Page 34 of The Fake Dating War

Pretend for a little longer. Then, when you get the bonus, clear all the debt, and find an apartment worth having visitors over for.

It’s going to work, right? I will win the bonus, won’t I?

Coleman knows I’ve done something. If he digs?—

Technically, I didn’t gointothe office. If they check the security code of the doors, it won’t show someone trying to get in at night.

But if they check the parking lot cameras…

There’s no reason to do that. But if they did, would Mr.Davies take the money away from me?

I close the curtains around my bed and lie down. There’s a painful spring on the left side of the futon. I love star-fishing at night but have taught my body to stay curled on the right side because of it.

If everything goes according to plan, I won’t have to do that anymore. I’ll get a proper bed. The thought of bedding without discomfort should make me happy… but why do I feel so uneasy? Coleman was pissed. I could tell. He’s not the type of man to give up. I know he’s going to attack work with a vengeance. Leo will be in Jamaica, so he won’t even be able to track the scoreboard for me, and my login has been disabled. I’ll be blind for a whole week.

Make him blind, too.

If he went to the wedding with me…

No, that’s fucking nuts!

Even though, with Mr.Davies’ new policy, it would mean he couldn’t login either. Both of us would have our hands tied at the same time. Is it reason enough to take him up on his offer?

But also why? What reason does he have to be my date? What would be in it for him? What am I missing?

I roll on my side and look at my phone. My sister called three times this week, which is a lot for her, and I need to call her back. I’ve been avoiding it, telling myself I could figure out a plan before talking to her, but none of the Finder matches have worked. Tonight, the night before I leave for the wedding, is when I have to say my boyfriend can’t make it. Stomach issues. Crapping your pants. No one questions that. If I tell her now, it gives her some time to inform everyone before I show up.

Then…

Everyone will harass you for the details.

Still, I’ve got no option.

I call Esha.

“You can’t be too busy for your sister,” she says. “Especially right now.”

“Sorry! Work. You know how busy it gets.”

“This is important?—”

“I know, your wedding is important?—”

“No,” she interrupts. “Not that. Well, itisimportant, but that’s not why I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.”

“Oh. What’s going on?”

“Harry.”

My stomach instantly cramps into a knot. NowI’mabout to crap my pants. “Harry? What… about him?”

“He found out about my wedding. And if you picked up my call, I’d have asked if it mattered, but then Uncle Sammy, being Uncle Sammy, invited Harry anyway on behalf of the family. I swear he’s trying to get him and everyone else to invest in his pyramid scheme. He’s been invitingsomany extras to my wedding! Anyway, before I could stop it, Harry already RSVP’d yes. Who knows if he’ll actually show up and you have your own boyfriend coming, so I think it’s fine, right? You always said your separation was super friendly, which is weird, but whatever.”

Say no. Tell her the truth.

You invited the person who made me this way, Esha. Why would you do that?

Except, she’s got no idea. No one does.

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