Page 26 of The ABCs of You & Me

A pop artist with a dumb name on a school night. I could not think of anything worse—but going with Sophiedoessweeten the deal.

What are you going to do for me?

Other than give you a free night out with my amazing best friend to go see one of the best live shows out there?

I don’t know any of her music!

You have the internet, use it!

Come on, she can’t go to a concert alone, that’s just sad.

She has loads of friends, one of them would probably go.

You don’t think I reached out to them first? Hate to burst your bubble bro but you were not my first choice.

Fine. But only cuz you asked so nicely.

You’re second best!

How am I still second best?

Sophie will always be the best.

Well, she’s got me there.

Before I get in the shower, I select a “Best of Nyx Avalon” playlist, and my crash course in Nyx’s entire catalog begins while I wash my workout and another busy week from my body.

“I am bringing all the options. Dan is going to love me.” Sophie holds up three slender gift bags.

“You really don’t need to. I’ve got a bottle of rye for him.”

“Dan will love us both then,” she says matter-of-factly and hands me the bags while she locks the door. “Unless,” she says, whirling back around, “three bottles makes me look desperate and that I’m trying to compensate for being your fake date.” She snatches two of the three bags back, opens the door back up, and sets them to the side before repeating the locking-up process. “Prosecco it is.”

“No one is going to know this”—I gesture between us—“is fake.”

“I mean, we did a fantastic job on Friday, but that was a busy event with hundreds of people. There wasn’t as much scrutiny as there will be today,” she says, paling. “These peopleknow you, know you. You aren’t just a person they saw at work.”

I reach out and take her hand as we walk to my car. “Hey, if they find out the truth, it’s not the end of the world. I’ll take their meddling over your discomfort. If at any time you feel like you can’t carry on the charade, just say the word, okay? Regardless, it’s going to be a good time.” The look Sophie gives me is a mix of relief and awe, like she cannot believe I would release her from our deal.

Then her eyebrows pinch together. “What word?” she asks seriously.

“Oh, not a word-word, just say you’re done.”

She comes to a stop on the sidewalk and her hand slips free of mine. “But now I think we should have a word.”

“Snuffleupagus,” I suggest.

She thinks for a moment, then nods. “That’s a good one. People don’t tend to bring it up too often.”

Nyx Avalon blares through the speakers when I start the car, and my hand flies to turn the volume down. “Sorry about that.” I laugh nervously.

Sophie leans forward and scrutinizes the screen before looking over at me, her blue eyes wide. “Youlike Nyx Avalon?”

“Um, she’s growing on me.”

“When did she start growing?”

I look at the time. “About three hours ago.”

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