Page 124 of Once Upon a Fake Date

“Didn’t think so.”

She laughed as I pulled into the parking lot in front of the apartment building where we’d lived for the last year. It was a quick drive to campus, which had been convenient for getting to class.

Pulling a silk blindfold out from my door, I turned to Audrey. “No peeking.”

“Okay, what are you up to?” She asked, but let me tie the soft fabric over her eyes, blocking out her sight.

“Told you,” I said against her ear. “It’s a surprise.” With one hand on her back, I guided her to our apartment door, quickly unlocking it and stepping inside. “Wait here,” I said, leaving her right inside the front door to finish the last few details, turning on the lights and grabbing the things I’d stashed out of the fridge.

“Okay,” I announced a few moments later, coming around to take the blindfold off. I’d left my cap and gown on the counter, ditching my suit coat but staying in my dress pants, button-up shirt, and tie.

It was pink. Because I had to match my girl. I grinned as she looked around.

“What’s this?” Audrey asked, her eyes growing wide as I took her cap and gown from her as well, handing her a bouquet of pink roses.

Just like I’d given her on our first date.

“Parker…” She let out a small gasp.

I’d strung fairy lights from the ceiling this morning after Audrey had left our apartment and scattered pink rose petals in a path toward the pink blanket set up in the middle of the living room. There was an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne in it, a plate of strawberries, and those little cotton candy bombs that made your drink sparkly and sweet.

Something I knew Audrey would love.

“It’s our last night here,” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on the top of her head. “I wanted it to be special. One last memory.”

She hummed into my hold, letting me sway her in my arms. “This is too much.” She buried her nose into the roses, inhaling deeply. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Rosie.” I kissed the top of her head. “Now come on.” I tugged her towards the blanket, sitting down and pulling her between my legs. Grabbing the bottle of champagne, I quickly popped the cork and then filled two glasses before grabbing the cotton candy bombs.

She laughed as I dropped them in, and the champagne swirled with pink glitter. They were also strawberry-flavored.

“Okay, I’m obsessed. Where did you even get the idea to do this?” Audrey asked, staring into the glass.

I smirked. “I know you, Audrey. You’re my best friend, but more importantly, you’re the love of my life. How could I do anything other than show you just how much I love you?”

She laughed, and the sound was music to my ears. “Parker…”

“Alright, I admit. I overheard some girls talking about it while I was waiting for you to get out of class the other day,” I sheepishly said. “I thought you’d like it.”

She swirled the liquid in the glass, watching it move. “I do.”

“To us,” I said, holding up my glass. “To our future.”

“To us,” Audrey agreed, clinking it together.

Humming, I took a sip of the concoction. It tasted the way Audrey always smelled, so fucking sweet and so damn perfect. And mine. All mine.

I was filled with such a sense of rightness. Like of all the places in the world, this, right here, was where we were supposed to be.

Together.

We both finished our drinks, and my girl snuggled up against my chest, taking a sip and running her tongue over her lips. “How could I have ever doubted that we could be more than friends?”

“I don’t know. I guess it was a good thing I was an idiot and asked you to fake date me, huh?”

“Imagine, one day, when we tell our kids this story.”

“Our kids, huh?”

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