Page 34 of Pretend Girlfriend

Was she thinking about our date last week? It was all I could think about. Specifically how it had been cut short before we could have some real fun. Being so close to her, and unable to do anything about it, was torture.

Sexy torture.

After dessert, Austin came up to our table and put a hand on Marisa’s back. “I just wanted to say goodbye to y’all before I headed out,” he said in that smooth Texas accent.

Yeah. Bradyn was right to be worried about this guy.

Marisa got up and hugged him, and then Bradyn stood and shook his hand. Austin gave a little wave to the rest of the table.

“Austin!” Joanna suddenly called out. “Don’t you have something you want to tell Landon?”

Austin looked dumbstruck. I knew that I had the same expression on my face. What was Joanna doing? Did she want him to tell everyone the big secret?

“What do you mean?” Austin choked out.

“Oh you know,” Joanna said with a big smile. “That thing you told me on the way back from the bathroom. Remember?”

While everyone was staring expectantly at Austin, I shot Joanna a warning look. She ignored me and waited for Austin’s answer.

“Well,” Austin slowly explained to the table, “I told Joanna that the Cozarts are good people. And that she ought to hold onto one of them for as long as she can.”

There was a chorus of awws around the table.

Joanna’s smile was full of satisfaction. I guess she really did find a way to threaten him into silence.

Marisa’s father made an announcement about the wedding timeline and who needed to arrive early. Then everyone was saying their goodbyes and heading out. It was a chilly evening in downtown Chicago, with a crisp breeze that woke my body up after sitting for so long. I hugged Danicka and the rest of the Cozarts, then started to walk south to the Metra station. Joanna’s voice stopped me short.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Joanna said to Landon. Then the two of them came together in a hug, which turned into a kiss. The kind of kiss where she was pushing her entire body up against his.

I turned away. Jealousy was a living thing inside my chest, twisting and spreading. I knew it was all fake, that she was only pretending to be his girlfriend, but logic didn’t matter.

“I think I forgot my phone,” I muttered to nobody in particular, then went back inside the restaurant. I needed a drink.

“Strawberry martini,” I ordered at the bar.

The bartender, a cute blonde woman who was all business, raised an eyebrow at me.

“Save your judgment. Strawberry martinis are delicious.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t say a word.”

Once she handed me the drink, I took a long sip. It was sweet and fruity and had the deeper taste of alcohol. Seriously, why didn’t guys order these more often? Modern ideas of masculinity were stupid.

“Kind of a girly drink, don’t you think?” a voice said.

Joanna slumped onto the bar next to me with a sigh.

“A friend turned me on to these,” I said.

“She sounds smart.”

“And hot,” I added.

She raised a finger to the bartender. “I’ll take one of these.” Then, to me: “I need to wash the taste of Chardonnay out of my mouth. Pretending to be someone’s girlfriend is exhausting.”

“I bet.” I sipped my drink casually. “You seemed pretty convincing though. Especially when saying goodnight.”

Joanna gave me a sideways glance. “Why, Teddy. Is that jealousy I detect?”

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