Page 5 of Fumbled Into Love

“Ask Nathalie,” he repeats, his smile growing wider as Henry and Jack nod in approval. “Logistically, it’s perfect. You already know her so you don’t have to lie about how you met. You can tell her the truth about everything and then we can all go to the auction together! Like I said, it’sperfect.”

I stare at him, stunned into silence.

Of all the people in the world he could have suggested, Nathalie Morales is the worst option. Since Henry and Sawyer’s joint wedding getaway to Michigan, I can barely function in the same room as her.

She applied sunscreen on my back and I had to hide in the bathroom like a high school boy because I had a boner, simply because she touched me. Granted, it was the first time in alongtime anyone had touched me outside of the clinical touch offered by trainers and doctors, but the embarrassment still lingers. Then, she admitted she found me attractive and drunkenly asked me to marry her and I spent the trip in knots because the kernel of a crush began to form and it had to go away.

I know how she likes her coffee. 99% sugar and cream. 1% coffee. It’s disgusting and endearing and I loathe how I’ve held onto the sliver of knowledge as if it’s a piece of treasure.

Anyone but her.

I won’t survive this ordeal if it’s her.

The longer Declan’s suggestion hangs in the air, the stronger everyone else grabs onto the idea.

“It could work…” Jack mulls. “But, she could be dating someone.”

I play it cool instead of showing how much I dislike the idea.

Which is a shit ton.

This is why it won’t work. My overbearing emotions have assessed her as a potential crush and now I need to stay far, far away.

“She’s not,” Declan says with far too much confidence. “I think if you asked, she would say yes.”

“When did you and Nathalie become so close?” Henry asks, eyes narrowing. I’m itching for that information. For scientific purposes, of course, and not to assuage the jealousy clogged in my throat.

“After the trip to Michigan. Drunken proposals create an unbreakable bond.” He shrugs. “Plus, we are the only two single people left in Book Club.”

Nathalie also proposed to me and we don’t have an unbreakable bond…Why the hell is my chest tight at the thought?

What makes her and Declan’s proposal more important than ours?

Shit. No. This is exactly the problem. I shouldn’t care about ourbond, but here I am, forcing away a frown at the idea she likes Declan more than me.

Jack shrugs. “I say go for it. Everyone in agreement?”

“It’s a good idea. It’s a lot easier to convince someone to lie and pretend to date you if you know the person,” Henry says.

“Do it. Do it. Do it,” Declan cheers. He bangs against the table, drawing the attention of other patrons. I slouch lowerinto the booth.

“No.”

I can’t. I won’t.

“The Seattle Super Spies have decided. You’ll ask Nathalie to be your fake girlfriend and date to the auction!” Jack cheers.

My brain screams to shut the idea down, but I have no better options and a tiny, irrational voice in my brain whispers that I should do it. The air whooshes from my lungs.

“His resistance is wavering,” Declan says.

“I have no other options,” I mumble.

“That’s the spirit!” Henry yells.

As I resign myself to this insane plan, I realize there is one small issue. “Uh…Can someone give me her number?”

I immediately deleted it after the trip so I wouldn’t be tempted to do something stupid like call her at night when she creeps into my thoughts.

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