Page 76 of Just One Fake Date

He gestured to Lauren and changed the subject. “Your turn. Why are you really here? Something up with Mark?”

She winced. “Trust you to spoil the mood with insightful questions.”

“You want a drink?”

“Definitely. If you still have some of that single malt Scotch that Katelyn bought you for Christmas, make mine a double.”

Ty did. He got the bottle, two glasses and poured. “Cheers,” he said, lifted his glass and took a substantial sip. It was as good as its PR.

“To women who challenge expectation,” Lauren said and took a sip. At Ty’s glance, she nodded sagely. “It’s good for you. Now I really want to meet her.”

Ty bit his tongue. He was going to need a story for the bridal shower, and he had no idea what it would be. What were the chances of him finding another woman named Shannyn by then?

Small to nonexistent.

About the same as his chances of making a new deal with the Shannyn he did know. He threw back the rest of his Scotch at that, then realized Lauren was watching him.

“What aren’t you saying?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Come on!”

Ty chose an excuse. He wasn’t ready to share the truth. He might not ever be. “Mom’s...enthusiasm just makes things a lot more complicated.”

Lauren nodded agreement. “I hear you. I sometimes wonder if I only married Mark to stop Mom’s pestering.” She sipped her drink and stared out the window.

“Mom means well.”

“Yes,” Lauren said in a long exhalation. “That’s always the rationale.”

“Anything you want to talk about?”

“Bumps in the road,” she said lightly and Ty knew she wasn’t ready to share more. “We’ll work it out.” Her words didn’t ring with her usual cheerful confidence, though. She finished her drink and shook her head when he offered another.

“You know where I am if and when you want to talk.”

“Ditto. Maybe you should stop taking advice from Kyle.”

“Probably.” Ty smiled. “Don’t be so hard on him. He’s the most honest person I know.”

Lauren scoffed. “Maybe you need to get out more.”

“Maybe you should give credit where it’s due,” Ty argued, wondering again why Lauren had always been set against Kyle. It wasn’t like Lauren to take an instant dislike to anyone, but that was what had happened. “Kyle is absolutely up-front about his disinterest in commitment. When it comes to romance, he’s in for a good time but not a long time, and every woman he dates knows it in thirty seconds.”

“He’s going to get a disease one of these days.”

“And when he does, he’ll be direct about that, as well.” Ty shook his head. “I’m sorry you two never saw eye to eye.”

“Since he’s one of your oldest friends.” Lauren smiled. “Who says opposites don’t attract? Maybe that’s part of the appeal—with Kyle and with Shannyn.” There were times when his sister sounded more like a psychologist than a hairdresser, but then, maybe that came with the territory.

There was a moment of companionable silence between them, the lights of the city twinkling far below. A siren echoed from the street and Lauren cleared her throat. She looked around his apartment with admiration, but her next words surprised him. “Always the neat freak.”

“What?”

“Your room was always organized and tidy. Military precision when you made your bed. Mom was always so proud that your room wasn’t a pit, like Katelyn’s.” Lauren pursed her lips. “I always figured you had a secret. I imagined some pretty good ones over the years.”

“Like?”

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