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Our eyes lock.
My gaze shifts to the side, and I see Hudson standing just a couple paces away, looking down at his phone.
Something clicks into place in my brain.
The hardest thing about pulling off the fib of me dating someone else is, obviously, the whole being seen with someone else deal. Of course, I’m not dating someone else. I’m not really in the mood to find a relationship right now, either.
Sean will see me all the time. This is a small campus, and a small town, and we’re in the same department.
We share tons of acquaintances and go to the same music department events. The same parties music students throw. All the time. He’s obviously going to notice that I’m not actually seeing anyone, way sooner than later.
But if I could make it look like I’m seeing someone, the right someone, just once, it might scare Sean away from even thinking about winning me back.
If Sean thought it was Hudson that I was dating, even if he doesn’t see us together often, he wouldn’t dare keep pursuing me.
Not if he thought it meant trying to steal me from a tatted up, six-foot-four, muscle-strapped hockey player whose handshake could probably break bones.
Sean’s arrogant, but he’s not stupid. If he thought it was Hudson I’m with, he’d throw in the towel. Knowing him like I do now, once I’m off his mind it probably won’t take him long to get with someone else. Then I wouldn’t even have to worry about lying anymore, because he’d finally move on. Stop caring.
This is another decision that a calmer, more rational me definitely wouldn’t make.
But I already lied to Sean about this. In for a penny, in for a freaking pound, I guess. Might as well sell the lie.
I start walking towards Hudson.
A hundred thoughts blare in my brain during the short walk. What will his reaction be? How am I even going to ask him? Will he agree?
At least I’m confident of one thing: he’s tight-lipped enough that even if he thinks I’m crazy after I ask him this, he’s not going to spread the word across campus.
“Hudson,” I say, standing in front of him, my neck tilted back on account of his height. His very, very, very tall height.
He lowers his phone and looks down. “Summer.”
“Can I ask a favor?” My voice is hushed, wanting to make sure no one but me and him can hear. I can still feel Sean’s gaze on me just yards away. “It’s kind of … well, it’s a weird favor. But I’d really appreciate it.”
His brow arches with interest. “How weird?”
I take a deep breath, and then force it out. “For just a second, can we pretend we’re … together?”
There’s a beat of silence, Hudson’s features remaining unchanged, but then someone flashes in his eye. His muscles become taut. His Adam’s apple bobs. “Together,” he repeats, his voice low.
I nod, my cheeks burning. “Right. For just a second. Can we pretend to be a couple? It’s my ex …”
His jaw muscles pop. “Ex. The ex who made you cry.” His voice is rough as he speaks the words.
“Yeah,” I answer sheepishly.
His eyes flit over me, his gaze pointing in the direction where I know Sean is still sitting. Where I know he’s still watching me. Watching us.
“Him? The guy behind you with the long black hair? And the blue t-shirt?”
I nod, making a noise of acknowledgement in my throat.
Hudson’s eyebrows draw together. “You want him to think you’re with someone else.”
“Right.”
Now his eyes fall back on me. There’s something I’ve never seen in his gaze before. His pale, cool blue eyes are suddenly hot like a furnace. Despite the mild weather and the cool breeze that blows across campus, it feels swelting pinned under them.
