Chapter 3 He Doesn't Like to Share

Chapter 2: He Doesn't Like to Share

If someone had told me a week ago that I'd be fake-dating the most desirable guy on campus, I'd have choked on my instant noodles.

Now?

Now I was in the middle of the university library with Ethan Carter's hand dangerously close to the curve of my lower back-and I was trying very hard not to enjoy it.

"You're tense," he whispered, his lips brushing my ear like a secret.

"I'm in a library," I hissed. "You're not supposed to whisper things that make people tenser."

Ethan chuckled softly and leaned in anyway. "Part of the performance. Look like you're obsessed with me."

I narrowed my eyes. "Try being less smug and maybe I'll pretend better."

"Aw, nerd girl's growing claws," he teased.

I rolled my eyes and turned away, only to walk directly into someone's chest.

"Oh, sorry!" I stammered, looking up-and freezing.

It was Adrian Lim.

Tall, kind eyes, clean-cut, and not terrifyingly cocky. He was one of the few people in my Chemistry class who actually spoke to me like a human, not a walking calculator.

"Oh hey, didn't see you there," Adrian said with a friendly smile. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I said, adjusting the books clutched to my chest. "Just... trying to survive this week."

He laughed. "Aren't we all?"

From behind me, Ethan cleared his throat.

Loudly.

I didn't need to turn around to feel the weight of his stare.

"Oh, sorry," Adrian added, glancing at Ethan. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

"You're not," I said quickly.

"She's busy," Ethan cut in. "With me."

I blinked. So did Adrian.

"I just wanted to ask if you're still down for the lab partner swap next week," Adrian added, eyebrows raised.

Before I could answer, Ethan slid between us-literally. His body blocked mine from Adrian completely.

"She's not switching," he said flatly.

"Excuse me?" I finally found my voice. "I can speak for myself, Ethan."

He didn't look at me. "Then speak."

The tension between them was stupid. So stupid it made the air feel hot.

Adrian gave me a polite nod. "Think about it. I'll text you."

And then he walked away.

I spun on Ethan the second Adrian disappeared behind the shelves.

"What. Was. That?"

Ethan shrugged, too casually. "Didn't like the way he was looking at you."

My jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"He was practically undressing you with his eyes."

"He asked about lab partners!"

"So he can sit next to you. Every day. For a semester," Ethan growled.

"And what? That's illegal now?" I snapped, stepping closer. "We're not even real, Ethan. You don't get to be jealous."

"I'm not jealous," he said too fast, too defensively. "I just don't like sharing."

I blinked. "Sharing?"

"Yeah," he muttered. "You're mine. For now. Even if it's fake, people need to believe it."

My heart did that stupid flip thing again, and I hated it. I hated how easily his words messed with my brain.

I crossed my arms. "Then maybe stop acting like a caveman and start acting like someone who trusts his very fake girlfriend to say no to other guys."

His jaw tightened.

For a second, he didn't say anything. Just looked at me-like he was trying to solve an equation that refused to balance.

Then, quietly, "I trust you."

I wasn't expecting that. Not the softness. Not the honesty. Definitely not the way it made something warm unfurl in my chest.

"...Good," I said after a pause. "Because this isn't real. Remember?"

He nodded once. "Right. No strings."

We both knew we were lying.

Later that night, I found myself regretting everything when Ethan invited me-forced me-to attend his team's late-night practice.

"It's important," he said over text. "You need to be seen with me. Real girlfriend vibes."

So there I was. Sitting in the gym bleachers, pretending not to notice the way his shirt clung to him when he wiped his face, or how his arms flexed every time he dribbled.

It was torture. Pure, absolute torture.

I was busy convincing myself I was definitely not checking him out when a figure sat beside me.

"Hey," Alyssa said with a too-sweet smile. "Didn't think you were the sports type."

She wore short shorts and a cropped hoodie, Northbridge's basketball logo printed over her chest like a warning label.

"Guess people surprise you," I said calmly, fingers tightening around my phone.

She leaned in. "So, what is this really? A dare? A pity project?"

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Ethan. He never dates girls like you."

My stomach turned. But I smiled. "You mean girls with brains?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"I give it three days," she said with a shrug. "Four if he's feeling generous. He gets bored fast. Especially when the thrill of 'fake' wears off."

Before I could clap back, a voice echoed from the court.

"Babe!"

Ethan.

He jogged over, sweat-drenched and grinning.

"You came," he said, grabbing my hand in full view of everyone. Including Alyssa.

"I promised, didn't I?" I said, trying not to melt at the feel of his fingers laced with mine.

Alyssa stood, tossed her hair, and sauntered away like a villain in heels.

When she was gone, I tugged my hand from his. "You didn't have to do that."

He raised a brow. "Do what?"

"Come over. Make a scene. Touch me."

Ethan tilted his head, like he didn't understand why I wasn't thanking him.

"I wanted to."

"Why?"

"Because she was making you uncomfortable."

I blinked.

"And because," he added, stepping closer, "seeing you here-watching me? It felt kinda good."

My throat went dry.

"Don't read into it," he said quickly, glancing away. "It's part of the game."

"Right. Of course."

We stood there for a second too long.

It was stupid, the silence.

Stupid how close he was standing.

Stupid how my heart reacted to something that didn't even mean anything.

I hated it.

But not enough to stop.

To be continued...