No Turning Back

Harper walked towards Logan and his friends, who were chatting. She couldn't believe that she was going to ask Logan Hayes to fake date her. How was he going to react? Harper felt the beat of her own heart practically ringing in her ears. The anticipation was eating her up.

Tyla's idea had sounded ridiculous at first, but after mulling over it for an entire day, Harper had come to the conclusion that it was her only option. All you have to do is make people believe you and Logan are dating. That way, they'll stop poking their noses into your business.

It was ridiculous.

It was reckless.

But it was also the only way.

Harper's legs felt heavy as she clutched the strap of her tote bag, gripping it tightly while making her way toward Logan. As if she was forcing herself to move.

The moment she stepped closer, Logan caught sight of her from the corner of his eye.

And then—he smirked.

Damn him.

Even without saying a word, Logan Hayes had the ability to make her skin prickle. His arrogance, his confidence—it was infuriating.

Sighing, she stopped behind him. Eric and Kennedy exchanged glances. Weird.

Taking a deep breath, she exhaled.

Then—

She tapped Logan lightly on the shoulder.

Logan turned, his devilish smirk still in place. Just from the way he looked at her, she felt her heartbeat quicken.

"Hello, princess," he drawled, his tone laced with amusement.

"We talked about the name, Logan," she warned, irritated, folding her arms.

"Since when did Logan follow the rules?" he teased again.

Harper rolled her eyes.

"Bro, we'll head to class," Kennedy said, and he and Eric left after receiving a sharp nod from Logan.

So," Logan drawled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "To what do I owe this honor?"

Harper wasted no time. "I assume you've heard the news."

"What news?" Logan asked, raising an eyebriw slightly.He knew exactly what she was referring to, but he was in the mood to mess with her.

Harper rolled her eyes. "This isn't the time to joke around," she said, but Logan just shrugged.

"What are we going to do?" Harper asked.

She had already decided to ask Logan for his ideas before jumping to conclusions—before asking him to fake date her.

Logan Hayes leaned back slightly, letting her words sink in. We?

He almost laughed.

There was no we in this situation.

The rumors hadn't touched him. His reputation? Still untouchable. His life? Unbothered.

It was her problem, not his.

And yet, here she was, standing in front of him, expecting him to care.

"We? I don't see the we in this," Logan Hayes replied.

Harper clenched her fists. Of course he didn't care. The scandal had barely touched him—it wasn't his name being dragged through the mud.

But hers?

Harper Reed—the perfect Dean's daughter, the rule-follower—was now the center of campus gossip.

Harper let out a sarcastic chuckle, matching the grin on Logan's lips. "Let's see. You don't care about this because the scandal isn't really about you," Harper said, blood boiling within her.

Logan shrugged.

You're such a genius, princess," he quipped.

Harper hissed through her teeth.

"Why do you find everything funny?" she snapped.

"Maybe because it is," he said, his voice laced with mockery. "Look, I can't waste any more time. Thanks for yours."

And with that he began walking away.

"Logan!"she called out but Logan ignored her

Then it hit her .

She had to make people believe she was dating Logan Hayes—the campus bad boy.

Harper felt her heart thudding.

She took a deep breath.

"I want you to fake date me," she said.

Logan stopped mid-step.

He didn't turn around immediately. For a brief moment, Harper thought she'd broken him.

Then—

Slowly, he tilted his head, turning to face her.

His expression wasn't what she had expected.

Not anger.

Not amusement.

Just pure, unwavering curiosity.

"What?" he asked, his gaze unwavering.

Harper swallowed.

"I said," she began, forcing herself to meet his eyes, "I want us to fake date."