Page 63 of Fake It 'til You Make It

‘Because Andrew’s family and mine go way back. Why risk their friendship and have everyone hate Andrew? Why make me feel like even more of a fool than I already do?’

I’d like to challenge her but I also need to remember that Idon’t know much about Abbey, not really. Instead, I tell her, ‘You’re almost as much of a mess as me.’

Somehow, in our joint misery, we end up laughing together, and the fact that we are both laughing at each other seems to make us laugh even harder.

26

ABBEY

This whole impromptu dinner feels like good homework. Despite his super rough last twenty-four hours, Mike’s been… sensitive and thoughtful. Melancholy yet completely charismatic. And through all of it, his kind of mischievous, playful streak has still been here.

Not that I’d say it to him but I’m starting to wonder whether some of what I perceived to be arrogance isn’t just his cheeky personality. He’s arrogant, for sure, but tonight he’s been open and honest.

That’s why I don’t want to keep my lies from him anymore. I almost confessed to everything, being an auditor, not being an actress, lying to my family about Andrew and me.

But at the last moment, I decided, Iaman actress, I’ve made good on the lie and I’m really pleased I have because being an actress is more fun, way cooler than being an auditor and Mike might have run a mile rather than agreeing to be my fake boyfriend if he knew that, on top of lying to my family, I’m also just a very plain and ordinary numbers girl, who is closer to being unemployed than employed. Far from a match for a sports star.

I’m certain I’ll be discovered in Canada in any event but for now… I kind of like him.

In fact, Ireally li— Whoa! Hold up, Abigail. Hold up.

Fakerelationship. One hundred percentnotreal.

I can’t deal with a relationship right now and Mike sure as hell can’t.

Even if there was a fleeting moment when I asked if he was in love with Fleur and I think, maybe, maybe not, probably not… but it’s possible that he cared what I made of his answer?

Stop. Stop. Stop.

Dangerous. And. Unnecessary. Thoughts.

Focus on something else, anything else, like… his laptop and the swarm of papers around it again, this time on the coffee table in the lounge.

‘What does a baseball player need with a laptop and a stack of important-looking papers?’ I remember the names I saw – Ted and Vanguard RED Technologies.

Mike points in the direction of the coffee table. ‘Those? Ah…’ He scratches his head, as if he’s playing dumb in a sitcom. ‘Ah… My brother is in a spot with his business and he asked me to take a look at some stuff for him.’

I can feel my brow creasing without intent. I don’t mean to be rude, it’s just… ‘Why would he ask you? Sorry. I just mean?—’

Thankfully, he smirks. ‘Are you typecasting me again?’

I bite my lip. ‘Sorry.’

He shrugs but doesn’t verbalize that I’m off the hook. ‘Actually, I’m a silent investor in his business and I’ll probably up my stake when I retire. Not that I have the first clue about business.’ He moves toward the papers in the lounge.

Finally, something I’m comfortable with. I take the last forkful of curry from my plate, pick up a garlic and coriander naan and head toward him.

We both come to sit on the sofa and Mike tells me, ‘My brother, Ted, has ah, fallen out with his business partner and he needs to come up with some kind of solution to getting his partner out of the business, whilst leaving him in control, and knowing he can’t afford to buy his partner out.’

‘That, I might be able to help you with.’ Forgetting myself entirely, I tell him, ‘I have a degree in forensic accounting. I used to be an auditor.’

‘You did?’

Sugar. I. Am. The. Worst. Actress. In. The. World.

‘Ah, yeah, but don’t worry, I saw my senses and I’m much more fun these days.’Urgh, I wish. ‘Anyway, that’s the kind of thing my boyfriend would know about me, right?’

‘For sure. And, ah, for the record, it’s… impressive.’

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