World's Worst Boyfriend: A Romantic Comedy Adventure (Fake It Book 3), Carina Taylor [ebook reader online txt] 📗

“You make me so mad, I could just—”

I lifted my hand, then stopped myself. I couldn’t believe Fletcher would try to encourage me to behave that way.

“No. Even though I feel like it, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t ride with strangers. You’d let them murder you without raising a hand because you believe in being nice—all the time. I don’t think you could even kill a fly since you’re a spoiled little princess who needs attention twenty-four-seven.”

Leaping forward, I smacked him in the stomach. “I am not a spoiled little princess!”

I slapped at his chest. “I can ride with strangers if I want! I can break up with my boyfriend if I want!”

I stomped on his foot.

“Ah, there’s your grandma’s temper…” he said with a groan as he leaned forward.

“I am nothing like that woman! And you’re the one who was making out with a strange girl in your car! I have every right to be mad.”

I shoved him, and he latched onto me before we both toppled onto the couch. His arms came around me, holding me tight to his chest. I struggled to break free, but he pinned my arms between us, my hands flattened against his ribs.

“What are you talking about? You’re the only one I’ve kissed ever since I first saw you!” His incredulous face was nearly believable.

“The girls saw you. They saw you with her.”

“The girls?”

“Yes. Zoe.”

He let his head fall back against the couch cushion. “This is ridiculous. You’re going to believe the word of a girl who hates my guts?”

“You don’t like her either!”

“No, I don’t! I think she’s shallow and that she shamelessly uses you!”

“Oh,” I snorted. “You’re a fine one to talk, Mr. drop-your-laundry-off-here.”

His arms tightened around me. “We’re getting off topic here. You have to promise me you’ll never get in the car with a stranger, ever again. Don’t go with Sullivan anywhere.”

I lifted my head and rested my chin on his chest so I could stare into his eyes. “You’re not my boss.”

“Good grief, you sound like you’re three years old. Promise me, Saidy.”

“What’s it matter to you anymore, anyway?”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Despite what you think, I’m not a complete asshole. I care about you, and I want to keep you safe. I lost my mind when I found out you got in the car with him. Promise me you won’t get in the car with a stranger?”

I sighed. Unfortunately, the rational part of my brain agreed with him.

“I promise.” I agreed. He was right about that part. The warning bells had sounded in the back of my mind during the whole situation. I’d watched enough TV to know a girl without any means of protection should not climb into the car with a complete stranger at eleven o’clock at night.

Fletcher relaxed beneath me, a hand reaching up to toy with the hair at the base of my neck. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you.”

I stared into those steel gray eyes, wondering why I couldn’t get them to leave my dreams at night.

“Promise me you won’t see Sullivan again.”

I pushed at his chest. “I appreciate you caring about my safety, but you don’t get to determine who I see and don’t see. He asked me to dinner. You don’t get a say so anymore about my life.”

“You keep reminding me.” His hold tightened on me. “Fine. You can date anyone you want.”

I relaxed against his hold. “Thank you.”

“Except Sullivan.”

I shrieked in frustration, wriggling, trying to break free from his hold. IT men weren’t supposed to be this strong.

“Let me go, Fletch.”

“Not until you promise me you won’t go on a date with Sullivan.”

“I promise nothing,” I spat out.

“Fine.” He scooted to the middle of the couch, keeping a firm grip on me. “I hope you sleep good tonight.”

He locked his arms together around me as he settled into the couch, trying to get comfortable.

“You son of a motherless goat! You are not going to dictate my dating life to me. You don’t get to say—”

He grabbed the back of my head and pressed my face against his chest, muffling my words. I bit him.

“Ouch!” He released my head. “I never knew I was dating someone so violent.”

“Me, violent? This is what you’ve made me! I didn’t know you were so controlling.”

“First, I’m neglectful…now I’m controlling. I see.” He shrugged with a little smile across those perfectly kissable lips and lay his head back down.

After a futile struggle, I decided I might as well get comfortable. As comfortable as I could get lying on top of a hard body.

When his breathing finally deepened and his hold on me loosened, I was able to lean up a little. I studied his peaceful, sleeping, stupid face. His ability to fall asleep anywhere should be envied.

There were dark circles under his eyes. His forehead had a semi-permanent crease along the middle. His mouth had frown lines along it. His scruff was thicker. The stress lines were evident on his face. He seemed older than when we first started dating, as though the weight of life were crushing him instead of me.

“Why do I feel like I’m seeing the real you for the first time?” I whispered. I leaned up and gently combed down his cowlick. It felt good to have him holding me again. I’d missed this.

His hold was loose enough to break away.

But I didn’t want to. I could pretend—for one night.

Pretend that things were perfect and that I meant more to him than life itself.

So I lay my head back on his chest and went to sleep.

Chapter Fifteen

Fletcher

Morning came and I found myself asleep on Saidy’s couch. Alone. I hadn’t been able to squeeze a promise out of her. But she had tucked me in with one of her numerous fuzzy blankets. There was a plate with bagels and cream cheese sitting on the coffee table with a glass of orange