Page 68 of Fake It 'til You Make It

‘There are some perks to being rich,’ he says. His words are crass but the way mischief dances in his eyes tells me he knows it.

‘Welcome back, Mike. I was worried I’d lost you to sincerity but you’ve reminded me that your lack of modesty knows no bounds.’

‘That’s right, baby,’ he says. Then he winks and with it makes me chuckle.

‘Please don’t call me baby or anything equally as misogynistic in front of my dad next week.’

‘Why, does he think you’re a virgin?’

‘Ha, I doubt that but he is traditional.’

Mike nods and I think he’s made a mental note, which I appreciate.

The irony is, my dad liked Andrew because he was well-spoken, well-mannered, respectful and emotionally balanced. There was never any spontaneity or crazy outbursts. We were always just steady.

Until we weren’t. I wonder what Dad would make of Andrew sleeping around behind my back.

Andrew.

Andrew and his girlfriend.

At my parents’ wedding vows.

My imminent humiliation.

‘So, Michael Thomas,’ I begin in my most serious voice, usually reserved for my clients. ‘Tell me everything I need to know about my new beau, the professional baseball player.’

Mike’s playfulness seems to disappear, which is reassuring. He’s taking this seriously, as if my dignity depends on it.

He clears his throat. ‘First, try to not believe everything you read on the internet. Like I said, please just ask me.’

‘Okay.’

‘Well, I’ve been good at sport all my life. Dad bought me my first bat and glove for my third birthday. I hated academia – that’s my brother’s bag, not mine. I was drafted right out of high school and moved around a few teams but I’ve been with the Giants for the last four years.’

‘Three years old, wow. How come your brother wasn’t the same?’ I’m not sure why I ask that, except I find his brother sort of fascinating. Even more so after Mike and I got under the skin of Ted’s business last night. I guess the insanely successful tech guy is more of an endearing prospect to me than the arrogant athlete guy. Or would have been, before Mike started to make me rethink my biases.

Undoubtedly, Mike would be sexier to most women and would be hated by Andrew. It will also be totally unexpected for little old me to be dating a professional athlete.

‘Ted had a glove and a ball. Older brother’s prerogative meant he always let me play whatever role I wanted, but yeah, he was pretty good. Good enough to help me train, that’s for sure. He didn’t love it the way I did. He liked lots of things and I just loved ball. But I’ve told Ted a thousand times, I would never have made it pro without those games with my brother in the local park.’

I nod. ‘Well-rounded is good. I’d like my kids to be well-rounded. Studious. Sporty. Good at life skills. Smart without being a smart ass. Talented without being boastful. Not afraid to roll up their sleeves and clean a floor or cook a meal.’

Mike snorts. ‘You want an imaginary kid.’

‘That child exists,’ I say, shoving his arm playfully.

‘No, it doesn’t.’

I scowl at him. ‘Only because I haven’t had it yet.’

Mike laughs, then his eyes catch mine and he stills momentarily. Is this a look? Is he giving me a look? I think I’d like him to be giving me a look.

Nope, that would be all kinds of messy.The very worst timing, for both of us. Like discovering the world is round right before it gets struck by a ginormous asteroid and flattened.

‘Would you like a family?’ Mike asks, looking away from me and recommencing our stroll.

‘It’s on my checklist to do by the time I’m thirty-two.’ My checklist which has always seemed to add stability and structure to my life but which lately is feeling like a leash that I’d like to be free of. ‘Just to be sure we don’t get caught out next week, you’re still injured, right? I’m not sure any of my family are hugely into baseball but Dad likes most sports and some of my cousins are the same, so they might recognize you and know about your injury.’

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