Defective (The Institute Series Book 3) by Kayla Howarth

together. He has a six-year-old daughter – he doesn’t have time to go out and meet eligible women between spending time with Nuka and campaigning, and I… well I don’t date – like ever – so he offered me a room in his apartment on the condition I’d be his partner to these benefits and campaign appearances. So while we aren’t technically together, the media thinks we are, and he doesn’t want me dating because if they were to find out, it’d show ‘instability’ or something. I don’t understand what that means, but basically I can’t date until the election is over, and even then, I probably won’t want to. So when you saw that article and assumed what everyone else assumes, I ran with it because it would’ve saved me from having to have this conversation.”
    He just nods his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “You could’ve just told me that from the beginning.”
    “I could’ve, but you understand that you can’t tell your sister about it, right? I really shouldn’t have told you… I don’t actually know why I told you.”
    “I promise I won’t say anything to Jenna. And seeing as I now know why you won’t go out with me, how about we go get a drink at the bar up here – just as friends,” he offers. “It’s still early, and after my shift last night and sleeping most of the day, I’m not even tired.”
    I know I should say no. I need to say no. I’m going to say no.
    “Sure.” Damn it.
    We walk to the nearby bar, order some drinks, and go to a booth in the back where the music isn’t so loud.
    “So I think I remember you telling me you live with your sister?” I ask.
    “Yeah. I’m a uni student, so I don’t exactly have a lot of money. She’s only been in her job a few years, so she’s just starting to make decent money now. We didn’t have much of a choice about living together. It was either be roommates or live at home with Mum and Dad.”
    “You don’t get along with your parents?”
    “No, I do. They’re really great, but… living with them drove me crazy.”
    “I understand what that’s like. I was living with my parents before moving in with Paxton. It was my main reason for accepting Paxton’s offer to be his crazy ‘only for show’ girlfriend.”
    “Well just so you know, I’ll be counting down to Election Day when you no longer have to be his girlfriend, and I’ll be on your door step asking you out again.”
    I turn away to allow myself to blush in private. I’m met with an arrogant smirk when I face him again.
    “Just don’t get your hopes up. I haven’t dated anyone in eighteen months, and I don’t plan to anytime soon – even after the election.”
    “I don’t suppose you want to tell me why that is?”
    I don’t, but for some reason I find myself saying the words anyway. “Because of my ex… Hmm, I don’t know if I can even call him that. If he were still alive, I’m sure we’d still be together. Ex seems to imply a break up. We didn’t break up, he didn’t choose to leave me.”
    “Yup. That would explain it,” he says in realisation. “What happened to him?”
    “Ah, now that I’m not so comfortable talking about.” Mainly because I can’t tell him the truth. I could tell him Chad was shot, I could tell him I was there, but I couldn’t tell him who did it or under what circumstances.
    “No worries, I understand. It sucks you had to go through that – especially so young. Or was he older, like Paxton?”
    “Paxton’s only thirty. That’s not old! Certainly not old enough to accept death anyway.”
    “Sorry. I didn’t realise he was that young. And that’s true about the death thing.” He sighs. “I guess that was just my poor way of bringing up the fact that Paxton’s too old for you anyway.” There’s that smirk again.
    “You sound just like Ebb. Paxton may seem old, but it’s only because he’s had to take care of his daughter, Nuka, since his ex-wife abandoned them. And now that he’s in