Page 64 of The Fake Dating Plan

“So what’s with the cold in the air?”

“The weather?”

“You know what I’m talking about. You’ve withdrawn ever since.”

“It’s just…” I waited for her to finish. The start of her sentence felt loaded, and there was a pregnant pause before she said, “She reminded me of the hiding we have to do if we were to carry on with this relationship and I’m not sure I want that.”

Did she mean she didn’t want it to continue? I didn’t like the sound of that. “We could have it all out in the open. There is no reason for us to hide.”

“Except for me being scrutinized by people for dating you. They’ll all say I got the deal because we fucked.”

“Technically…”

She glared at me in a way that was apparent even in the dim light of the car.

“Okay, so I won’t suggest that, but you and I are more than that. Anyone with eyes can see that.”

We arrived at her place sooner than I had hoped. She quickly took off her seatbelt before I parked the car. “Thank you for the ride. And dinner.”

“Anytime.” Her lips looked rosy under the dim orange hue streaming in from the streetlights. They were tempting enough for me to lean in and want to kiss her. She leaned back. I tried not to take that as rejection. Who knew, maybe after checking on her friend, we will resume where we left off.

She cleared her throat. “I should go.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“You don’t have to. It’s a minor thing.” She got out of the car. I followed her. She looked a little frazzled and jumpy. It could be the cold, I thought to myself.

“What if it’s not as minor as you think? You might need someone to help you.”

She bit her lip in a way that suggested she might be hiding something. “Ax—”,

“No arguments, I'm coming up,” I said as I made my way to the elevator. She hurried after me. She peered at me as we stood in the car. Something was going on with her or her roommate. Whatever it was, I will find out.

The doors opened to her floor, and she marched ahead of me to her apartment. She hovered at the door, keys in hand, but not opening it.What was going on?

“It’s fine you can go now.”

“No, it’s not. You’re hiding something, what is it?”

Her gaze darted around, looking at everything but me. She shuffled on her feet, then she started laughing. It was a choked, hesitant laugh.

“What the fuck is going on?”

“Okay! You got me!”

I was even more confused. “I got what?”

She turned and shoved the key in the hole, twisted it, and opened her door. She shook her head and burst into the apartment.

I followed.

“Where is she?” He said. His confusion only added to my mortification.

“She’s not here.”

“Did she go to the hospital?”

Did he have to make it harder than it already was? I shook my head. He frowned.

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