After my father's sudden death, the scholarship fund he left behind could only be inherited by a "son." To afford college, I had no choice but to live as a male since high school—I've been masquerading in the men's dorm for a year and a half now.
Until that damn shower incident—I thought the steam was thick enough, thought my roommate Caspian didn't see anything. But he started looking at me differently, with a tenderness that made my heart race.
Worse yet, my toxic ex Diesel suddenly transferred here and began suspecting my real identity. Just when the threat was closing in, the football team captain himself offered—
"Be my girlfriend, Scout. Even if it's fake."
His protection was fierce and gentle, making me question if this was all an act or...But when my secret was maliciously exposed and he declared before the entire school "She's MY girl," I realized what trouble I'd brought him.
I had to leave. I couldn't keep dragging him down.
So why did he chase me to the hospital to tell me: "Scout, I've known you were a girl from day one. And it's the real you I fell for."

Fake Dating My Protective Captain

Caspian was quiet for a long moment, then said, "Because you're worth protecting, Scout. You've been so brave, living this way, carrying this secret. You deserve to feel safe."
My heart was hammering in my chest. Not from fear, but from something I didn't dare name.
"The guys will think we're..."
...

Chapter 5