Chapter 139

Hayden had been popping up in my life a lot lately, but this was the first time he'd actually shown up at my doorstep. "What do you want this time?"

"I agreed," he said, throwing me off for a second.

Agreed to what?

"To pretend to be your boyfriend. To be your temporary boyfriend," Hayden clarified.

I was taken aback, especially since he'd turned me down before. "Why did you change your mind?"

"If I didn't, you'd just keep going on ridiculous dates and end up being stalked again like today, wouldn't you?" Hayden's tone started off resigned, but by the end, there was a sharp edge to it.

I couldn't help but notice the mix of frustration and concern on his face, barely visible in the dim light. It was almost... amusing.

"Aren't you going to be miserable, doing something you don't even want to do?"

He caught the teasing in my voice and took a step closer. Instinctively, I stepped back, only to bump into the railing behind me—no escape.

He leaned in, his arm trapping me between the