Kat’s POV
“What?” The word explodes from my mouth like a gunshot, loud enough to make heads turn throughout the coffee shop.
My hands fly to my face, heat burning through my cheeks as curious stares focus on our table. Nate leans forward, his voice dropping to an urgent whisper.
“I know how that sounded, but hear me out before you think I’ve completely lost my mind.”
I pull my hand away from his, wrapping both hands around my coffee cup like it’s a lifeline.
“Nate, I can’t… I mean, we’re friends, but I don’t—”
“It would be fake,” he interrupts, his brown eyes intense and focused. “A fake relationship. For both our benefits.”
The coffee shop noise fades to white static. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
“Fake dating,” he repeats, glancing around to make sure no one is listening. “Look, I know it sounds insane, but think about it. You’re getting eaten alive here socially, right? The whispers, the stares, the way people treat you like you’re some kind of scandal waiting to happen?”
My cheeks burn with humiliation because he’s absolutely right. “I don’t need your pity, Nate.”
“It’s not a pity,” he says firmly, his hand slamming down on the table hard enough to make my coffee cup jump.
“It’s a strategy. If you’re dating me, suddenly you have social protection. I’m popular here, I’m well-liked, and I’m definitely not my brother. People will see you differently if you’re with me.”
“And what exactly do you get out of this brilliant arrangement?” I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “The pleasure of my company?”
Nate’s expression grows more serious, and for a moment, I catch a glimpse of something calculating in his eyes.
“I get to look like I’m not just another hockey player looking for a quick hookup. I get to be seen with someone intelligent, talented, accomplished. Someone who makes me look good.”
“Gee, thanks,” I mutter. “I’m so flattered to be your prop.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he says quickly, reaching across the table to grab my wrist. “Look, Kat, I like you. I genuinely do. But I’m also being honest about the benefits here. You need protection from the social chaos of this place, and I need to improve my image. We both get something out of it.”
I stare at him, trying to process what he’s suggesting. His grip on my wrist is firm, almost demanding.
“This is insane. People don’t actually do this outside of romance novels.”
“Are you kidding? Half the relationships at this school are strategic,” Nate laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “At least we’re being honest about it upfront.”
“And your brother?” I ask, the question slipping out before I can stop it. “What about Liam?”
Something flickers across Nate’s face—anger, determination, something darker. “What about him?”
“He already hates me. If I’m dating his brother, that’s only going to make things worse.”
“Or it might make him back off,” Nate says thoughtfully, his eyes lighting up with an idea I don’t like.
I take a long sip of my coffee, buying time to think.
The rational part of my brain is screaming that this is a terrible idea, but the part of me that’s exhausted from a week of whispered conversations and hostile stares is actually considering it.
“This is ridiculous,” I say finally.
Nate leans forward, his voice becoming more persuasive, more intense.
“Think about it practically. We already get along well. We have fun together. We’d just be… emphasizing our friendship for public consumption.”
“Emphasizing,” I repeat flatly. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
“We’d hold hands in public, sit together at lunch, go to school events together. Nothing more than that unless we both wanted to.”
I feel my resolve wavering. The idea of having someone in my corner, someone who could shield me from the worst of the social scrutiny, is tempting. More than tempting.
“And what happens when we ‘break up’?” I ask, using air quotes with my free hand. “Won’t that just create more drama?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Nate says, but his answer feels evasive. “Maybe we’ll have a mutual, amicable split. Maybe we’ll just naturally drift apart.”
I study his face, looking for tells. He’s hiding something, but then again, aren’t I hiding things too? We all have our secrets, our ulterior motives.
“This is insane,” I say again, but with less conviction than before.
“Sometimes insane is exactly what you need,” Nate says softly, his thumb stroking across my wrist. “Kat, I’ve watched you this week. You’re talented, smart and funny, but you’re walking around this place like you’re waiting for someone to throw you out. This could give you the confidence to be yourself.”
I look around the coffee shop, noting the groups of students laughing together, the easy camaraderie that I’ve been excluded from since arriving.
The loneliness I’ve been trying to ignore all week suddenly feels overwhelming.
“There would have to be rules,” I say slowly, and Nate’s face lights up with triumph.
“Of course. Whatever you want.”
“No kissing unless absolutely necessary for the charade,” I say firmly. “And I mean absolutely necessary.”
“Agreed.”
“No lying to our friends about what this really is. If Sophie asks me directly, I’m not going to lie to her.”
“Fair enough. Though maybe we don’t volunteer the information unless asked directly?”
I nod reluctantly. “And the moment this becomes uncomfortable for either of us, we call it off. No questions, no guilt trips.”
“Deal,” Nate says immediately. “Anything else?”
“Your brother,” I say, and Nate’s expression grows wary. “I don’t want to be used as ammunition in whatever weird competition you two have going on.”
“That’s not what this is about,” Nate says, but I hold up a hand to stop him.
“I’m serious, Nate. I refuse to be a pawn in the Carter family drama. If this is just some elaborate way to get back at Liam, I’m out.”
“It’s not,” he says firmly, but something in his eyes suggests otherwise. “I promise you, Kat. This is about helping both of us, not about my brother.”
I stare at him for a long moment, trying to read his intentions. There’s something he’s not telling me, I’m sure of it, but maybe that’s okay.
Maybe we’re both entitled to our secrets as long as we’re honest about the arrangement itself.
“Okay,” I say finally, and Nate’s grin could power the entire coffee shop.
“Okay?”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll do it. But I reserve the right to change my mind if this goes sideways.”
“It won’t,” Nate says confidently, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “Trust me, Kat. This is going to work out perfectly for both of us.”
As his fingers intertwine with mine, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m making a deal with the devil. But maybe, just maybe, this particular devil is exactly what I need to survive Ridgeview Academy.
“So,” I say, trying to inject some lightness into my voice. “When do we start this charade?”
“How about right now?” Nate says, lifting our joined hands so that anyone watching can see them. “What do you say, girlfriend?”
The word hits me like a physical blow. A little thrill chases up my spine—not because of Nate’s smile, or the way heads are already turning, or even the rush of pretending to be wanted.
It’s because I know someone else will see. Someone who shouldn’t care, but would apparently.
Liam.
With his cruel words and stormy green eyes. The way he looked at me like I was a problem he couldn’t stop thinking about.
He made it clear he didn’t like me. That he didn’t want me here. But that tension? That flash of something dark in his eyes when he saw Nate getting close?
I felt it in my throat. In my pulse. Between my thighs.
So why—why—was I standing here, about to fake-date the safe brother… while wanting the one who would burn me alive?
“Girlfriend,” I repeat, the word tasting strange on my tongue. “I guess we’re really doing this.”
“We’re really doing this,” Nate confirms, his smile sharp with victory.
