Page 76 of Resorting to Romance

TWENTY-ONE

Kai

Sorry I annoyed you with my friendship.

~ Andy, The Office

Mila’s looking up at me with those soft brown eyes, so willing to do whatever I’d ask of her.

Kiss me, I want to say.

But, instead, I ask what I had planned to ask. “My family is coming from Hawaii for Kalaine and Bodhi’s wedding.”

“I know. It’s going to be beautiful. I can’t wait.”

“Yeah. Well.” I clear my throat. “We have this old family friend. Our parents always sort of planned for us to end up together.”

“Oh.”

It’s dark out, but I could swear I see a flash of disappointment cross Mila’s features.

“I see, that’s fine, Kai.”

“What exactly do you see?” I ask.

“The family friend. She’ll be your date? Right? Andthen … maybe more?”

Her voice is softer than the night, thin and wispy. I’d love to tell myself it’s because she’d miss me—that she wants what we’re doing here to turn real as much as I do. But I know her stance on men. She’s probably imagining all the ways me dating Aima would open her up to Brad. No way. I’m not leaving Mila in a position where Brad can make a move.

“Mila, no.” I put my hand on her shoulder for reassurance.

I’ve been touching her all night, foolishly indulging in a dream world, pretending we are more than we are. Yes, we needed to pull this off. But did I have to put my hand on her knee, or to wrap my arm around her back at the dinner table? Was it necessary to brush strands of hair away from her face, or to kiss her on the corner of her mouth? Some physical affection between us was probably important to convey the appearance of a new relationship—but I allowed myself to enjoy the sensation of her in my arms. I spent the whole night openly showing Mila how much I care for her and she never perceived one gesture for what it actually was.

Now this simple act of laying my hand on her shoulder rekindles memories of all the little touches we shared tonight. Her soft skin beneath my roughened fingertips. The way she allowed me to be the one she leans on, the one who pulls her into my arms and feels her settle there as if there’s nowhere else she’d rather be—as if my embrace is her haven. What would it be like if she let me in for real? If I could be the man she chooses to cross all her carefully drawn lines for?

I gaze down at her, resisting every urge to pull her nearer, just to hold her one more time this evening. I force myself to focus on what I need to ask instead of all the warring desires firing off just beneath the surface.

“Aima isn’t going to be my date to the wedding. She is single, though. And our parents were planning to fix us up. Again.”

“Oh.” Mila looks stunned and confused. “She’s not your date?”

A small smile plays across her lips. Relief, I’m sure, knowingour farce can continue and her barrier against her ex will remain firmly in place.

“No. I told you I’m committed to you and our pretense for as long as you need me. I’d never back out. Not even for a date I wanted to go on—not that I want to date anyone. I don’t. Not anyone other than you. In our fake dating arrangement.” I run my free hand through my hair. “Anyway. Aima is definitely a date I don’t want. Not that she’s a bad person. She’s just notmyperson.”

“Ohhhh.” Realization dawns on Mila. “You want me to be your date so Aima can’t be.”

“Well, yes.”

“Of course, I will.”

“My parents already think you and I are dating, so they’d expect us to go together anyway. But if you weren’t by my side, your absence might lead my mom to think we aren’t that serious.”

“Totally. It’s no problem. I’m glad to be your date. I’m going to the wedding anyway.”

“You know this will mean acting out our charade in front of a lot more people. You don’t have to say yes.”

“It’s the least I can do. But, Kai, I think we need to figure out a few more things.”

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