Sebastian
Pulling up in front ofArianna’s apartment, I open the car door and step outside on the sidewalk, holding a bouquet of a dozen red roses. I could have simply tossed her a text and told her I was outside, but I have to take every opportunity I can to make this look genuine.
The paparazzi are always lurking, and now more than usual with us being the newest thing since Kimye.
I knock twice on her front door, and she pops it open, revealing herself dressed to the nines as usual.
“Hi, handsome!” She beams, moving outside and wrapping her arms around my neck in a friendly hug. My body tenses at her touch because it isn’t Devin’s, but I shoo the rigidness away so I can play along as the perfect couple.
“Hi, you,” I say back.
She pulls back, noticing the flowers in my hand. “Oh! You are so sweet! I love roses!”
I smile softly at her because the innocence in Arianna reminds me so much of Devin when she’s unfiltered, hanging out at my house in nothing but a T-shirt and her sweatpants. “I’m supposed to know you love them, so therefore, yes, I know. That’s why I got them for you.”
“You are the sweetest man ever. Let me put them in water before we go.” Arianna takes the bouquet in one hand before running back into her house with the flowers.
A moment later, she closes the door behind her and grabs my hand, leading us toward my car. “Let’s see if you did your homework regarding movie preference.”
Following her lead, I press the button on the car door to let her inside before moving around the other side and sliding in.
“I think you’ll be pleased,” I say, settling into the seat and buckling my seat belt.
Pulling out into the street, I focus on driving instead of Arianna. It makes me seem like a complete douchebag to ignore her, but at the same time, she isn’t the woman I want to spend my day with.
* * *
We endedup seeing a movie based off a romance novel, and honestly, the movie surprised the shit out of me. I didn’t think it would be as good as it was.
“Did you see how sweet he was?” Arianna coos. “Their love was so real! It was almost as good as the book. I even teared up at one point.”
“I have to admit, it was a good movie,” I say, holding the door to the theater open for her. “I really enjoyed the story line. It was enlightening to see two people from different worlds work out in the end.”
Arianna stops midwalk through the door I’m holding and glances up at me with sorry eyes. It’s almost as if she can read my thoughts, and I’m not quite sure my personal feelings aren’t written all over my face.
This movie is just another one of the things that reminds me of Devin.
I fucking miss her. I’m not used to this. Not being able to talk to her is torture, and it’s been three days, but it had to be done in order to save her reputation.
We step outside the doors of the theater, the cold evening air smacking us in the face. The chill of December is unreal this year. It’s one of the coldest winters we’ve had in New York City, and I can’t help but feel as if it’s an omen of sorts.
Arianna reaches out, taking my hand in hers as the flashes from a man holding a camera on the corner go off. It’s fucking annoying, but again, it has to be done.
This is a sacrifice for the greater good.
We smile for his pictures, answering the few questions the man asks, such as what movie we saw and how it feels to have our relationship out in the open, among others. The best thing we can do at this point in the game is be friendly with the people snapping the pictures.
With our hands entwined, we move down fifty-eighth street toward the parking garage where I parked my car before the movie.
“He’s still following us,” Arianna says quietly so only I can hear. “Is this normal for you?”
I glance toward her and shrug. “I’m used to it, I guess. It’s completely normal. When you’re on one of New York City’s top lists, people become infatuated with you. I had a nice break for there a while since I haven’t been going out and making a scene every other night.”
“God, I’m not sure I could do this all the time. It’s exhausting.”
Chuckling, I nudge her shoulder with mine. “It’s not all bad. Sometimes it’s fun.”
Arianna looks up at me with a devilish glint in her eyes. “Do you ever fuck with them on purpose?”
