Page 46 of The Fake Dating Plan

I heard a muffled grunt coming from Gerry. Francie turned to him. “They are doing it, aren’t they?”

Gerry had a smile, which quickly disappeared when he saw my stern face. “I know nothing about my boss’s personal life.”

Good answer.

“But he has been wanting to fuck her, right?”

He didn’t answer, but the silence was enough.

“I knew it! So she’s not giving you the cooch because she’s angry at you.”

“Shouldn’t I be the one angry? She’s the one who cheated.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“As sure as I am about you not being a ghost.” I could see the moment clear as day when I walked into our bedroom and her betrayal. Funny enough, this time I didn’t feel the same hurt and anger I used to feel. It was increasingly feeling like any other memory.

“It’s been nine years, though. You two look so good together.”

“Why do people keep saying that? It’s never been a reason for people to date.”

“You should be up there with her, not down here with the plebs.”

“She has to rest. She collapsed at work. She’s been working too hard.” I said the last sentence more to myself than to her.

She cooed. “And you acted like a knight and shining armor and rescued her?” She did a mocking performance of fainting.

“Why are we still talking about this? A man can’t help his co-workers anymore?”

“You don’t fool me. Acting so nonchalant as if every other person you’ve been dating hasn’t been your way of getting over her.”

“That’s not… you go that completely wrong.”

“Is that why she’s in your bed right now and not say, the hospital?”

I had no response to that. The moment she fainted; my first thought was to bring her here. I don’t know why, but that’s how my brain worked in that moment.

Behind me, I heard soft footsteps. “Thank you,” Emilia said when I turned to face her. She handed me the tray, which I put into the sink.

“Should you be back in bed?”

“I’m not an invalid. I’m feeling better now, honestly.”

I took the back of my hand to her forehead. Her temperature had gone down to normal, and she was looking a lot rosier now.

“And I have to go back home, anyway.”

“No!” I blurted it out like a desperate man. She couldn’t leave. I don’t know why the idea of her leaving felt irrational, but it did.

“I can’t stay the night.”

“Sure you can,” Francie said. When will the Alps thaw so she can go back? Better yet, maybe give her a place of her own to stay. I could pay people to live with her if she felt she didn’t want to live alone.

“Why not leave after you’ve eaten something?”

She looked like she was about to reject the idea when Francie added, “You could tell me what you’ve been up to all these years. You can’t leave me hanging now can you.”

“If you insist,” Emilia said, and I wanted to kiss Francie.

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