Page 11 of My Fake Neighbor's Valentine

The Valentine’s company dinner is at one of the fanciest restaurant in Maxwell and one of my company’s client. With over 40 years in town, Amour et Vin is a French restaurant that’s been the staple fine dining and the standard for other restaurants to follow.

The decoration is on the minimal side. Every table had a centerpiece with red roses, and the bigger tables had red runners to contrast with the white tablecloths. The biggest thing thatscreamed Valentines is the small photo booth at one corner of the restaurant.

The backdrop was white with heart shape balloons tape to it. Beside it a table full of love related props. The music plays softly through their speakers. Every so often, I could recognize the song.

Siting at our shared table were Everett and his boyfriend Austin drinking wine.

“Austin,” Grace excitedly says, opening her arms when Austin turns her way.

“Grace, it is so good to see you. I’m so relief I’m sharing the table with you and Seth,” Austin says, hugging Grace tight. “You look gorgeous. I’m surprise Seth didn’t pull you into his apartment after canceling his appearance.”

“He has been behaving surprisingly well after he met my mom.”

I pull one of the two empty chairs back and wait until Grace sits. She notices quickly and thanks me after sitting down.

“He met the parents?”

Grace shakes her head and explains to Austin what happened back in mid-January. Our company’s dinner is a week before Valentine’s day. So for the past couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to control my feelings. Grace and I are still sexually active with each other, but I’m avoiding staying over two nights in a row. Since pretending to be her boyfriend in front of her mom, keeping my feelings for her in place has been hard.

There’s been plenty of moments where I look at her and I want to lay my heart open for her. I immediately feel the terror of being rejected and losing her friendship. At that point, I get dressed and head to my apartment. I take a few days to wrangle with my feelings until I can go back to indulge myself with her body before my feelings threaten to overflow.

“Hey dude, are you okay? You seem a little tense,” Everett asks.

“I’m okay. I just hate wearing a vest under my suit jacket,” I lie.

I know Everett can tell I’m lying, but he decides not to push it and I’m thankful.

Grace and Austin carry most of the evening talk. I’m not surprised because they haven’t seen each other in weeks. I don’t know who could be more kindred spirit with Grace than Austin. I believe when Everett says Austin is his soulmate and during the darkest moments in the night; I believe that’s what Grace is to me. I also can’t deny the connection she and Austin have, like they knew each other from another life.

I rest my face on my palm and stare at them interacting. I watch how Grace’s face lights up when something in the conversation excites her. I engrave in my memory the smile lines around her eyes and the melodic sound of her laugh. I watch every emotion color her beautiful face. Her conversation with Austin catches all of her attention because she never notice when the wine glass got filled or when they started bring out the food.

Part of me feels left out. I want to have her look at me like I’m the only person worth paying attention to, but I’m also enjoying this rare occasion where I can look at her, really look at her, and take her all in.

“If you keep looking at her that way, you might as well confess,” Everett whispers.

I nod. “I’m gonna greet the restaurant manager and thank them for their service. I should be back before they run out of topics,” I say, pointing at Grace and Austin. Everett nods focusing on the food left on his plate.

I talk with the manager for around ten minutes and then walk around most of the tables, greeting our employees and their partners or guest for the night. Some of my team memberspull me into take photos at the photo booth. While they wait for all the photos to print out, Rachel stands beside me.

“I’m surprise we actually meet your girlfriend,” Rachel says.

“She is not,” I reply.

“You sound sad about.”

“Do I? No one ever said anything. I guess I’ve been in my feelings more than normal.”

“Does she know you like her more than a friend?”

“No. She is too important to lose over these feelings.”

“What if she feels the same and you are missing at a great opportunity?” This reminds me why Rachel is the head of our Human Resources. She doesn’t shy away from digging at a situation, but she does it with tact.

“I don’t know, and I’m not sure I want to risk what we have to know.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you so afraid to take a leap towards anything.”

“The price of losing her friendship is too high.”

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