Page 9 of That Fake Feeling
There’sanother dramatic pause. “Wouldyou like it?”
Histone says he believes he’s making me an offerIcan’t refuse.
Well, screw this dude who’s investigated my life and thinks he can manipulate me with what he finds.
“No, thank you.”
Thatwas clearly not the answer he was expecting.
“Thepaycheck would mean you could give up all of your jobs and take care of the rest of the tuition for your master’s without a second thought.”
“Absolutelynot.I’mnot pretending to be a rich asshole’s girlfriend.Ican’t.It’swrong.AndIhate the way you’ve been digging into all my personal details.That'simmoral.Ihave to go now.”
Hetalks over my last word. “Youwould have the whole of the guest floor ofMr.Dashwood’shouse to yourself for the next three months.I’mabsolutely certain the accommodation would not disappoint.”
“I’dhave tolivewith him?Andyou think that’s a selling point?GoodGod, no.Butit was already a no.Absolutelynot.No.Thereisn’t any part of this that’s okay.Ornormal.Theremust be something wrong with you.Withall of you.Noone does things like this.Notnormal people.I’mgoing now.”
Ihang up and stare at my phone.
Icouldn’t be more shocked if a fist had reached out of it and punched me in the teeth.
Didthat conversation really just happen?Arethere really people who arrange fake girlfriends as part ofPRstunts?Isbeing a pretend girlfriend an actual job?
Thefront door clunks open and slams.
“Rose?Rose?Areyou home?”Brittneyis in fine shrieking form.
Theclack of her heels on the wood floor gets louder and louder until my bedroom door bursts open.Niceof her to knock.
Shestands in the doorway, flushed and a bit shiny, the outline of her lacy bra visible beneath the flimsy cream blouse tucked into her mid-thigh-length pencil skirt.Herglossy red lips are stretched in a wide grin, suggesting some excellent news is about to burst from them.
“I’mso glad you’re in.Oh, myGod,Rose.Ihave the best thing to tell you.Thebest.”
Iyank my laptop out of the way just in time before she drops onto the bed next to me.
“RobandIare going to live together.”
RobisBrittney’sboyfriend.Hedoes something inITat the law firm she works for.
Shegrabs both my hands. “Isn’tit the greatest?Thebest news ever?”
Brittneydefines success as marrying a man with a solid paycheck and a 401(k) with employer matching.Robhas both of those things.Sucha shame he doesn’t have much of a personality to go with them.
Butshe’s obviously delighted.Andthat’s all that matters.Atleast one of us has a life plan that’s working out.Robowns a big, new apartment, so no doubtBrittneywill move in there.
Ipull her into a hug. “I’mso happy for you.Iknow it’s what you’ve wanted for a while.Fabulousnews.”
Selfishly,Ican’t stop dread from creeping into my stomach at the thought of getting a new roommate.HopefullyBrittneywill at least let me sit in on the interviews for her replacement.Butjust the thought of looking for someone non-weird is draining.Andlearning to live with someone new is always, at best, a bit stressful.Myjobs and schoolwork already take up every ounce of energyIhave.Icould really do without this big adjustment as well.
Brittneylets out a little squeal and grabs my shoulders.
“Iknew you’d be happy for me.Iknew you’d understand.”Shesprings back up onto her four-inch heels and heads for the door. “Ipicked up some sparkling wine so you andIcan have our own little celebration.I’llget changed and pour us a glass.”
“So, what will we do about a new roomma—”
Shespins around. “Andplease don’t think you have to move out right away.There’sno rush.”
What?
