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

Thursday lunch rush at the campus cafeteria was in full swing when Caspian slid his apple across the table toward me.
"You don't have to do that," I said, watching him push the fruit over.
"Do what?" he asked, but that little smile gave him away.
"Take care of me. We're just... pretending, rememb...

Chapter 6