Page 45 of The Fake Dating Plan

“She got sick, and she’s now recovering, so let’s let her do that.” I reached over to close the door, but Francie simply brushed me aside and marched in.

“It’s been a long time. How have you been?” Francie spoke like she had seen her long-time friend and not her brother’s ex.

“Great, as you can see.”

“I hear you got sick.”

“Yes,” I jumped in, “and you should let her rest.”

Francie hugged Emilia and said, “It’s so good to have you back.” What the fuck did that mean. “You and I have to talk. It’s been forever.”

Emilia cracked a weary smile. She looked drained. Even if it was the holidays, she shouldn’t work herself so hard. “Can you leave her alone please,” I said. Francie’s hyper energy wasn’t helping.

“When I heard—”

“Francie.”

She whipped her head back to me. “Okay!” To Emilia, she said, “I’m going to let you rest as my brother put it.”

Francie left soon after and once Em and I were alone I said, “I’m sorry about that. She’s a storm.”

“It was good seeing her again.”

“I wish she would disappear honestly. Things were great when she was trekking the Alps and god knows where else.”

“I don’t know. I like her.”

“Of course you’d say that. She sees you as her queen returned. She thinks we’re dating.”

“Isn’t that what they’re all supposed to think? Anyway,” she adjusted her position, “I am in your bed.” She meant it as a joke, but my mind could not stop going there. Her, naked, barely covered by the sheets as I came to her and reclaimed her for another romp. I still hadn’t forgotten Mallorca and would love to finish what we started. Her eyes flared as she stared at me. Were her thoughts like mine, I wondered. She looked away and said, “Is she staying here, your sister?”

“She hates living alone.”

“Why?”

“Too much of an extrovert is my guess.” There was a knock on the door. I turned to see Gerry standing in the doorway with a tray. I went over to him, took the tray, and thanked him. The soup smelled delicious.

“Eat this.”

“I’m not hungry.” Her stomach rumbled.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Fine, give it to me.” She took the tray with the lone bowl of soup and spoon and ate it like a starved woman. She was lying about not being hungry. She was ravenous. I made a mental note to have Gerry cook a huge supper.

“Good. I’ll come back in a few.” I said to her and dragged my feet out of the bedroom. I had to fight the compulsion to sit beside her and cuddle her. I wanted so much to draw her to me and feed her the soup. God, what was she turning me into?

When I went back to the kitchen, Francie and Gerry were chatting up like old buddies. When she saw me, she said, “You should have told me you two were dating.”

“We’re dating.”

“Ha. Very funny. Do you have any idea what mom would say if she saw her in your bed? She would freak out. You know what,” she took out her phone, “I think I should tell her.”

“What the fuck? Don’t you dare.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m notsleepingwith her.”

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