Page 51 of How to Lose at Love

“I asked my client today what he’s looking for in his relationship. He looked at me and said, ‘A way out.’”

– Dr. Laura Winters

Dallas needsmy help in more ways than one.

The guy is a mess, and I’m not just talking about this “need” to be seen with me in public to help his career.

Ridiculous.

A veritable commitment-phobe if I’ve ever seen one, as was made clear when I Googled him and learned a bit about his past. He had a father who was cheating on his mother—in the public eye, no less—which would surely sour a young guy on monogamous relationships.

“Not to sound like a brat, but…what would I be getting out of this? Why should I help you?”

“Nothing, I guess.”

Nothing.

Yet there he sat, wanting a favor from a girl he’s known all of one week, barely. He had no problem breaking up with me for my boyfriend, and he has no issue asking me to play house with him for who knows how long, all to benefit him.

He’s done me dirty twice now.

The ego on this guy.

He wasn’t helping Diego for the money; he did it because he was bored and because he was at the theater across the street anyway and it was barely an inconvenience to walk over and wait for me.

The nerve.

I’m mad all over again, stewing over the nuances of our meeting. The discovery that we’re in the same business class.

I’ll give him some credit—the dude doesn’t give up.

He needs my help all right, but not because he needs a pretend girlfriend.

Nope.

Dallas Colter needs to be taught how to treat a woman, and as the daughter of two relationship therapists, I’m the perfect person to do that.

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“If you don’t remember her name in the morning, just take her to Starbucks.”

– Drake giving dating advice to his brothers

“You did what?”

My brother’s eyes are wide, cereal spoon halfway to his mouth.

“I invited Ryann Winters to the house.”

Drew sets his spoon down; it clanks in the glass bowl. “Wait…isn’t that the chick you dumped?”

“It is. How do you remember her name?”

“Because—she has a dude’s name. Those you don’t forget.” He resumes eating, holding his spoon like it’s a tiny shovel.

I set my own bowl in the sink. “Anyway, she’ll be here tonight to hang out, so don’t act like an asshole.”

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