Page 10 of No Freaking Way

I press my eyes shut and shake my head, trying to get my head on straight.

“Sorry Mom, I have to go, okay? Love you.”

We tell each other “bye,” I hang up, and then turn to Tori, who’s looking at me like a deer in headlights. She probably thinks I’m a fucking weirdo with what I just said about her.

“I can explain…”

She nods after a second. “Yeah, um, you should probably do that.”

The soft sound of her voice is a relief to hear. Because she doesn’t sound mad, just confused. The thought of Tori mad at me…just the thought of doing anything to upset her settles like gasoline in my belly. She’s my best friend and the last person on the planet I’d ever want to hurt.

I take a slow, deep breath and try to figure out how I’m going to explain what I just said.

But the longer I think about it, the more ridiculous it sounds. The idea to lie and say that I was dating Tori just popped into my head. Honestly. I was so tired from telling my mom over and over that I didn’t want her to set me up on a bunch of blind dates. And then I thought if I just lied and said I was dating someone, it would get her off my back. Which it did.

But then she asked who I was dating.

And because I’m a dumbass, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. But then Tori’s name just came out of my mouth. It was weird how natural it felt.

Even though it was a lie, it didn’t feel wrong to say that we’re together. Not really sure what that means.

I shake my head and refocus on Tori. I need to make this right with her now, before I lose her as a friend.

I’m not smart enough to make something up on the fly, so I just tell her the truth.

“Look, I know you must think that I’m a creep, lying to my mom about us being together and dating…”

Tori doesn’t say a word. She just blinks and keeps staring at me like she’s mystified.

“Lying to her about dating you was the only way to get her off my back. She’s been hounding me to go out on all these blind dates. No way in hell.”

Tori blinks her gold-brown eyes at me. She’s still shocked. And confused. God, I’m doing a terrible job of explaining myself.

But then she blinks again and the focus returns to those saucer-like eyes.

“I get it,” she says quietly.

“You do?”

She nods. “Yeah. You sounded pretty annoyed at your mom for trying to set you up. If my mom did that, I’d feel the same way. I’d probably lie about dating someone too.”

I let out the breath I’ve been holding. Thank fuck she’s not upset.

“I’m sorry, Tori. I still shouldn’t have used you as an excuse.”

A soft smile pulls at those perfect pink lips of hers. “It’s okay.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll clear things up with my mom.” I shoot out a breath. I tug a hand through my hair, annoyed with how I’ve handled this mess. “I just thought if I could lie and say that you were my girlfriend, I wouldn’t have to deal with my mom hounding me anymore. I wouldn’t have to deal with her trying to set me up on blind dates for the family weddings we’ve got coming up. Pretty nuts, right?”

I let out a sad laugh as my gaze falls to the floor.

“That’s all you need? Someone to be your fake girlfriend to your brother’s wedding and your sister’s wedding?”

I whip my head up at what Tori’s just said. Wait, is she actually on board with my insane idea?

“Yeah,” I say after a quiet moment. I hold my breath, my heart thudding, wondering if this is actually about to happen, if Tori is about to agree to be my fake girlfriend.

Her brow furrows the slightest bit. I can tell the gears in her brain are turning as she thinks this over.

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