Taking the box and joining him on the plush mattress, I couldn’t the sinking feeling in my heart. “Gret, you shouldn’t have.”
“But I wanted to. Just open it.”
I did as he asked and was shocked to find a white gold tennis bracelet covered in diamonds.
“This is too much.” I started crying right on the spot.
“I saw it the other morning and knew it would look wonderful on you.”
He started to take it out of the box, but I stopped him, putting my hand on his.
“I can’t except this.”
“Why not?” His brow furrowed as he looked up at me with confusion.
“You’ve already done so much for me and I think this has gotten out of control. We had a deal, fake just for the holidays and then I figure out where my life is going.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing? If I didn’t get my girlfriend a present at Christmas everyone would think something was up. I’m giving you this because I want to and it conveniently fits into the plan.”
I shoved away, scrambling to my feet. “Is it fake still for you? Because this feels so freaking real.”
Gret threw the box on the nightstand and pulled me into his arms. “The last couple of days with you have been amazing. I like having you around. Am I attracted to you? Of course I am. Have you seen yourself? You’re fucking stunning, talented, strong, hilarious—the total damn package. I’d be lying if I didn’t wish that the situation was different but do not think for a second that I have gone and fucked up our deal. You made me promise to not fall for you and I am doing my best to hold up my end of the bargain.”
“I have to get out of here,” I sobbed, pushing away from Gret. “I’ll get my stuff and find somewhere to go.”
“Etta, don’t do this. I’m sorry I got you a present. I should have thought about how a bracelet like that would look.”
“It’s not the bracelet—it’s everything. Your family is amazing. You’re fucking incredible. I love being with you. This is all so fast and so wrong. it hasn’t even been a week since Lee dumped me and I can’t make that mistake again. I need to figure out who I am before I can be with someone else.”
“I’m not asking you to be with me.”
I ran my hand over my face. “Actions, babe. Think of all of the actions. I know you haven’t said it and you’re probably lying to yourself, too. But you’re in this more than just as a fake boyfriend. Your heart is in this and I cannot sit here and break it. That is inevitably what is going to happen. We’d get through tonight, you’ll leave for your game in St. Louis and I would break your heart by moving on.”
“Do you want to leave? We can go back to my place and figure this out.”
I shook my head. “I think it is best if you stay and I just go. I don’t want to ruin your entire family’s Christmas. I’ve already ruined too much.
“I can’t let you leave here this upset. I am so sorry, Etta.”
“But you can’t deny that this is real for you, can you?”
He bowed his head. “I can’t deny it.”
“I’ll pack my things.”
* * *
I madeup a stomach issue excuse and bolted out of there as fast as I could. I didn’t know what I had expected but I knew that we were in too deep to keep up the charade. Maybe it was all on me. I couldn’t shake the fact that I was way too comfortable with Gret than I should have been right from the get-go. it wasn’t lust or love though, it was complacency. It was nice to be taken care of and I was using him. It’s not fair when one person is more in than the other—the feelings have to be mutual and on the same level. Gret was too good of a guy to fuck with like that.
Packing up my feelings felt so wrong but it was the right thing to do.
“Etta!” Gret called right as I was putting my toothbrush into my overnight bag.
Crap.
I was hoping to be gone before he got home.
“Yeah?” I replied, slinging the duffle strap over my shoulder.