Page 41 of The Fun Part
I smile so big my cheeks hurt. He wants to come over. Does this mean something more than friends? I could be reading too much into it.
“I’ve got a nosy roommate,” I say, waiting for him to say it doesn’t matter. That would mean friends.
He says nothing. Hmm…
“Fair warning, we’ll be watching my favorite movies,” I say. “I feel like two baseball movies in a row is plenty.”
“Okay, what movies?”
“Wonder WomanandThe Woman King.”
“So you’re a fan of kickass female-lead movies.”
I lift my brows. “Problem?”
“They turn me on too.” He grins. I give him a playful shove, and he pulls me in for a quick squeeze before releasing me. He’s charming, even first thing in the morning. But can we get back to all the other women he’s met?
“My sister lovesWonder Womantoo,” he says.
What women has he met?
He keeps talking, oblivious to my increasing agitation. “I’m a fan of Claire’s action movies too. Actually, I’ve seen all of her movies. You probably have too since she’s your aunt, right?”
I stop short on the sidewalk. “You can’t be with other women while we fake date.”
He cocks his head. “So it’s a monogamous fake relationship?”
I gesture around town, though no one’s out yet. “It’s hardly convincing if people see you running around town with other women.”
He gives my ponytail a tug. “So you can’t be running around town with other men either.”
I lift my chin. “I’m not.”
“I’m not either. You’re the first woman to invite me on a fake-relationship walk.”
“What other women have you met?” I blurt and instantly regret it.
His smile is wide. “You like me.”
I pick up the pace, glad for the cold breeze. My cheeks are flaming hot.
He says, “I’ve met all your female family members and a few clients.”
Beyond embarrassed, I mumble, “Doesn’t matter.”
After a long pause while I reconsider my life choices, he says, “What’s our next public date in your planner? Should we have a shared online calendar?”
I get the nagging feeling he’s teasing me about my fake-date plan. But how else can I catch Mom in the act and put an end to her crazy matchmaking once and for all?
Cal is the opposite of a sure thing. He has to earn my trust. Maybe after a platonic relationship for, oh, six months, then I’dconsidera relationship.
Okay, I’m scared out of my mind. I’ve never felt this way before, sort of light and fizzy when we’re talking and stupid with lust the rest of the time. A dangerous combo. My instincts tell me to run. But I can’t let him know he’s getting to me.
I pick up the pace to a fast walk.
“Is there a reason we’re speedwalking?” he asks.
“I’ve got some energy.”
