“Covey.” Leo sighs. “It’s way too early for this kind of philosophical question.”
I go back to my warm-up routine, using my foam roller to massage my hamstrings and break up some of the stiffness that’s settled in my muscles. After sixteen shows, my body is getting a bit stiff. I’m not the only one here early, spending a bit more time loosening up tight spots and getting ready to start the day.
“Are you thinking of breaking up with that good-looking teacher?”
“How did you…”
“I saw him when he came with the kids.”
Shows how much I was paying attention that day. All I remember is being surrounded by Aidan and hisstudents. Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to tell you a single other company member who went out to the lobby.
“Oh, is that the one you are fake dating?” Maddox asks, inserting himself into our conversation.
“It’s complicated.”
Leo wrinkles his nose at my statement. “I hate that phrase. That’s not an actual status. Or special. All relationships are complicated, even friendships.” He gives me a pointed look as he bends over his leg to stretch.
“We’ve kind of been fake dating.” I give Maddox a pointed look.
“Is this another one of your generation’s phrases that I don’t understand?”
“No.” At least I don’t think so. “We’ve been pretending to be in a relationship to make my family happy.”
“But you’re not dating?”
“No.” It hurts a bit to say that. I’ve come to realize how much of a role Aidan plays in my life. I always told people that our relationship was special, that even after months without speaking, we could pick up right where we left off.
Now, I can see so much of what makes us Aidan and Covey. We’ve not only found a way back to our friendship, but it’s become something more. I only wish I had the words to describe what thatmoreis exactly.
“And what does fake dating entail exactly?”
“We hang out and get to know each other. Go to family events together.” I leave out the whole friends-with-benefits thing. That part’s private.
“That sounds suspiciously like dating.”
“That’s what I said,” Maddox adds as he digs through his ridiculous bag.
Now that they mention it, from the outside, it looks that way, especially if you add in the benefits part.
“Yeah, but without the romance and feelings?” Even as Isay the words, they sound wrong. I like a lot of people, make friends easily, but none of them ever come close to the way I feel about Aidan.
“Are you sure about that?” Maddox asks.
“Um…” That’s a tricky question to answer. I think back over the few relationships I’ve had. Most of them were fleeting, at best, and I never once had the same feelings about them that I do for Aidan.
I’ve been telling myself that it’s because we have a decades-long friendship behind us, but maybe it’s more than that. I examine Leo for a minute. We’re friends. Sure, our friendship doesn’t have the same years on it. We’ve run across each other before. We spent a few years together in Europe. He was in the company while I was still in pre-professional training, but we were close enough in age to run in some of the same circles.
Now that we’re in the same place again, we’ve developed a pretty good rapport, warming up together and chatting at the studio, with the occasional trip to a coffee shop.
Do I feel the same about Leo?
Finally, a question that’s easy to answer. No, it’s not even close. “Aidan’s special,” I say, realizing I’m not even sure what the question was.
“I see.”
“Oh? Want to enlighten me?” Please? Because right now I’m in over my head.
“Covey,” Leo says, exasperated. “I can’t solve this one for you, but if you’re describing someone as special, you might want to ask yourself why.”
