Page 29 of Crashing Into You

We reach the till and Bryce smiles down at me, sliding his arm around my waist. I suppose it’s all for show, but it doesn’t stop my heart from skipping a beat.

“What do you want?”

You,I want to say.I want you.But instead, I place my order.

A month of this? We’re only a week in and I’m already wondering how I’ll make it through.

Bryce

I want Claire.

I know, I know. I tried to tell myself I’m protecting her, that I’m doing her a favour, blah fucking blah. But the fact is, I want her. This is utterly selfish of me. I don’t know how I’m going to get through the month without trying to fuck her. When she comes to the door, all long tanned limbs, her slender curves encased in white crochet, I barely know what to do with myself. She is stunning.

I can’t wait to spend the day with her. We didn’t need to have breakfast together, but it just felt like another opportunity to spend time with her. She sits opposite me now, licking her rosebud lips, sipping her coffee, and I’m getting hard just looking at her. I can’t just bulldoze my way into this, though. Something about her makes me want to take my time. Besides, I don’t even know if she’s interested in me like that.

It felt good to stick it to that weed of an ex-boyfriend, though. And sitting on that couch with her at the nightclub, kissing her, touching her smooth skin… I can’t stop thinking about it. I know we’re all over social media, that it’s officially out there. Bryce Maylands, bachelor party-boy, has a girlfriend. I don’t even want to look at the comments. Instead, I focus on Claire.

“Okay, so, this appearance today… I have a few things to do. Just stick close to me, all right?”

“Sure,” she says, those deep-ocean eyes on me. “Do I need to do anything else?”

Kiss me. As often as possible. Let me slide my hand under that skirt and feel how wet you are.

I need to put this out of my mind. Our arrangement is for appearances, not my own desires.

“So, the first thing is, there will be some paps taking photos when we get there. Just ignore them, okay?”

She nods.

“I’m in the store for an hour, then we can go in the office. They might take a few shots of me there, if there’s new stock in; I’m not sure what Jeff has arranged. And they’ll give us lunch.”

“Okay.” Her expression gives nothing away.

“Later in the afternoon, another hour in the store. Then we can get the fuck out of there.”

She smiles, then. “Sounds good. So I just need to… play the girlfriend role, yeah?”

“Yeah. Just do whatever feels natural. I don’t mind. You okay if I do the same?”

“Yes.” Her throat moves and she glances away, then takes another sip of coffee.

“Shall we get going, then? We need to be there soon.”

We’ve both finished our meals. Claire had eggs and avocado on toast. I did the same, but with bacon. I like that she has an appetite, not that it matters either way.

A short while later we’re back in the car, heading towards Torquay. It’s about a half hour drive, passing Bells Beach, home of the longest-running competition on the World Surf League tour. I glance at the waves as we pass, but can’t stop. Jeff has lined up all this shit for me today, and I can’t be late. Plus, I want to show Claire off to the world again. Fuck ’em if they don’t like it. I have a girlfriend. Even if it is just for appearances.

When we arrive at the Torquay surf shopping complex, it’s already busy. News of my appearance has spread, I suppose, despite the short notice, shared across social media. Plus, the place is already bustling. Known as the home of Australian surfing, named for the original town in the UK, Torquay is the birthplace of huge surf brands, as well as the starting point of the Great Ocean Road. Ocean’s Curl has an office and a massive store there. Myles Brandon, the founder of Ocean’s Curl, started his brand in Torquay in the UK, so I guess he liked the continuity of having an office here in Australia as well. I’ve met him a few times; he’s a pretty cool guy, involved in a number of huge initiatives, but always finding time to catch a wave or hang out with surfers. It was nice to hear he’d met someone and got married. I’ve heard his wife is pregnant already. Good luck to him.

He pays me well to surf the world, wearing his brand. So I need to do my job. I park the car and turn off the ignition. Claire’s hands are twisted together in her lap, her eyes slightly wider than usual.

“Remember, just ignore them,” I say, as we get ready to get out of the car. “We can go in round the side.” I point to a door on the side of the building. Jeff is standing there already, looking at his watch. “Just stay close. I’ll look after you. Not that you need it.”

One corner of her mouth curls, a hint of defiance in her gaze. That’s my girl. Though she isn’t my girl. Not really. Fuck. Okay. Time to get this done. I get out the car and come around to Claire’s side, opening her door. She takes my hand and climbs out, sunglasses already on, long hair in waves, like she’s done this a thousand times. I can feel how damp her hand is though, and I squeeze it slightly as I lead her towards the side door, ignoring the photographers lurking nearby.

Inside the store they’re ready for me, leading me through to a table piled high with Ocean’s Curl merchandise, next to a huge curling surf wave made of cardboard, the Ocean’s Curl logo on the base. “The idea, Bryce, is that they come in and we take their photo with you under the wave.” The girl talking to me laughs, her hand on my arm in a familiar way, despite the fact I’m still holding Claire’s hand. “They get a discount code to buy Ocean’s Curl merch, then we sell them the photo and you can sign it. You up for that?” She appears to notice Claire for the first time. “Oh. I guess you can, like, hang out. We only have the one chair, though.”

Claire raises an eyebrow, staring her down. Then she wraps her hands around my bicep and leans in close. “I’m happy to look around while you’re doing this, babe. Although, maybe we should take a photo together?” She presses herself against me, smiling.