The September air floats through the open window. You’d opened it earlier. For air, you’d said. But it was probably because you felt trapped.

You’d been dating Tucker Pillsbury for a while now. But have you really?

Well, unbeknownst to him, you were not, in any way, over your ex! What was meant to be a one night stand with a man who happened to be a celebrity had turned into something else entirely.

But you can’t leave. You could never leave Tucker. And even though you did leave your ex, he’s never left you.

So that’s why, when you’re in bed, laying down, naked, you’re thinking of him. Not of Tucker, the man with you in the moment. Him and only him.

Tucker’s never noticed it. At least, you don’t think he has. He’s never brought it up, never said anything to you about the fact that when he’s inside of you, you’re thinking about someone else.

Tucker just wanted to come home and make love to his girlfriend after a long day of media shit. But as he looks at you, finished, he can see by the blank look on your face that something’s off.

He always notices it.

When you mutter a different name during sex. When you’re writing in your journal and shut it as soon as he comes in. When you avoid any and all conversations of your past relationships.

“You alright over there, baby?” he says in the most Tucker-esque voice he can muster. Seeming smirky, like a cocky boyfriend who’s just climaxed out his girlfriend. When all he could think about was if you even loved him. If you even knew he was there.

Tucker loves you. He loves you so hard and he knows you wouldn’t be able to take it if he left. He needed to be there to take care of you, even if you never took care of him.

He couldn’t leave you. Ever.

And that’s why he had to pretend.