Page 24 of Pretend Girlfriend

Me: If you want to change the deal, then so can I. If you don’t honor your side of it, I’m going to call your mom and tell her everything.

Landon: You wouldn’t.

Me: Why? Because you know me so well?

Landon: Because if you do that, I’ll make sure you never get a job at DefTec.

Me: Who gives a shit? You’re already not helping me. I might as well go scorched earth on your ass and find a different job.

Me: And no, I’m not bluffing.

Landon: I have a compromise.

Me: I hope the compromise involves you doing what you promised.

Landon: In the original deal, I was going to make sure your application went to the top of the pile.

Me: Thanks for typing out what I already know. That wasn’t a waste of time at all.

Landon: If you come to the wedding next Saturday, I’ll do more than just put your application on the top. I’ll email the hiring manager and strongly encourage him to hire you.

Me: How well do you know the hiring manager?

Landon: We get lunch together once a week and talk about the Bears. He’ll listen to my opinion.

Now I was intrigued. Talking to the manager was so much better than just making sure my application was favored. It sounded like the job was mine.

If I agreed to go to the wedding.

Me: You have a deal. And unlike the first deal, I’m going to hold you to it.

Landon: I knew you’d see reason. I’ll text you the details later. Thanks again. You were a convincing girlfriend tonight.

I read and re-read the text. Was he referring to the kiss? That’s what it felt like. Or maybe I was over-analyzing things. It was still fresh in my mind, the way his lips felt churning against mine, heat flushing through my body as he pulled me close…

Instead of replying to Landon, I texted someone else.

Me: Are you sure you’re gone for the next two weeks? Because I can’t stop picturing your face between my legs.

Theo: Glad I left an impression. But yes, I leave for Columbus in the morning. I pop back into town next weekend, but then I’m flying out of the country Sunday morning.

Me: Columbus sounds dumb. You should come over to my place. I’ll show you my full-sized refrigerator.

Theo: My flight leaves O’Hare at six in the morning. I have to be at the airport at four :-(

Me: Counter-offer: come over to my place, we have fun not sleeping until three, and then I’ll drive you to the airport.

Theo: Driving someone to the airport is a serious commitment. There’s no way I can repay that favor. I think we’re moving too fast.

Me: Boo. I guess I can wait two weeks. But I have a really good story to tell you when I see you.

Theo: You don’t want to tell me about it now, while I’m packing?

Me: It’s a better story in person. Plus it will give us something to talk about.

Theo: That’s funny, because I wasn’t planning on doing a lot of talking when I see you.

Me: You’re so much smoother than my boyfriend.

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