Rules are easier to set than to follow. Between stolen glances, whispered secrets, and an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore, their "fake" relationship starts to feel all too real. As Natalie steps into a world of attention she never wanted and Jason wrestles with emotions he's always avoided, they both must decide- is this just a game, or the beginning of something neither of them saw coming?
Chapter 1 1
Natalie
The letter trembled slightly in my grip, but I refused to let frustration get the best of me. It wasn't rejection, not exactly. More like a do better warning disguised as constructive feedback.
"To remain a competitive applicant for the internship, consider elevating your social presence to reflect a well-rounded student experience."
Great. My grades, my dedication, my carefully planned future- none of it was enough. Apparently, I needed to be seen outside the library, maybe even smile in public once in a while.
The coffee shop bustled with activity, the hum of conversation blending with the occasional clatter of mugs. My laptop sat open in front of me, half a page of my research paper blinking back at me, but my mind had been hijacked by this ridiculous requirement. "What am I going to do... Where do I really start from... How's this really necessary." These were the yet unanswerable questions running through my mind.
A few tables away, a loud burst of laughter caught my attention. Jason Carter. Of course. He was surrounded by his usual entourage, effortlessly commanding attention like it was his birthright.
Campus heartthrob. Star hockey player. The kind of guy whose name alone could open doors, while people like me had to prove themselves over and over again.
The unfairness of it all gnawed at me. Then an idea took shape. If the internship committee wanted social presence, why not give them exactly that? Not through meaningless small talk or networking events, but by aligning myself with someone who already had the kind of influence they valued. Jason could be the answer.
Doubt crept in, whispering that this was a terrible idea. He'd probably laugh in my face. Or worse, say yes just to make a game out of it.
My legs carried me toward his table before my brain could fully catch up. The group of guys around him noticed me first, their amusement barely concealed. Jason leaned back in his chair, a slow grin curving his lips.
"Well, this is unexpected." His tone dripped with curiosity.
Nerves threatened to ruin my confidence, but I squared my shoulders and met his gaze head-on. "I need your help."
His brows lifted slightly. "Help?"
"A deal, actually."
Jason exchanged a glance with one of his teammates before turning his attention back to me. "You want me to help you?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "A fake relationship. We pretend to date, and it benefits us both."
Someone at the table let out a low whistle. Another muttered, "Damn, that's bold."
Jason tilted his head, amusement flickering across his face. "You think pretending to be my girlfriend is going to help you?"
"I know it will," I countered. "I need a stronger social presence for an internship. You need to-" I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "Appear more... stable."
That got his attention.
Jason leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. "Stable?"
"Your reputation is all over the place. A serious relationship-even a fake one-could change how people see you."
Silence stretched between us. A slow, thoughtful smile replaced his usual cocky expression. "So let me get this straight. You want to use me to boost your social standing, and in return, I get to look like the kind of guy who can commit?"
I nodded. Jason tapped his fingers against the table, pretending to consider it. "What's stopping me from saying no?"
"If I thought you would, I wouldn't have asked."
The corners of his mouth twitched, like he was fighting back a grin. "Interesting."
Jason
Natalie Pierce just asked me to fake date her. That wasn't something I had on my bingo card today. The whole thing should've been ridiculous, but she stood there, arms crossed, completely serious. No hesitation. No awkward fidgeting. She wasn't like the girls who usually threw themselves at me, and maybe that's what made this even more intriguing.
Leaning back, I studied her for a moment. Straight- A student, never seen at parties, always focused on her next academic milestone. The total opposite of me.
"You're actually serious," I said.
"Completely."
"Tell me what you think this involves."
Her lips pressed together, like she had rehearsed this in her head a dozen times. "We spend time together in public. Hold hands. Maybe sit together at games or study in the library. People need to see us together."
"You left out the fun parts," I teased.
Her expression remained unimpressed. "It's not that kind of arrangement."
That only made me smirk. "Sure, sure. No fun allowed."
Someone at the table coughed out a laugh. Natalie didn't flinch.
"Are you in or not?" she asked.
The smart move would be to say no. My reputation was already a mess, and agreeing to something like this could turn it into an even bigger spectacle. But that also meant controlling the narrative. Coach had been on my case about the team's image, and my bad-boy hockey star reputation wasn't helping.
This could work in my favor. I dragged it out for a few more seconds, enjoying the way she tried not to look impatient. Then I shrugged. "Alright. Let's do it."
A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she nodded. "Good."
"But there are rules," I added.
Her arms crossed tighter. "I figured."
I lifted a finger. "One: No one can know it's fake."
"That's obvious."
"Two: We have to make it believable. That means acting like a real couple, even when we're not in front of an audience."
She hesitated slightly, but nodded.
"Three." I let the moment stretch. "No catching real feelings."
She rolled her eyes. "That won't be a problem."
That was a challenge if I'd ever heard one.
I grinned, reaching for my coffee. "Alright, girlfriend. When do we start?"
"Tomorrow."
Straight to business. No hesitation. Damn. She turned to leave, but I wasn't quite ready to let her go just yet. "Wait."
Natalie paused, glancing back. "What?"
"You're really willing to be seen with me?"
The smallest smirk touched her lips. "That's my line, Carter."
She walked away, leaving me watching her go.
Chapter 1 1
26/02/2025
Chapter 2 2
26/02/2025
Chapter 3 3
26/02/2025
Chapter 4 4
26/02/2025
Chapter 5 5
26/02/2025
Chapter 6 6
26/02/2025
Chapter 7 7
26/02/2025
Chapter 8 8
26/02/2025
Chapter 9 9
26/02/2025
Chapter 10 10
26/02/2025
Chapter 11 11
05/03/2025
Chapter 12 12
05/03/2025
Chapter 13 13
05/03/2025
Chapter 14 14
05/03/2025
Chapter 15 15
05/03/2025
Chapter 16 16
05/03/2025
Chapter 17 17
05/03/2025
Chapter 18 18
05/03/2025
Chapter 19 19
05/03/2025
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