Page 13 of Pretend to be Mine
“Yeah, but it’s for the best. If I sleep too much now, I’ll never get to sleep tonight. Come in,” she says, yawning and walking back into the living room.
I step inside and close the door behind me just as she flops back onto the couch. The moment she does, her spine straightens like she just remembered the awkward moment between us this morning. I go to sit at her side. “So, I’ve been thinking about your question all day.”
Savannah laughs and hides her face. “I’m sorry for springing that on you like that. Just forget I said anything.”
“No, I want to help you out. I mean, I’ve only known you for a few days and already you’ve cooked me dinner and helped me unpack. I want to do this for you.”
“Really?” she asks, looking over at me likeI’mthe crazy one.
I smile and nod. “Yes, but I think there should be some ground rules.
“Okay, cool. Like what?”
“Like…” I say, thinking it over, “this is all pretend, so the only time we act as if we’re a couple is when we are there and people are present.”
“Okay, good. What else?”
“Um…well, the number one rule is that this isfake. So neither of us can let things get out of control. No falling in love.”
She rolls her green eyes. “Duh.”
I laugh. “Okay, well…I guess that’s it.”
“Deal.” She holds out her hand.
I laugh and shake my head as I put my hand in hers. We shake on it.
“How about you stick around for dinner and we’ll go through some family photos. That way you’ll be able to put faces to names at the party.”
“Sounds good,” I agree. “What’s for dinner?”
Savannah smiles but rolls her eyes.
The two of us move into the kitchen where we get to work on fixing dinner. She seasons a couple chicken breasts, and I start chopping vegetables for the salad.
“If we’re going to pull this off, I feel like we need to play the newlywed game or something,” I suggest.
“Good idea. We’ll take turns asking each other questions so we can get to know more about one another.”
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Yellow. What’s yours?” She glances over her shoulder at me.
“Red,” I say on impulse, watching the way her hair shines with the sun streaming through the window.
“What’s your favorite late-night snack?”
I shrug. “I don’t snack much, but if a craving hits, I usually go for the salt: chips, jerky, crackers, anything with salt. What about you?”
“I’m a savory snacker. I like to make nachos with ground beef, sometimes steak if I have it, salsa, peppers, sour cream, guacamole.”
“Damn, next time I have a late-night snack craving, I know where to go.”
She laughs. “Favorite mealtime and food?”
“Breakfast, hands down. My only problem is that I don’t like to eat much in the mornings, so I prefer to have breakfast for dinner. I love it all: eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles loaded with whipped cream and strawberries…”
Savannah laughs. “I like breakfast, too. Lunch and dinner seems to be the same type of foods, but breakfast is special. I do like soups, salads, and sandwiches for lunch, though.”
“Favorite vacation spot?” I ask, tossing some tomatoes into the salad.
“I went to Cancun for spring break in college, but that’s really as far as I’ve been.”
“I went to Daytona in college. But since I graduated, I’ve worked too much for vacations. I’d really like to take a cruise, though. There’s something relaxing about being trapped where you’re forced to relax.”
She laughs. “I never thought of it that way.”
I slide the bowl of salad across the counter toward her to add the chicken and I start putting things away. Once the chicken is done, we both fix our plates and sit at the table to eat while Savannah teaches me all about her family.
