Page 56 of Love Medley
“And you guys were so adorable at the Centennial Dinner,” Iz sighs, clasping her hands together, her eyes filled with heart emoji. “Are you sure you guys are just fake dating? Because the sparks were flying like crazy…in both directions.” She tucks her long yellow maxi dress underneath her as she takes a seat.
My cheeks heat, remembering how Jake and I held hands the entire time we were at the dinner…and then at Bill’s where it seemed like we were one date short of becoming something real.
But the truth is—he’s not mine and nothing I say or do can change that.
Isabelle sings, “You likeeee him, you really likeeee him!”
Amelia even looks amused. “You forgot to mention you actually like the guy you’re fake dating.”
My friends are teasing, but little do they know each of their innocuous comments are like jabs to my tender underbelly.
Zoe folds her arms in front of her with disapproval, her glittery emerald tank top shimmering as she moves. “Come on, now! Don’t get sucked into another relationship; it’s time to have funwith a no-strings-attached fling. Don’t you dare fall in love. What about this pact that we all made a couple of weeks ago?!”
Isabelle rolls her eyes. “Don’t be silly, Zoe. Jake sounds absolutely scrumptious, and there’s no reason our Lucy shouldn’t go for him!”
“Oh hush all of you,” I cry out, finally done with the commentary. The one in my head is bad enough. “I have no intention of starting anything new. Let’s just have a good time; thisisa girls’ night out, after all.”
“Sure it is,” mutters Zoe. “More like a bad rom-com setup.”
Iz whacks Zoe on the arm. “Or agreatrom-com setup!”
Amelia sighs. “Hey, you two, settle down. We’re here for Lucy, so back in your corners.”
I glance at Amelia in relief, who sends me a wink.
“Let’s talk about the important stuff, then. Does Jake have any hot friends?” Zoe bats her eyes coquettishly.
“I have no idea,” I say, unable to process Zoe’s quick pivot. “I haven’t met them yet.”
“Well, keep me posted. Fortune favors the prepared,” Zoe grins. “The last few dates I went on weren’t great, so I need to branch out from the Connections app.” Everyone, especially Zoe, uses Connections, the most popular dating app on the market now. But I’m the exception—I can barely keep up with my fake relationship, let alone real dating app chaos.
“I can attest to this,” Amelia raises a hand. “As her emergency phone call.”
Iz and I grin at Amelia’s response.
Zoe huffs and places a hand on a cocked hip. “You all should be impressed that I even thought that much in advance. Normally, I just go with the flow and try to find some creative way to ditch the guy before the dessert course.”
“I’m still unconvinced that you thought that far ahead,” Amelia counters, undeterred. “I asked you what you were up to, and when you told me you were going on a date, I offered to call thirty minutes into the date to make sure you were okay.”
“Fine,” Zoe grumbles. “Amelia, our responsible den mother, rescued me from the horrors of surviving yet another course.”
Iz plucks a grape from some fruit I laid out prior to them coming over. “Nowthatsounds more realistic,” she says, taking a bite, her eyes gleaming behind her funky glasses.
Zoe glares at all of us pointedly, one by one. “Is this bash-on-Zoe night? Let’s focus back on Lucy now.”
“No, it’s okay,” I say, laughing, relishing in how normal our interactions have been tonight compared to the awkwardness at Dessert Debauchery. I need to focus on that, not on Jake. “I’d rather you not.”
“I still need more details about this guy,” Amelia says, turning towards me. “I’ve only heard the bare minimum, that he’s a nurse, and now we’re going to see him play in a piano bar.”
So much for avoiding Jake as a topic. “He’s…obviously easy on the eyes.” I blush, and Iz nudges me, grinning. “He’s kind and thoughtful—I mean, he jumped at the opportunity to help me out with Weston, and he’s amazing with patients. And…Jake really listens to me, you know? I feel seen when I’m with him.” I stare off intothe distance recalling how we couldn’t stop laughing in Coffee Conglomerate. “And I just have so much fun with him! I feel like I’m always smiling and laughing when we’re together. Plus, he’s such a good singer.”
Oh my God…I’ve totally fallen for him, haven’t I?
“Wait,” Amelia says. “How do you know he’s a good singer?”
I redden even further. “Um, I went over to his apartment on Sunday?”
Zoe and Iz whirl on me.
