Page 70 of Faking With You

Running a little behind, but I called and they put a reserved sign on the corner booth for us.

I’m not surprised in the least that she’s running behind.

When I arrive at the bar, I quickly make my way to the table, wanting to be as far from people as possible. Our server stops by, and I order a tequila and soda, needing some alcohol if I’m going to be out of my apartment right now. As the drink is dropped off, I check my phone again, looking for an update from Hannah.

Before I lift my head, I can feel his presence. It’s like all the time we spent together has my entire body attuned to him, and I’m right because when I look up, standing at the edge of the table is Mac.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath before forcing a smile. “Hi,” I say, my voice not sounding as cheery as I hoped it would.

“Hi. Can I take a seat?”

“I’m meeting Hannah, she’ll be here in just a minute.” I silently pray that she’s walking through the door right now to save me.

“About that,” he starts, and a sinking feeling grows in my stomach. “I asked her to get you here tonight.”

I stare at him, because what the fuck am I supposed to say to that? My best friend betrayed me and I’m now in public with the last person I want to be with. When I don’t say anything, he slides in across from me. Wanting to get this over with as soon as possible, I ask, “When are you moving to London?”

He shakes his head. “I”m not.”

“Your father...” I start, and he reaches out and takes my hand. I can’t take my eyes off our connection. I’m torn between wanting to pull away and wanting to interlock our fingers.

“Eliza, when you asked me if I had thought about moving back to London and I said that Vancouver is home, I meant it. Vancouver is where I want to be because you’re here.”

I pull my hand back and set it in my lap. “What about your job? Your father said you were to move back to London.”

“I don’t care what he said.”

Tears brim on the edge of my eyes. “You asked me to be your fake girlfriend all for the purpose of getting you this job, and I’m now supposed to believe you’d give it all up?” I can’t help the disbelieving laugh that leaves me.

“Do you remember the night in London when you convinced me to play Uno but with drinks?”

I nod and close my eyes fighting my tears.

“Do you also remember when you said I could have asked anyone to be in a fake relationship with me because they’d all be stupid to say no?”

That was a thought I’d had the entire time we were in this arrangement. Mac’s ten years older than me, successful, handsome, and kind. Him wanting a fake relationship was confusing enough when he could have anyone he wanted, but that he asked me was confounding.

He continues, not waiting for my answer. “I asked you because you were the person I wanted to do this with. I was already intrigued by you and then finding out what I did only enhanced that. You aren’t some consolation prize. You’re the main prize. I wasn’t faking with you. I’m ten years older than you and know you can do better than me, but the thought of having a chance to get to know you, to be with you, I couldn’t miss it.”

I wipe at the tear that’s managed to escape. His words are hitting all the right points, but I’m also not sure I can trust just words. I was blindsided by his father’s mention of him moving, even if it’s not happening, it must have been discussed and I was never told.

“In the last six months, you’ve made me enjoy life more through the simple things. I would leave work early just to be able to spend time with you. I stopped working as many weekends so I could do things with you, even when it was just sitting in my flat with you. And knowing that you could do better, I still fell in love with you. At the birthday party when you all were talking about the crazy things the guys had done to get their girls. I thought I’d have to do something big and crazy to tell you I love you. To tell you I want to spend the rest of my life with you, if you’ll have me. I had this big plan to take you to one of my favourite places in London and give you this.”

He slides a black box across the table, and my jaw drops. My gaze flicks from the box to his face over and over.

“No, I’m not opening that,” I say.

He reaches forward and opens it, making sure the diamond ring inside is facing me.

I shake my head several times and point at it. “You can’t be giving me that, I know what that means. This was...” Seeing the ring and hearing his words, the words fake seem unable to leave my mouth, but that was what it was, at least to start.

“Not what either of us planned?” he offers.

Another tear falls, and I wipe at it.

“Mac.” I choke on his name and duck my head.

“Eliza, please look at me.”