Page 34 of The Pretender

Vee points to the lights hanging in the trees over the parking lot. “This isn’t romantic enough for you?” She pulls her iPad out of her purse. “I even brought a movie.”

Dammit. I feel myself smiling at this ridiculousness. “I’m not watching one of those low budget horror movies of yours. We’re discussing the rules of this arrangement.”

She shrugs. “We can do both since this ‘date’ is interrupting my movie time.”

I level her with a bored look. “We’ll see. Let’s eat first.”

She shoves the iPad back into her purse and nods. “Fine, but you’re buying since that’s what guys do on dates.”

I’m not even going to argue because, one, this was my idea, and two, she’s right. Guys typically pay on dates, and if this date goes smoothly then my bank account will have no problem losing five bucks on the cheapest meal I think I’ll probably ever spend on a girl.

Vee addresses the guy behind the truck by name. “Do you know him?” I say, when she finishes ordering two fish tacos. “Yeah, that’s Juan.”

I arch a brow. “Do you know Juan… personally?”

No, I’m not jealous. I simply want to know if I’ll have to worry about Juan blowing our cover as we film bits and pieces of this date. Speaking of which, where the fuck is Brick? I thought I was clear when I told him seven.

“Are you asking if I’ve slept with Juan?”

I pull out my phone and scoff. “Uh, no. I’m just wondering if Juan will need convincing that we’re a real couple. I would imagine that your friends would find it strange that you’re, all of a sudden, dating the enemy.”

I know Maverick spit out his water when I told him I was taking my neighbor out for dinner and I wouldn’t be able to meet him at Gigi’s. I’m pretty sure he knows something is up, but he won’t ask me because, he too, likes his secrets.

We have a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ type of friendship.

“Juan isn’t my bestie.” She laughs. “I just eat here a lot.”

Somehow this bothers me. In all the stalking and prank plotting, I feel like I would have discovered this about her.

“I don’t ever remember you coming to eat here when we were—you know—friends.” It’s awkward saying the f word. I try not to remind myself that we were once friends, but sometimes, it just comes up, and I can’t help it.

“I just started,” she says softly. “It was after, you know.”

Our friendship ended.

“What do you want?” she asks me, motioning to the menu above Juan’s head, blessedly changing the subject. She always knows when the conversation starts heading into tense territory.

“I’ll take what you’re having.”

I don’t want to waste any more time looking at the menu. I allowed myself two hours to film this date and discuss the rules. I’m hoping that Vee and I, being the professionals that we are—insert sarcasm here—can do it in half the time. Less time ordering food will contribute to that rushed timeline.

Juan puts two baskets on the counter, and I hand him a twenty and tell him to keep the rest. Again, this isn’t a nice gesture on my part. This is me speeding this date up as fast as I possibly can because being around Vee is hard on my liver. Just ask my trash guys who side-eye each other when they hear nothing but clanging bottles in my bags.

Juan tips his chin and I grab the baskets, following behind Vee like a dutiful boyfriend bitch. Where the fuck is Brick? He should be here filming. This is primo boyfriend material and his ass is missing it. I don’t plan on repeating it for the sake of getting it on film.

I set the baskets of food on the table and take a seat next to Vee, leaving the bench on the other side of the picnic table open because cuddling up on the same bench is what a good boyfriend would do, right? He would sit next to her in case she couldn’t eat all her food. Waste not, want not, and all that.

“So,” I say, snagging one of Juan’s tacos and taking a huge bite.

“So,” she repeats, waiting for me to finish chewing.

Huh. Juan’s tacos aren’t half bad.

When I’ve swallowed, I wipe my mouth with the paper napkin Vee hands me. “So, I was thinking we should be seen together around campus and at each other’s houses. It’ll be easier convincing our friends that this relationship is the real deal.”

Vee nods her head but looks pensive. “You don’t think they will believe the video?"

Her lips tip at the corner, just as her head cocks to the side.

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