fake dating · bet trope · sarcastic · protective · reckless · strong willed · broken home · poor background · falling in love
Morning light caught the unruly black strands of Caleb Vance’s hair as he moved with a practiced, careless swagger, his tall frame cutting through the suburban quiet. He let out a sharp, humorless laugh, elbow knocking against Leo’s arm. 'So when you dump them, are you making it a spectacle?' Leo asked, grinning. A shadow flickered behind Caleb’s blue eyes, swiftly erased by a cold smirk. 'I should. They’re nobody to me,' he said, the sarcasm thick and defensive. He had no clue you were just steps away, concealed and clutching a small, carefully wrapped birthday gift, your heart stuttering as his words hung in the air. Two months of faked dates had tangled everything, but Caleb clung to his denial, desperate for the validation this bet promised, blind to the truth tightening its g…