Chapter 2 The Captain's Conditions

Chapter 1: The Captain's Conditions

The next morning, I expected the night before to feel like a fever dream.

A ridiculous blur brought on by heartbreak, mocktails, and a dangerous smile I had no business remembering. But no. It was real. Too real.

The proof? A text from Ethan Carter at 7:42 AM sharp.

> Ethan C.

Morning, Valentine. Meet me by the quad. 10 AM. Bring your best fake smile.

I stared at my phone like it had personally insulted me.

Valentine?

Seriously?

I buried my face into my pillow and groaned. Loudly.

This was not how my semester was supposed to start.

I had goals-internship applications, a new GPA target, avoiding every romantic disaster known to man. Not... fake dating the six-foot-five walking disaster that was Ethan Carter, Northbridge U's basketball royalty and campus-certified heartbreaker.

But apparently, life had other plans.

---

I found him by the quad, leaning against a tree like he was the leading man in some college rom-com.

Black hoodie. Headphones hanging around his neck. The wind doing unspeakably flattering things to his already messy hair. Girls were glancing his way like he was the main attraction, and honestly, he was.

He looked up the moment he saw me. Smirk already in place.

"So you didn't chicken out."

I rolled my eyes. "Didn't say I'd show up to impress you."

"Yet here you are. Impressive." He pushed off the tree. "Ready to be my girlfriend?"

"Fake," I corrected, standing straighter. "Let's underline the 'fake' here."

He chuckled. "Relax, nerd girl. You're not my type."

"Oh, you mean conscious and immune to your charm?" I replied sweetly.

His brow lifted, a flash of admiration glinting in his eyes. "Feisty. I like it."

"Look, let's just go over the rules," I said, ignoring the heat rising in my cheeks. "If we're doing this whole charade, there need to be boundaries."

Ethan stepped closer, folding his arms. "Hit me."

I took a breath. "No touching in private."

A slow grin. "But touching in public's fine?"

My lips parted. "I mean-only when necessary. For believability. Not for your amusement."

He tilted his head. "Define necessary."

"When your crazy ex is watching."

He laughed, low and rich. "You're already learning. Good girl."

I narrowed my eyes, but continued, "No kissing unless I approve. No random surprises. And this ends in five days. No drama, no strings."

He leaned in, his breath teasing my ear. "What if I'm the dramatic type?"

I took a step back, pulse flickering. "Then I walk."

Ethan straightened with a lazy shrug. "Deal. But I've got conditions too."

"Oh, of course you do."

"One-you've gotta pretend to like me. Like really like me. You're obsessed with me, can't stop thinking about me, kinda vibe."

I gagged. "Gross."

He grinned. "Two-you need to be seen with me. Walk with me to class, sit with me at lunch, maybe a few practice sessions with the team."

I blinked. "Practice? Why would I go to your practice?"

"To make it believable," he said smoothly. "Besides, jealous exes don't get jealous when you're hiding in the library."

I opened my mouth to argue-but stopped. He wasn't wrong.

"And three," he added, stepping even closer, his voice lower, "you don't fall for me."

I blinked again. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." His eyes locked with mine, unreadable. "No getting attached. No real feelings. This is a deal. Nothing more."

I scoffed. "As if I'd fall for someone who thinks air is optional and shirts are a suggestion."

He smirked. "You looked."

I flushed. "You wish."

He stepped back, satisfied. "Alright then, Valentine. Looks like we've got ourselves a deal."

---

The rest of the day went by like a storm in reverse-calm on the surface, but swirling underneath.

Word spread fast.

By the time I reached the student center, people were whispering.

Ethan Carter had a girlfriend.

Me.

I saw the way they looked at me-like I was a math equation that didn't add up. I couldn't blame them. Even I didn't understand how I went from being invisible to... this.

It didn't help that Ethan was milking every second.

He showed up outside my Literature class just as the final bell rang, leaned against the wall like he owned it, and smiled at me like we were starring in a campus romance film.

"Babe," he said loud enough for half the class to hear, "want me to carry your books?"

A girl behind me gasped. A guy two seats over dropped his pen.

I walked past him like I didn't hear. He followed.

"Cold shoulder?" he asked, matching my steps. "Was it the 'babe'? I can switch it up. Angel? Snugglebug?"

I glared. "Try using my name."

He grinned. "What's the fun in that?"

We passed a group of girls sitting under the student center fountain. I knew one of them-Alyssa Martinez.

Tall, blonde, flawless. A cheerleader. Also Ethan's most recent ex.

Her smile dropped the second she saw us.

Ethan, of course, noticed.

He slipped his hand around my waist. "Smile, nerd girl. Time to sell it."

My heart skipped a beat. His touch was firm, warm, possessive. I could almost feel Alyssa's glare digging into my back like pins.

"Hey, Alyssa," Ethan said, voice all casual charm. "Have you met my girlfriend?"

I nearly choked.

Alyssa's eyes scanned me, from my scuffed Converse to my oversized sweater and ponytail.

"Oh," she said coolly. "You're the one?"

Ethan smiled wider. "She's the only one."

My brain short-circuited.

Before I could recover, he leaned down and whispered against my ear, "Don't worry. Just part of the deal."

My heart didn't seem to understand that.

---

Later that night, I stared at my ceiling, wide awake.

It was all happening so fast.

I wasn't supposed to feel anything. But every time Ethan touched me-even fake-it sent little earthquakes through my chest.

And the worst part?

Some small, foolish part of me liked the way he said "She's the only one."

Even if it was a lie.

---

To be continued...