Page 59 of It's Complicated

We get into the car, and, as I reverse, I ask, “What do you want to do? Dinner and a movie?”

Lori looks at me and blushes like she just thought of more naughty activities—the forbidden kind—which makes me almost lose control of the car and reverse right into my parents’ mailbox. Luckily, I hit the brakes in time.

Once I get onto the main road, Lori smiles. “I don’t know about dinner,” she says, patting her belly. “I’m still stuffed, but I’m definitely in the mood for a rom-com.”

Mock-outraged, I frown. “Movie, I saidmovie. I never agreed to a rom-com.”

Lori pats me on the shoulder. “But you have some catch-up to do on the fake-dating scene.”

“I thought we weren’t fake dating anymore?”

“We’re not, but we need to put together a more detailed storyline about the first month of our relationship, so we’ll be more prepared for the next grilling. A good rom-com could provide plenty of inspiration.”

“How long do you think people will obsess about us?”

“Until we become old news.”

“And were you serious when you said you wanted to tell your parents in person?”

“Yes.” Lori nods, turning thoughtful. “But I want to wait until we’re sure if that’s okay with you?”

“Yep. Plus, you don’t risk being ratted out like I was.”

“That’s why I keep a comfortable eleven-hundred-mile cushion between me and my family.”

“Just in case you start fake dating your best friend and don’t want to be discovered?”

“Exactly.”

“Is fake dating really a thing? They made many movies about it?”

Lori mock-sighs and gently pats me on the leg. “Oh, Jacey Pooh, you literally have no clue what you’ve signed up for.”

Maybe I don’t, but I don’t remember ever being more excited to find out.

24

LORI

Now that Jace and I are dating for real, Monday at work feels different. For starters I don’t drive to work alone. Jace spent the night at my place yesterday and he dropped me here before going home to change.

Then as I settle at my desk to go through my emails before my first patient of the day arrives, I get an adrenaline kick when my phone buzzes with a text from Jace:

From Jace:

Can’t stop thinking about you. See you at lunch ;)

The wink makes my heart do a little somersault. Even if it’s just in a text, I can picture the real thing and, oh boy.

I smile to myself, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. It’s crazy how much things have changed between us in such a short amount of time.

Even more so when there’s a knock on my door and I look up to find Aiden in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee and… nothing.

No breaths getting hitched in my throat. No quickening of my pulse. No flush to my cheeks. Just genuine affection for my best friend.

I give him a simple smile and a wave toward the empty chair in front of me.

“Good morning, Aidenberry. Coffee smells great, thanks!”

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