Sydney has been taking everything in stride and I’m honestly so thankful for how well she adapts. She doesn’t miss a beat and she’s been playing the part of my girlfriend perfectly. No one seems to suspect a thing. Thankfully, she knows enough about me to be able to make it convincing that we recently started dating.
When they all ask how we met, she didn’t lie as she told them that we met freshman year. She goes into great detail about our friendship and how it just transformed into something more without either of us realizing that it was happening.
Something about this just feels right and I don’t know how to explain it. Sitting on the couch, with her tucked under my arm… it feels like this is exactly where she belongs. She’s so comfortable around my family and they’re all treating her like they’ve known her forever.
I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s definitely fucking with my head a little more than I want it to. Sydney is just a friend and I can’t let anything mess that up. Even if my family is believing this little charade that we’re playing.
“So, Sydney,” my mother starts as she takes her seat back on the couch beside my father. “Asher told me that you’ll be staying with us for Christmas?”
Taking a gulp of my wine, I pull my glass away from my lips and offer her a smile. “If you guys are sure that’s okay. I don’t want to impose on your family at all.”
“Nonsense,” my father says, shaking his head. “You’re practically part of the family now.”
Andrew stifles a laugh and my mother beams at the two of us, the pride exuding from her like no other. I hate being under their gaze right now, but it seems like we have everyone’s attention in the room. Evelyn left after dinner to go back to stay with her parents and my sisters are well on their way to being wine drunk.
“Well, I think that it’s probably time we head to bed. Right, babe?” I ask Sydney, tilting my head down to meet her eyes. She stares up at me, nodding along.
“Yeah, it’s been a really long day and with the wedding tomorrow, we should probably get some rest.”
“Of course.” My mother smiles, rising to her feet as we both stand up. She pulls us each in for a hug, but she holds on to me longer as Sydney says her goodnights to everyone around the room. “She’s a good one, Asher. Don’t let this one get away.”
My breath catches in my throat and I struggle to swallow past the lump that lodged itself there. The guilt of our facade weighs heavily on my shoulders, but I can’t break my mother’s heart now. She really likes Sydney—hell, they all do. And honestly, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the same exact way.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
“I won’t, Mom,” I whisper, kissing her on the cheek before pulling away. Sydney stands at the other side of the room, a smile on her face as she watches the two of us. Her expression is infectious and as my eyes meet hers, I can’t stop my lips from mimicking hers.
With everyone’s eyes on us, I stride across the room to her, taking her hand in mine before leading her from the room. Her palm is warm, her fingers laced perfectly within mine. I don’t let go of her hand as we walk through the house and up the stairs.
Slipping through my door, Sydney pulls it shut behind her as I lead her up to my bedroom. We both step into the space and for once, it feels like the walls are closing in on me. Sydney takes up so much space, draining the oxygen from the room. Turning on my heel, I stop as I face her. Her hand is still in mine, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath as she tilts her head back to look at me.
Tonight with Sydney was something different, something I had never experienced with her before. Even though we were playing pretend, all of this felt like it was real. Like she’s my real girlfriend instead of a fake one. And with the way she’s looking at me right now, I want nothing more than to feel her lips against mine.
I’ve kept her in the friend zone for so long because I was afraid of what it would do to our friendship. And I was comfortable with the way things always were between us. That was before, and now I’m questioning it all.
Sydney clears her throat as she sucks her lips in between her teeth and shifts her weight nervously from foot to foot. “Um, I’m going to get changed and brush my teeth.”
Ignoring the throbbing feeling inside my pants, I quickly drop her hand and take a step away from her. I don’t know what the hell has come over me, but this shit needs to stop—like, now. I shouldn’t be looking at her like this and my cock should definitely not be responding the way that it is.
“The bathroom is the second door on the right,” I tell her, motioning to her bag. Sydney gives me a small smile and begins to go through her bag as she pulls out clothes. “I’ll show you where it is so I can brush my teeth too.”
“Thank you,” she says softly as she grabs her toiletry bag and follows me back down the stairs. Everyone else is either still downstairs or already in bed, so the bathroom is empty as we reach it. Sydney slips inside and I wait for her to be finished. It doesn’t take long before she’s slipping through the door in an oversized t-shirt and a pair of shorts.
My breath catches in my throat as my eyes travel down her naked legs. This isn’t my first time seeing Sydney in a pair of shorts, but it’s like tonight, I’m seeing her under a completely different light. Seeing her dressed for bed is different than seeing her wearing a pair of shorts that everyone else can see her in.
It almost feels as if this look is reserved for just me right now.
“I’m going to brush my teeth and I’ll meet you upstairs,” I tell her, my voice strained and hoarse. My cock throbs in my pants and I quickly brush past her, the soft floral scent of her perfume invading my senses.
I don’t wait for her to respond before I shut the door. Pressing my back against it, I fist my erection through my pants and wait for her footsteps to disappear up the stairs. I should just rub one out quick, get this out of my system so I can go to sleep and not have any lingering thoughts of my guest plaguing my mind.
Pushing off the door, I stride across the bathroom and stop in front of the sink. I stare at myself in the mirror, my dark gray irises almost appearing black from the amount of frustration building inside me right now. As badly as I want to just wrap my hand around my cock and forget about the girl waiting for me in my bed, I can’t.
She’s not waiting for me in that way either…
She’s waiting for me to go to sleep, and that’s it. No touching, no kissing. Just sleeping.
Running a frustrated hand through my hair, I let out a sigh before grabbing my toothbrush and toothpaste. I scrub them viciously, attempting to push away the unwarranted thoughts of Sydney. She’s just a friend—one of my closest friends. I can’t let my thoughts run rampant like this, not about her.
The last thing I’m going to do is let this fake relationship come between us.
After brushing my teeth, I head back into my room and find Sydney already tucked under the covers. She lifts her head when she hears me enter, her eyes meeting mine as she peeks from where she’s situated in my bed.
Groaning inwardly, I walk over to the bed and grab my pillow as I look down at her for a moment.
“I wasn’t sure which side was yours. Am I okay here?” she asks softly, her voice like velvet as it slides across my eardrums.
You’re perfect, right where you are.
“You’re fine,” I tell her, obsessed with the way she looks in my bed. “I’m actually going to sleep on the floor, that way you can have the bed to yourself.”
Sydney’s eyebrows tug together and her face scrunches up as she looks up at me. “Are you sure? I don’t mind sharing the bed or, if you prefer, I can sleep on the floor instead.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I scoff, shaking my head at her as I grab the throw blanket from the end of the bed. I drop down onto the floor, situating myself on the plush rug that peeks out from under the frame. “You’re my guest here. The last place you should be sleeping is on the floor.”
“Asher,” Sydney starts, her voice soft and quiet. “You don’t have to sleep on the floor…”
“Don’t, Syd.” My words are strained as they get caught in my throat like peanut butter. Avoiding her gaze, I lay down and face the other way as I pull the blanket up to my chin. “Just go to sleep, okay?”
She’s silent for a moment before I hear her whisper, “Okay.” I know she was reluctant to agree, but it’s better if she doesn’t argue with me. Not right now.
If she tells me to get in that bed again, I don’t know whether I’ll be able to resist.
And it’s better if we’re like this… with as much distance between us as possible.
