He got himself in deep and the only way to save him is for me to become her.
I owe my roommate a lot. He came to me when I was at my lowest and he brought me out of my depths and there is little I won’t do for him, but this might just be too far.
He’s needs this girl to make true on the lie he told. He needs a girlfriend at this party, so that those arrogant men won’t doubt him anymore. He needs me to be her, and I’m only just starting to realize the need in me.
I like the way their heads turn when they see me walk in the room. I like that they can’t look away, that all those men want me. I love the way this body makes me feel, inside and out, because deep down I’ve never felt like this before.
And when my roommate gets a look at me, I know he’s fallen for me. He looks at me like I’m the only girl in the world for him, not knowing who I am at all.
I’m just the girl pretending to be his girlfriend, but I want to be more.
And I need to show him everything that I can do.
Excerpt
“Who are you?” he asked, blissful in his ignorance.
“I’m Emilia,” I said with mock disbelief, “We’ve been dating for months, Rich.”
A look of almost pained frustration flashed across his face and I laughed, letting my hands wrap around the back of his neck and cocking my head to one side as I let him struggle on the line just a little bit longer.
Rich slipped in close, whispering in my ear, “Emilia doesn’t exist and you know it. Not that I don’t appreciate the save, but who are you and how did you know to come here and help me?”
I was looking over his shoulder, watching as the single guys picked out the single girls in the office and chatted them up. A few had paired off and were bringing their newfound partners onto the dance floor so I spun us slowly so that Rich could see as well when I replied.
“We’re going to have company soon,” I said, “Too close for comfort by my measure. How about you just take your good luck at face value and not question things for now. I’m just your mystery girl, the girl you dreamed up come to save you. You’ll get answers soon enough so why not just live in the moment for now.”
It was a pleasant excuse and easy enough to sell, but there was another reason I wanted it. It was proven when Rich pulled his head back from my ear and looked at me, the wonder and amazement he had in his eyes.
I’d been with people before, girls that Rich had set me up with and girls that he’d wing manned for me. I’d had a few relationships that fizzled and faded out and while I didn’t have quite the same success with maintaining friendships that Rich had, I’d never had cause to complain.
But that was only because I didn’t know what I was missing. Right now, though, the truth was undeniable. I saw the way that Rich looked at me and I loved it. I loved the way that he stared at me with wonder, with admiration, with something akin to a desperate need to be loved.
I’d never had anyone look at me like that, and I’d never felt the way I felt right now. There was a power here in being her that I’d always known was out there because I’d seen proof positive of it in the way a room would react when a beautiful woman entered it, but feeling myself be the source of that power was addictive in a palpable way.
Telling Rich my secret could take that power away. I knew it would have to happen soon enough, I couldn’t bear the thought of stringing him forever even if it was something that was within my grasp. But I just wanted to live as her a little longer. I just wanted to be his girl a little bit longer and feel the way that he could make me feel, feel satisfaction that could come from his affection.
“Get me a drink,” I teased as the slow song ended and something faster started, “Your lady is parched.”
“Yes miss,” he laughed, “Anything for my lady.”
When his hands left my hips I felt the loss of them, wishing that one slow song had followed another so we could linger that little bit longer.