Page 32 of My Fake Date With My Childhood Friend
Francine grinned at her sleeping son and nodded. “That would be great. Thank you, hon.”
We started making breakfast together, and it was actually fun. We laughed and joked as we cooked, and I felt like I was a kid again, staying at her house while my parents were away.
By the time Alexander woke up, we had breakfast all set and ready to eat. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, stretching as he got up. I smiled at him, and we shared a quick hug before I left, relieved that everything had gone smoothly. I didn't know what I would have done if things had gone wrong.
“So, what's on the agenda for you two today?” Francine asked as we cleared the table after eating.
“More movies,” I said. “Alexander's got a whole pile of them for us to get through.”
“The Polar Express is first,” Alexander said. “I still can't believe you haven't seen it.”
I shrugged helplessly. “I've read the book.”
He shook his head. “It's not the same.
“Well, have fun,” Francine said. She looked at Alexander. “Your dad and I are going to pick up Rhys from college today, so we won't be home until dinnertime, okay?”
He nodded. “See you then.”
“Where is your dad, anyway?” I asked.
“Asleep, probably,” Alexander said. “Where did you think I got it from?”
I laughed and followed him into the living room. He set up the movie quickly, then jumped back onto the couch beside me, making me bounce.
“You're going to love this,” he promised, then he pressed play. I had to admit I had some doubts about it, but I quickly found myself immersed in the movie.
“Hey Penny, your phone’s ringing,” Alexander said as we got near the end of the movie.
“Hm?” I barely even registered what he was saying, focused as I was on the movie.
“Your phone,” he repeated.
“Can you get it?” I asked distractedly. I saw him roll his eyes out of the corner of my eye, but he leant down to grab my phone from my bag at his feet. “It’s probably just Liv.”
“Liv?” Alexander asked. “I didn’t know you two talked outside of school.”
“We saw her at a party two days ago.”
“Yeah, but a party with all my friends,” Alexander said. “I just didn’t know you were friends outside of that now.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not at all.” He grinned. “Actually, I think it’s great.”
He finally pulled the phone free from the bag, but then he frowned at the screen without answering. The phone stopped ringing for a good few seconds before it started anew, like the person was calling back.
“It’s Joseph,” he said.
“What?” I finally paused the TV and pulled my gaze away from the movie. Alexander turned the phone toward me so I could see it. “Why would he call me?”
He hadn’t called in a while. When we first broke up, he was blowing up my phone every day, giving me missed call after missed call, trying to explain himself, but he eventually gave up. I hadn’t heard from him at all since our conversation in the hallway the other day.
I knew I should have just blocked his number by now, but I was too curious about how much he would call me and what he would say in his voicemails — even though it was all just crap about how much he loved me and had made a mistake. Anyway, blocking his number wasn’t a permanent solution. We still saw each other in school anyway, so there was no way to avoid him.
I was considering telling Alexander to just deny the call, but then I thought of a better idea. I should rub it in Joseph’s face that I was dating someone new — the same way he had rubbed his relationship with Nikki in my face.
“You know what, Alexander? Why don’t you answer the phone for me? You know, as my boyfriend.” I smiled deviously and winked. “Tell him I’m not here.”
