Page 70 of Fake Dating My Best Friend

“I just made pasta,” he says, stepping back to let me in. “There’s plenty if you’re hungry.”

“I thought you didn’t eat this late.”

Asher shrugs. “Didn’t eat that much on the date. Figured someone might be hungry.”

Before I can decline, my stomach answers with a growl so loud it could register on the Richter scale.

Asher’s laugh warms the space between us. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

He gestures toward the coffee table, where two plates of steaming pesto penne are already waiting, the scent of garlic and basil filling the air. Two forks. Two glasses of water. Like he knew I’d show up.

A few minutes later, I’m twirling a forkful of pasta, practically melting at the first bite. “If this pasta proposes right now, I’m saying yes.”

Asher chuckles, his dimple making a devastating appearance. It’s ridiculous how much I want to poke it.

“How about the personwhomade it?”

I choke.

Loudly. Violently.

Asher thumps my back, way too smug for someone assisting in a near-death experience. “Easy there. Didn’t think I’d actually leave you speechless.”

I glare at him between coughs. “Not funny.”

Asher leans back, tapping his fingers against his knee. “I’ve been thinking.” His tone is casual. Too casual. My internal alarms start blaring.

“Have you ever . . .” He pauses, turning fully to face me. “Run your matchmaking algorithm on us?”

I choke. Again.

Asher’s hand is on my back in an instant. Mochi whines at my feet, his little paws pressing anxiously against my leg like he’s debating calling 911.

“What? No! Why would I do that?”

I wave my hands wildly like that’ll somehow physically erase the question from the air. “That would be weird. So weird. Totally unnecessary. And also, like, unethical? Definitely. Super unethical.”

And I’ve never done this before. Never dared.

Okay—fine. Ialmostdid.

After Asher agreed to be matched by me, his profile went into my system. Mine may or may not have been added shortly after. And I nearly ran the match for us.

But I stopped myself.

Discipline. Unshakable discipline. That’s what it takes to have a hot, ridiculously perfect best friend.

I don’t want to know if we’re not compatible because that would hurt. But I also don’t want to know if we are compatible.

Because then . . . I’d want to try.

Asher shrugs, but his eyes hold mine as his lips curl slightly. “Just curious. Scientific inquiry.”

“Scientific inquiry.”

“Just want to see how compatible two best friends like us would be.” His hand moves to Mochi, stroking his fur, and somehow, it ends up resting on mine.

I jerk my hand back like I’ve touched a live wire.

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