Page 2 of Fake It True

My cheeks were burning up, and I couldn’t even look at him. I dropped my eyes to the list of questions, ending with, “What are your expectations of couples therapy?”

Leo cleared his throat. “All joking aside, what is happening here, Casey?”

“Premarital couples therapy,” I replied, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt.

“I think you’re gonna owe me after this,” he said under his breath.

“Maybe so, but I really appreciate it.”

Delaney returned to the office and sat down in a chair across from us with a warm smile. She stayed quiet while we finished filling out the forms. “Do you need these back?” I asked.

“How about you swap clipboards and see what you think about each other’s answers?”

Of Leo’s answers, the one that stood out was about what makes a healthy couple. He’d written: honesty, being there for the small things and the big things, feeling safe.

I swallowed through the tightness building in my throat. That was the problem with what my parents hoped for. I wouldneverfeel safe with Nathaniel. My thoughts spun to my sister and what he had done. I carried her memory like a ton of bricks on my back.

In a split second, I realized I had no idea how to get through this. I’d thought I’d show up for this all breezy and calm and make up some excuse for my fictional fiancé. Even though my mom had found her, I knew Delaney had to protect my confidentiality. With Leo here, I felt like I’d pinned myself under a microscope.

“Are you okay, Casey?” Delaney asked gently.

When I lifted my eyes to her and saw warmth and no judgment contained in her gaze, it was all I could do not to burst into tears. I could brave my way through this as I’d braved my way through life ever since my sister died. I blinked my tears away and lifted my chin. “I am.”

I had no idea what to think when Leo reached over for my hand and laced his fingers with mine to give me a reassuring squeeze. There wasnoway he could know the emotional turmoil I was experiencing, but he seemed to sense something.

“So, what brings you two here?”

Chapter Two

LEO

Casey’s hand was cold and tightened in mine. It felt as if she was holding onto me as a lifeline at this moment. What started out as pure confusion and amusement when she dragged me into this therapy appointment with her was now followed by a powerful sense of protectiveness. I didn’t know the details, but whatever brought Casey into this appointment felt heavy.

I didn’t know why she needed someone to pretend to be her fiancé, but I sensed there was a whole bundle of other things going on. I was concerned and wanted to protect her. Now that we were here, I was rolling with it.

I waited for Casey to answer Delaney’s question about whywewere here. Casey squeezed my hand a little tighter and cleared her throat. “Well, um, we’re engaged—” Her eyes darted briefly to mine, and I gave her an encouraging squeeze. “To be married,” she added. “And, um, everything feels pretty good, but we thought we should come here before, uh, you know…” She circled her hand in the air.

Delaney nodded along, smiling between us. “I can sense that there’s a strong connection between you two. Leo, I love that you reached for her hand. Coming to therapy can create a lotof uncertainty, especially in couples therapy. It’s a vulnerable space.”

“Uh-huh,” Casey replied while I nodded.

“Do you mind if I look at your forms?” Delaney asked next.

For the moment, I was engaged and I didn’t even know it. My life was normally on the edge of spiraling out of control as a single father, but this might beat that. I felt like I was truly flying blind.

We handed over our clipboards, and Casey didn’t let go of my hand. I decided that was just fine. I thought Casey was cute, and we were engaged. I guess. I snorted to myself. For the last year of my life and the insanity that had ensued, a part of me had been thinking I needed to find a good relationship. I didn’t know how to be a dad and felt like I was failing at it almost every day, but I didn’t want to bethatguy. The guy who tried to find a woman just so she could take care of my kid. I wanted to feel like I had someone doing this messy lifewithme, but hell if I knew how to find the time for building that with someone.

Delaney quietly reviewed our intake forms. She tapped her finger from one clipboard to the other. “I love that you have a similar answer to what a healthy relationship is.”

Since I’d read Casey’s responses, I knew we’d both included feeling safe in that answer.

“These are mostly for reference and a way to open a door to thinking about your relationship,” Delaney continued. “This answer is important because you’re on the same page here. The fact that you’re here together, I hope, tells me that you feel safe with each other and safe enough to talk with a therapist.”

Casey’s hand was shaking a little, and I gave her another reassuring squeeze. My heart smiled a little when she squeezed back.

Delaney launched into a whole thing about confidentiality and how she was treating us as a couple so that would be herfocus. “Can you tell me how you got my information?” Delaney asked after all that.

“My mom gave me your name,” Casey piped up.

---