The Stand-In Boyfriend (Grove Valley High #1)(13)

I screw up my face. He sounds like he’s actually thought about this.

“And it will get Stephenson to finally notice you. Seriously, Chapman, I’m doing you a favor.”

I’m speechless—completely speechless. The audacity of this guy is unbelievable.

“This is mutually beneficial to both of us,” he concludes.

“Look,” I eventually say after a minute of uncomfortable silence where he’s clearly waiting for me to agree with him. “I have to go. I’m going to be late for homeroom.” I’m not. I still have ten minutes to go before the late bell rings and he definitely knows that, but I need to get away from Chase and this absurd conversation.

“Think about it,” he calls after me as I turn and start heading into school. “You know it makes sense.”



“Why were you talking to Chase Mitchell this morning in the parking lot?” I turn at the sound of Sophie’s voice and find her standing just behind my open locker, hands firmly planted on her hips. “And why is there a rumor going around about the two of you?”

I pale. “What rumor?”

“That you hooked up on Saturday night at Aaron’s party!”

I close my eyes in irritation. I don’t know who started the rumor, but I’d bet money Chase hasn’t stopped it. Apparently he doesn’t care if I’m in agreement with his stupid plan or not.

“Livy!” My attention snaps back to Sophie, who looks like she’s about to explode—from excitement? Anger? I’m not sure what. “I spent all day with you yesterday and you never mentioned this. You just told me you got upset about Jessie. Do not tell me you hooked up with the hottest guy in school and didn’t tell me. I’m your best friend! I should be the first to know this stuff!”

Despite myself, I start to laugh. She’s so dramatic. “We didn’t hook up. Jesus, come on—you saw the state I was in.”

“Well where’s it coming from then? I was just in history with him and Susy Robinson straight up asked and he didn’t shut it down. He just smiled all mysteriously.” A smirk curves her lips. “He looked so hot—like, really hot! Really, really hot.”

I roll my eyes. Not only is she dramatic, she’s repetitive. She tells me on a weekly basis how attractive she thinks Chase is.

“So, what is going on?” she demands. “What did he say this morning? I didn’t even know you knew each other. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the two of you talk without me there—well, except for Saturday night.”

“We don’t know each other, at least not well. I just know who he is, along with everyone else. We played soccer together way back when we were kids, but that’s as far as it goes.”

“Olivia Lorraine Chapman, what is going on?!”

I sigh and stand up straight. I already know she’s going to completely overreact to this. “He wants us to pretend date. He wants to be my fake boyfriend.”

Her jaw drops open and her eye widen ridiculously far. I immediately start to laugh. It’s not often you see Sophie Steele speechless. She doesn’t say anything for almost thirty seconds, just stares at me in amazement. Then she jumps into action, slams my locker shut, grabs my bag from where it lies at my feet, and grips my wrists to drag me down the hall a couple of feet until she pulls me into an empty classroom. She steps back around me, closes the door, and then whirls around to face me. “Explain—now!”

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me. She’s too funny.

“Livy!”

“Okay!” I sigh, thinking back to Saturday night, remembering how humiliating it was when I realized Chase knew I liked Jessie, realized everyone knew I liked Jessie and was just hanging around, waiting for him to notice me. “He knows, okay? He saw me right after I found Jessie hooking up with Courtney at the party and he knows I’m into him. I was an even bigger mess before you came to find me, and he saw me like that.”

Her face softens and I hate the sympathy I see there. It’s only because she cares and I know that, but it still burns that my best friend feels sorry for me.

“Chase knew I was gutted. He knew me seeing Jessie with Courtney was breaking my heart.” I glance away, my face flushed with embarrassment. “Does everyone know? Does the whole freaking school know I’m in love with Jessie and he doesn’t even see me as a girl?”

“Aw, Livs.” I know it’s bad if she’s shortened my name. She only does that when she’s about to get deep.

“Don’t. Don’t feel sorry for me, please.”

She nods but still doesn’t answer my question.

“Does everyone know?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m surprised Chase did. He doesn’t seem to notice anyone but his friends, but if he has, maybe some other people have too?”

I lower my head in shame, my face burning even brighter. “He said he won’t tell anyone, but still.”

“Liv—”

“Does Jessie know?” I ask, raising my head to look her straight in the eye. If he knows and just chooses not to say anything, I might start crying right here and now. At least if he doesn’t know, I can live in hope.

She shakes her head vehemently. “No. He’s never once mentioned you to me like that. I promise you.”