Page 56 of Fake It 'til You Make It

‘Said like every arrogant man who ever got called out on his arrogance.’

He chortles and it’s nice to know I can break his gloominess, if only briefly.

I think, actually, I do sort of know the man standing next to me. I think this man might be the man I’ve seen between the arrogance, between the repetitive tossing of a baseball off the wall above my head. I think he might be the bits I’ve seen and liked.

‘It makes sense now, why you helped me out with Andrew and why you agreed to be my date to my parents’ party.’

He nods, seeming lost in contemplation. ‘Abbey, actually… the truth is… the truth is, I just want— I just stopped by to find out why you were really coming to see me? I should also probably tell you that Fleur thinks we’re seeing each other.’

‘Oh! Why would she think that?’

He winces. ‘Because I told her as much. She thinks you’re my very successful actress girlfriend, actually.’

I fleetingly forgot my own misrepresentation about acting. Though, I am technically an actress now. This is preciselywhyI am making good on my pretend career. For moments like these, when Mike needs to hold me out as something extraordinary to his ex.

‘Oh. I guess that’ll do it.’ I want to ask why and if he’s crazy but I know why. For exactly the same reasons as I lied about Mike being my boyfriend. To save face and maybe, in his case, to make Fleur jealous. ‘Did she believe us?’

‘Yes. Not that you helped me out much, running back off downstairs the way you did. I guess all that money spent on drama school was wasted, huh? I’m going to have to drag you through this on my coattails.’

I gasp, offended on behalf of the sham version of me. ‘I’m going to let that slide, Michael Thomas, but consider that strike one.’

‘Ah, so you do know baseball?’

‘Actually, I know zip about baseball. And to answer your question, I was coming to see you because my mom called and asked if I, well,we, I guess, can go to Canada earlier, like, maybe Tuesday next week?’

‘Oh.’

‘Don’t worry. It’s a silly idea. You probably don’t want to gothrough with it at all now, what with everything you have going on. And a week of faking it is a very different proposition than a couple of nights. Forget I ask?—’

‘Sounds good. Let’s do it.’

‘For real?’

He gives me a mockingly questioning side-eye. ‘Exactly the opposite of reality. Expending with it as soon as possible would be good.’

Ha, true.

‘But I have one condition.’

‘Go on.’

‘No more googling. If you want to know something about me, just ask. Deal?’

‘Deal.’

He finishes his tea and places his cup down on the coffee table, then looks at me and asks, ‘Are we good? Because I don’t really know many people in New York and you’ve been a somewhat difficult and smartass distraction, but a distraction nonetheless and I’d kind of like to keep you around, if that’s okay?’

‘Oddly, that’s one of the most critical yet sweet things anyone has ever said to me.’ I smile gently and he returns the expression as he pushes off from the countertop.

‘I better be off. Before hotel reservations close for the night.’

‘Why are you staying in a hotel?’ I ask as we walk toward the door.

He shrugs and picks up his backpack from the floor where he left it. ‘My ex is staying upstairs and whilst I really can’t stand to be around her right now, I’m not going to send her out into the city looking for another place to stay.’

That’s really very civilized of him, particularly in the circumstances. I open the door and he steps out into the hallway. ‘Why don’t you just stay here?’

‘Wow, you’re really forward. We haven’t even had our first official fake date, yet.’

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