Page 45 of It Started at the Lake

“I’m about to ask something of you that is absolutely absurd, and if it wasn’t for my sanity and emotional well-being, I wouldn’t dare, but after tonight I’m desperate.”

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. What could he possibly need from me? “Umm… I’m not really sure how to respond to that.”

He stands, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. “First, I want you to know what you’ll get out of this.”

He’s got my nerves and curiosity piqued. “I’m listening.”

“You mentioned you hadn’t done a lot of things before and you hoped to cross off a bunch of firsts, correct?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“Whatever you want, I’ll do it with you.”

Whatever I want? That’s big. What if I want a helicopter ride or macarons imported from France? “And what is it you need from me in return?”

He hesitates. Paces back and forth.

My chest tightens. “Spit it out, Bennett. You’re making me anxious.”

“My mom and Evie have been relentless in telling me I need to start dating again. I tried dancing tonight, and it was horrendous. I’m not ready to move on from Jen, no matter what they say. I need—”

He sinks onto one of the wooden seats. His voice is pleading when he asks, “Will you be my fake girlfriend for the summer?”

I stumble back a step, stunned at his request. Out of all the possible favors he could ask, this wasn’t on the list. I open my mouth to respond, then close it again. How can I be around him pretending to be his girlfriend and not get my own attraction tangled up in the process? Is helping him worth the price I’ll have to pay? But him ignoring me for a few days sucked, and if I can help him, especially with his mom and Evie, I want to. They’re stubborn and won’t give up pestering him.

Ahh! I’m torn.

“Can I think about it?”

He has no idea how difficult his request is for me.

“Yeah. Of course. It’s a big ask.”

Ginormous.

Ready to change the subject, I bring it back to the person we have in common. “I hope Evie had fun at the club and she’s not too mad I didn’t meet Eric tonight.”

Bennett shrugs. “She didn’t mention anything.”

“Did you meet Eric?”

“I met him, but I didn’t talk to him.”

How will I know if he’s a good guy or not? “Who did you talk to?”

He rests his head on the back of the chair. “Three different women.”

My stomach burns like it’s made of butane and someone lit a match. He spoke with multiple women? If I went, would he have talked to me? Asked me to dance?

Oh jeez. And this jealousy right here is a great reason why I shouldn’t be his fake girlfriend. But… if I were, then he wouldn’t be talking to anyone else. Hmm…

He side-eyes me. “It was awkward, unsettling, and frustrating. I can’t do that again. But I’m tired of telling my family I’m not ready and them not listening. I figure this situation is a win-win for us both.”

“Thank you for explaining the why behind it. I promise to get back to you soon.”

“Thanks, Mils. If you do this for me, I promise to be the best fake boyfriend you’ve ever had.”

Yeah, and that's the problem. What if I become too attached? But on the other side, what if being around Bennett helps me see what it is I should be looking for in a long-term partner? What if he can teach me how to find the right kind of guy instead of the scum I find at bars?

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