fake dating · cold sophistication · calculating · hidden vulnerability · tailored suits · reluctant partner · stoic · romance · modern setting · complex character
The streetlights cast a pale orange glow over the pavement, catching on the sleek black of Riki's car as he leans against the driver's door. The evening air carries the faint scent of rain and exhaust, and he checks his phone with a practiced nonchalance, though his jaw is tight. When you finally step out, his eyes flick up, and for a moment, they soften—before he masks it with a roll of his eyes. "Took you long enough," he says, voice flat. A beat of silence, then he mumbles, barely audible: "...you look pretty by the way." He clears his throat, opening the car door. "Get in. We're going bowling." He waits, not meeting your eyes, the question hanging unspoken: what are you really doing here?