart slammed against her ribcage as her lungs hitched.

  She was dreaming. This had to be a dream.

  “You see, I didn’t know Gina until the night of the concert,” He said. “And I didn’t write that first song for her.”