Page 55 of The Friendly Fall

“We could put them in trash sacks and make a leaf snowman,” I suggest, shrugging.

“That sounds …interesting.” Eliza giggles as we step out onto the street. “I think I might have to pass on that. Let’s just build arealsnowman this winter.”

“Fine,” I say, relieved she’s at least talking about the future. I glance down at her hand, suspended just inches from mine. So many times, it crosses my mind to grab it. What would she do? Would she let me hold it?

Probably not. We’re just friends.

“So … I need to talk to you,” she begins, letting out a sharp breath that catches my attention. “And you have to promise not to freak out.”

“Okay…” My voice trails off as I side-eye her. “I’ll do my best.”

“My mom saw those pictures I posted of us.”

“Okay, and?”

Eliza tilts her head to look up at me. “She sort of …took them the wrong way.”

At first it doesn’t register in my head, and I blink a few times.

Oh. OH.

“Does she think … does she think … we’re …together?” I can hardly get the words out, and Eliza’s unreadable expression isn’t helping. I can’t tell if she’s mad, happy, or something else.

“She does.”

I feel like I’m sitting on the edge of my seat. “And?”

“And … she thinks that we make a cute couple.”

I try to hide my grin. “My mom said the same thing.”

“Mmm,” is all she mutters.

My heart sinks.

“Anyway,” Eliza continues, shaking her head. “The reaction she had wasn’t really what I was expecting. She and my dad are likesuperhappy for me. They’ve been really worried about me not finding someone—giving up on love and all that.”

“Have you given up on love?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.

She’s quiet and then looks up at me. “I value our friendship, Nick … and I have thebiggestfavor to ask of you.”

Myshoulders slump at the fact she ignored my question. I haveno cluewhere the conversation is going. “What do you want me to do?”

She stops in the middle of the dimly lit street and turns to me, meeting my eyes. “I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend through Thanksgiving. We can stage a break up afterward, and I’ll tell my parents that we decided we’re better off as friends, but I want my parents to think that I’ve moved on from Devon—and that I haven’t given up on love.”

I have no words.

“It’ll just be for the duration of the time they’re here. We don’t have to tell anyone. Granny already knows a little, but I’ll handle her.”

I take a deep breath, trying to process Eliza’s request.

She wants me to pretend to be her boyfriend?

“Are you sure about this?” I ask, uncertainty swirling in my mind.

Because my feelings for Eliza are far from pretend.

She presses her lips together, looking at me with determined eyes. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and if you’re uncomfortable with it, I completely understand. But it would mean a lot to me if you could help me out with this. You don’t have to kiss me or anything.”

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