The Boyfriend I Made Up Ordered A Ride I Never Booked Chapter 01
After my college roommates all got boyfriends, they became obsessed with setting me up.
I was so over it that I made up a boyfriend of my own.
Tonight, after a late dinner with the roommates, everyone had their guys coming to pick them up.
To avoid getting caught, I casually said, “My boyfriend’s working late tonight. He can’t pick me up.”
The second we stepped out of the restaurant, a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van pulled up to the curb. A chauffeur in white gloves opened the door and gestured for me to get in.
“Ms. Hayes, your boyfriend has arranged a luxury car service for you. Enjoy the ride.”
I froze on the spot.
I was completely single. My boyfriend was completely made up.
So who the hell had called this car?
“Elena, you’ve been so low-key! This is the ‘regular working-class guy’ you’ve been talking
about?”
“No wonder you kept turning down our setups. You already landed a rich one!”
I gave a tight smile, but I couldn’t get a word out.
For two years of college, my “imaginary boyfriend” had been way too convenient.
Friends wanted to go karaoke till 2 AM? Sorry, my boyfriend doesn’t want me out that late.
A senior from my major started pursuing me and I couldn’t say no directly? Sorry, I already have a
boyfriend.
It worked like a charm.
But in reality, I was twenty-one years old and had never even held a guy’s hand.
If I made eye contact with a guy for more than a second, I’d get so awkward I’d want the ground to
swallow me whole.
Where the hell did this boyfriend come from?
I sneaked a glance at the chauffeur. He stood by the car door, back ramrod straight. Didn’t look like he’d gotten the wrong person.
“Sir, are you sure you have the right passenger? My name is Elena Hayes.
“That’s correct. The reservation has your name and your phone number. Take a look.”
He handed me his phone. The app confirmed everything. No mistake.
My mind went blank.
Who?
Out of the corner of my eye, I scanned my roommates. Could they all be in on it together?
But Jenna was clinging to her boyfriend’s arm, being all lovey-dovey.
Morgan was looking down at her phone, a little smile on her lips-clearly texting her guy.
Natalie was impatiently urging her boyfriend to hurry up and bring the car around.
Nothing unusual about any of them.
“Ms. Hayes, please get in. Your boyfriend specifically asked me to make sure you get back to your dorm safely.”
The chauffeur urged me again, and my roommates nudged me from behind.
I gritted my teeth and climbed in.
The ride was smooth. The chauffeur didn’t say a word.
When we pulled up to Hawthorne Hall, I opened my mouth to ask the guy’s name –but he hit the
gas and drove off before I could get a word out.
I stood there in the wind for a long moment before finally heading inside.
The second I walked in, I saw a beautifully wrapped gift box sitting on my desk.
But I hadn’t ordered anything online recently.
After hesitating for a while, I tore it open.
Inside was a full La Mer Holiday Skincare Set-the exact one I’d casually mentioned in the dorm yesterday, saying I probably wouldn’t be able to afford stuff that expensive until I was thirty.
A card sat on top.
“You don’t have to wait until thirty. You can have it now. – Your loving boyfriend”
Morgan and the other two roommates walked in just then. When they saw that viral skincare set,
their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
“Holy shit, this set costs like twenty-five hundred bucks, right? Elena, your guy’s loaded!”
“Elena, spill. Is your boyfriend a corporate exec or a trust fund kid?”
I shoved the box back inside, my face pale.
“What’s wrong? You got a gift and you’re not happy about it?”
Morgan nudged my arm. “Did you two fight?”
I didn’t answer.
The only people who knew I was eating at that restaurant tonight, and that I’d been eyeing that
skincare set, were the three girls in this room.
Were they really messing with me?
But this stuff was expensive. We were all broke college students. Who would drop that kind of cash
on a prank?
I dug the tracking number off the box and looked up the sender.
It came back as “Anonymous Shipping.” All the sender details were blocked out.
This was way too mysterious.
I lay in bed, racking my brain, but couldn’t come up with a single explanation.
The next morning, I dragged myself downstairs with dark circles under my eyes. The RHD called
out to me.
“Elena! Perfect timing. Someone sent you breakfast!”
My heart dropped. I had a bad feeling about this.
Sure enough, I took the insulated bag from the delivery courier and looked inside.
It was my absolute favorite-Gourmet Lobster Rolls-along with hot coffee.
A card was tucked underneath, the handwriting elegant.
“Remember to eat breakfast. Don’t go to class on an empty stomach. – Your loving boyfriend”
My hand shook. I nearly dropped the whole bag.
