Page 19 of Oops, I'm Having My Best Friend’s Baby!

“That’s… that’s cool. Yeah, it’s a great language.”

She could tell that Kai was trying desperately not to laugh, so Amy ignored him and kept her face perfectly polite, digging a heel into his toes under the table. Jess seemed… enthusiastic, but also genuine, like she really did think Mexican fusion was cool. And no one else had ever said it was cool before.

Jason slung his arm around the back of Jess’s chair, looking like the dictionary definition of relaxation. Kai copied him, the warm skin of his arm brushing Amy’s shoulders. More silent communication passed between them when Amy realized what he was doing.

We’re still acting like we’re just friends. We need to be a loving engaged couple. That’s the whole point of being here.

Amy leaned back into Kai’s arm, ignoring how the contact made her want to shiver. She looked over at him and smiled, and taking his cue, Kai did the same. Then he reached up and tucked a stray piece of hair behind Amy’s ear. It was a flawless performance.

Pretend. This is pretend. She repeated the phrase to herself like a silent mantra.

When Jason got up to use the bathroom and Jess disappeared to request some more of the vinaigrette, Amy and Kai sighed in unison, shoulders slumping. Amy didn’t want to say anything, not out in the open where the others might come back any second and hear them, so she just gave Kai a look. He looked as relieved as she did that they hadn’t messed this up so soon into the trip. But they were definitely going to have to get better at pretending.

Kai’s arm was still draped around the back of her shoulders and he pulled her to his side for a quick, thankful hug.

“For putting up with all of this, you’re definitely my favorite,” he whispered into her ear with an overwhelmed shake of his head. Amy just smiled.

“I know,” she said.

Pretend. This was all just pretend.

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