Page 66 of My Fake Fiancé

I feel a sharp pain on my shin and I sit up quickly then groan when my head spins and lay back down. I reach over and whack Tatyana’s side.

“Wake up, you kicked me.” I yawn and roll over grabbing my phone to check the time. “Tatyana, wake up,” I try again, nudging her. “It’s after 1 p.m. Do you have work?”

I hear a groan and a pillow lands on my face. “No, day off today. Coffee at 2:30?”

“Sure, I’m going to take a shower.” I let her know and she shushes me again so I smack her with the pillow she hit me with, returning it to her. She grabs it and covers her face.

Going to the bathroom I turn on the shower then return to my room to grab a wrinkled button-up shirt to hang in the bathroom to let the steam smooth the cloth. I step into the shower wanting to relax but all I can do is think about everything that has been happening recently. So much has been going on and I have had so little time to settle down and think about anything. My time with Kurt had gone by in a flash but I remember every little detail.

Living with Kurt was so easy. I thought it would be awkward and that one or both of us would be uncomfortable in different situations but we weren’t. We worked. His apartment was a little small but I never felt crowded and I’d like to think he was comfortable too.

I turn off the shower and give a heavy sigh before exiting the small bathroom and finding Tatyana still sprawled on the couch. It’s almost 2 in the afternoon now but the coffee shop we usually go to is just down the street so I don’t bother to wake her. The light shines into my room when I open the door, I take the time to look around the room, the lack of anything Kurt makes me feel lonely. I know Tatyana lives in the room right next to me and Mike occasionally stays over but they usually stay in their own space and are private together.

I sit down on the bed and grab my phone; the screen lights up when I lift it and I see a text from Callum asking if I am free for dinner tonight. I text him back.

Juliana: 8:30?

I get a response back quickly.

Callum: Great! I’ll pick you up at 8:29 .

I smile, put my phone down, and get dressed to get coffee with Tatyana.

Once I am all dressed and ready, I almost forget to pick up my phone but at the last second, I remember to grab it before I exit my room. And I see that Tatyana has vacated the couch and the bathroom door is shut.

“T! You almost ready?” I call out to her, making my way to the kitchen and filling a glass full of ice and water then sucking on an ice cube. The bathroom door opens and a functioning Tatyana walks out of it, dressed for the day.

“Yeah, I’m ready. Oh, I have to run to the post office after coffee then have some errands I need to do after. Do you have time for that today?”

I down the rest of my water then toss the ice into the sink, feeling bad for wasting it. “Sure, I’m free until 8:30.” I pause then change my mind. “Actually, make that 7:30,” I say, wanting to leave time to get ready for my date with Callum tonight.

“Oh? Hot date tonight?” She asks then grabs her purse swinging it onto her shoulder and grabbing the keys to the apartment.

“Maybe...” I say vaguely and smile when she gives me a look.

“Be careful.” She opens the door and gestures for me to exit. I put my cup in the dishwasher and walk out the door with Tatyana following behind me. I pause by the door to wait for her to lock it, leaning against the wall I watch her struggle with the lock. “This damn old building. I always complain to Hank about these stupid doors and their stupid locks but he has never done anything to fix it.” I nod, Hank the Handyman does not live up to his name.

“Here, let me try.” She huffs and moves out of the way for me and I yank the handle up and snap the lock shut. “There! I got it!” I cheer in triumph which makes Tatyana groan.

“Shh, I still haven’t had my coffee yet.”

“Okay okay, let’s go. I want to stop in the bookstore afterward.” I tell her as we head into the stairwell and down to the lobby.

“The post office is right next to that so I’ll pop in there while you are in the bookstore.”

“Sounds good.” We make it to the coffee shop in under five minutes and only have to wait in a short line before we order. The line moves up and we step up to the counter, ordering together as always making it easier for the line behind us and the cashier. Clearing my throat, I tell the cashier my order. “Mocha Frappe, please. Blended.” I add. I always forget what the blended drinks are called. I order breakfast as well and then step aside to let Tatyana order then hand her a couple of dollars to pay for my drink while I go and find us a seat.

When Tatyana makes her way over to the booth I’ve chosen, she sets our drinks down with a large piece of coffee cake and an iced lemon loaf. “So, this date is with Callum right?” I nod before taking a sip out of my straw. “What ever happened to Kurt? I liked him a lot more than Callum.”

I laugh then sigh a little. “I don’t know. I want to reach out. I have been thinking about him recently but I don’t know if he’s thinking about me.” I lean back letting the foam of the roughed-up booth back pull me in. “It all went by so quickly. I know it was a bad situation to bond over but I don’t know. I’m glad we had that chance to get to know each other a little bit. I think I really messed up telling him it wasn’t real to me.”

“You did,” T agrees with me, much to my annoyance. “You guys were really great together.” I sit forward and take one of the forks to try the coffee cake. I put the fork down and make a face. “Coffee cake not your thing?”

“No, I’ve never really liked it but I always try.” I look across the table at her. “Do you think there’s any way that we could be together for real? After everything that’s happened?”

“Juli, I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t know. It would be hard. You would probably have to tell both of your parents why you faked being engaged but maybe they would understand and be happy that you two are trying to be together for real?” She says like a question then shrugs. “I don’t know if it would work but I do know that you should not go crawling back to Callum. Who knows what kind of scheming he’s up to or what dirty trick he’ll play next? But that option should be crossed out.” She rubs her head, trying to get rid of her hangover.

“Hey, I’m not ‘crawling back’. And he seems like he’s changed. But maybe you’re right. I feel like we’ve had this conversation a thousand times.” I sigh and take another sip of my drink. “It’s probably time to be done with Callum.”

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