Page 23 of The Fake Dating War

I know how dedicated Coleman is to work, so for him to call it a job isn’t an insult… It’s a promise. The amount of attention he pays to details is rigorous. All his steely focus is always on whatever task is in front of him. He’s methodical and doesn’t make mistakes. He organizes dense facts within seconds, whereas most people need hours just to understand the information first. If he wasn’t my competition, I would freely admit the man is brilliant, and almost to an alarming degree.

He slams his door shut. Putting his car into reverse, one-handed again, he drives away without looking at me. I should feel all pleased and victorious that I’ve irritated him enough to storm off, but I don’t.

It’s not the worst thing I’ve said, and he’s certainly made meaner jabs at me, but for once I think I said the wrong thing.

Obviously, I know his first name.

Jake.

I test saying it in my head, feeling myself shiver.

Jake, Jake, Jake.

My pocket vibrates and I jump in place, looking around frantically as if caught doing something I shouldn’t be. When I pull my phone out, I see it’s Leo. He’s reminding me I have that date from Finder tonight.

Right. I should be excited. No, ecstatic. This is what I need to focus on.

Getting a date for my sister’s wedding!

Only four days left to go …

16

REEMA

The next day, there are more bagels in the lunchroom. Whoever this generous benefactor is, they are single-handedly supplying my breakfast. When Coleman steps away from his desk, I put a non-poppyseed one by his computer so we’re even.

When he comes back, he stares at it and then stares at me. I pretend I don’t notice and keep typing on my computer.

There is also no noticing of how his white-collared shirt has the sleeves rolled up to showcase flawless forearms and beautifully articulated hands. The trousers—once again—are fitted, almost insufferably so. Everyone thinks so. That’s why he’s getting second glances and heads poke out of cubicles to watch him walk away.

When Leo gets in, I turn to him.

“That date was not a winner,” I exclaim moodily.

“Why?” Leo sits down and crams a plastic wrapped bag into his desk drawer. From the corner of my eye, I see him scanning my outfit.

“It had nothing to do with what I’m wearing,” I argue. “I dressed up for the date.” Today’s work outfit includes pants from my old wardrobe. Two years ago, they used to be the perfect length when I paired them with sexy pointy-toed heels. But when I started wearing them with scuffed sneakers, the hem of the pants hit the ground and have since worn down. I’ve tried fixing them with a needle and thread, but I’m not the best at that. The edges keep fraying and there’s a spot on my thigh, which is a few wears away from becoming a hole. My top is a wool turtleneck that gave up and lost shape in the dryer.

Leo wisely does not refute my claims of dressing up for Chance Miller, age forty, occupation, owner of a skyscraper window washing business.

“I have a fancy dress,” I insist. “For special occasions.” One of the few things I keep stored and saved in its original condition.

Leo logs into his computer. “So, what happened with Chance?”

“We went on a walk.”

“Scintillating. Go on.”

My eyes flick across the aisle. Coleman’s headphones are on. He’s occupied with whatever client he’s trying to sign. Good. There’s always a constant drum of voices in this room, but conversations have been known to carry far. Before I collapsed in the elevator with him, he’d brought up something about my dates. Obviously he knows I’m on Finder, but I pray he’s oblivious to the reasons why.

Because I lied to my family that I’m in a relationshipis next-level pathetic to most people.He can’t learn that part.

Not that I have time to worry about that. Today, I’ve got a client needing a quote for our consulting services, but they’ve included so many addendum adjustments that it will take me the whole morning just to put it together.

“What happened after you walked with Chance?” asks Leo, bringing me back.

“That’s the thing.” I start up the quote. “When I say we walked, I mean we walked a lot. Like three hours’ worth of walking!”

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