Chapter three

Killian felt trapped between his fake boyfriend role and his night shift at the cafe. Guilt struck his heart, and he couldn't shake off the feeling. He didn't love Lily, or so he thought.

As he entered the cafe, Max greeted him with a grin. "Great, you made it... but you're five minutes late." Killian's exhausted expression caught Max's attention, and he asked, "What's wrong?"

Killian dropped his bag and collapsed onto a chair, scanning the lively cafe. By morning, it was a cozy spot, but at night, it transformed into a bustling bar. He knew he would have been fired if their boss were around, but Max had his back.

Not getting a reply, Max attended to a customer before turning to Killian. 

"What's bothering you?" He asked again, paying full attention at the dude.

Meanwhile, Lily stood outside the grocery store, checking her watch for what felt like the hundredth time. She had told Killian to meet her at 6:00 PM, but he was nowhere to be found. As the minutes ticked by, her anger and impatience grew.

At 6:37 PM, she dialed Killian's number again for the seventh time but he didn't answer. She gritted her teeth, struggling to control her frustration.

She couldn't just go to Emily's birthday party without a partner. As Killian's voicemail disconnected, Emily's call displayed on her phone's screen.

"F**k!" she cursed underneath her breath. 

***

"You should really answer her calls or call her back," says Max, Killian had told him everything about the fake Boyfriend role he was trapped in and how he has to navigate his normal person life in line with playing a role of a boyfriend to a billionaire's daughter and for some reasons, he felt like he was been used. 

He felt like a tool for her to get what she wants for her own self alone, not wanting anything to do or know about his own personal issues and life. 

"I can't," Killian finally spoke, a dejected tone laced in his voice and in the way he stared at his phone ring again for what felt like the thousandths times. "I can't go. At least, not tonight." He stood on his words.

An idea shot through his head drawing him into a thoughtful evaluation. What if not always been available for her lures her into knowing him better. Into caring about his life issues and considering his mom's condition, she would offer help as soon as possible but on the other hand, things go left when he only wants it to go right.

"You're such an a**hole" Max sneered, lowly as he grabbed his back and turned to leave. 

"You're leaving so early?" Killian was drawne back to reality. He hadn't expected that Max would leave so soon.

Max halted and spun around. "Well, yeah. I have a girl to make out with." 

Killian was shocked to hear Max's muse. "But you're gay." Killian reminded him, holding back his laughter.

"Whatever." Max rolled his eyes as he turned and approached the closed double glass doors and suddenly stopped. He heaved a deep sigh and glanced back, despite the customers in the bar he still retorted Killian's attention. 

"Killian?" he called, his voice soothing and Killian looked back. "Don't hurt her feelings or you'd regret it." With that said, he pushed open the doors and left, leaving the doors swinging to a close.

Killian huffed out a deep pressuring breath through his mouth and attended to the customer's orders.

***

Lily Hales trudged through the congested dance floor as they were screaming and cheering ontop of their voice the more louder the DJ increases the hip-hop at.

Her dress was outstanding. Eyes were drooling over her as she made an entrance but that didn't seem to pique her interest except for the anger boiling through her veins. He didn't just make her wait, he made her come late to her best friends birthday party. 

Her eyes were darting around the crowded expanse of the space, scanning for just one person; Emily Martins and there she was, standing forward at the bar and leaning her hands on the countertop. 

She sucked in a deep breath before approaching her. When she got to her and tapped her gently on her tensed up shoulders, she shot her a glare.

"Hey babe, I know you might be mad at me but I can explain." Lily began. 

"Okay then, explain." Emily smirked, a cold grin visible in her eyes as she folded her hands against her breast. 

Seeing her posture sure says it all. She was infuriated at Lily. Infuriated at her behavior lately. 

"Let me guess, you were waiting for him? Your new boyfriend?," Emily said, crunching up her eyebrow. 

Lily lets out an exasperated sigh. 

"How did you even know that guy?" Emily continued, unfolding her hands. Lily couldn't tell her the truth. At least, not yet, she thought. It was all fake and she wanted it just to impress her friends and parents. It was all just to clear their doubts of her ever getting a re boyfriend and sometimes, when she sits down to think about it, she questions herself. What it was that always turned all her relationships into a total failure.

Emily's angry expression loosened when she noticed the sadness plastered on Lily's face. She hadn't expected it to be that of any issue or was she sad because Emily was angry.

"Just let it slide. Maybe he had something important to do." Emily said, pulling her in for a hug. She finally understands it but Lily still doesn't. Lily was overwhelmed and blinded with the mindset of keeping a fake relationship only to impress her parents and friends for her own benefit regardless of his own personal interest and benefits. But then, for some reasons, she felt deeply sad although it was only a platonic feeling, or so she thought.

"Something more important that his girlfriend?" Lily replied with a question. Her voice a mixture of anger and hurt as she hugs Emily so tight, wanting to cry out her anger in tears on her shoulders