That won’t work on me, sucker.
“Then don’t double date.”
“I have to! Paige specifically said she wants to get to know me in a more relaxed setting, with people I care about.” He sounds like he means it. “Come on, man. This girl is different.”
That makes me look up. Ethan doesn’t usually sound this sincere about anything that isn’t related to video games or pizza toppings.
“Different how?”
His whole face lights up. “She’s brilliant. Like, actually brilliant. She’s doing her PhD in Astrophysics, and when I made this terrible joke about Uranus?—”
“Please don’t finish that sentence.”
“—she actually laughed! And then explained why it was technically inaccurate, which was somehow even hotter.” He leans forward, suddenly earnest. “I think she might be the one, Alfie. The actual one. Are you prepared to be the reason I never find true love?”
He’s now giving me puppy eyes.
He must have seen me give in to Baxter.
Fuck.
“Ask Tara,” I say finally. “Don’t drag me into it. If she says yes, then fine.”
“But that’s the thing – you’re already in it! You’realready fake dating. This is just... fake dating in public. With fancy wine.”
“I’ve already asked too much of her. And you know how I feel about?—”
“Social situations? Yeah, your hatred of people is legendary. But this is just dinner. Two hours max.”
If only he knew how many painful “just dinners” I’ve been at.
I stare at my data, but the numbers swim together. The truth is, spending an evening pretending to be Tara’s boyfriend sounds simultaneously like heaven and torture. Because lately, the line between pretending and reality feels dangerously thin.
“Fine.” I scrub a hand over my face. “Butyouask her.”
I try to focus back on my work.
Ethan’s already pulling out his phone, grinning like he’s won already. He puts it on speaker as it rings.
“Hey E, what’s up?” Tara’s voice fills the room, I pause typing and my throat tightens.
Does shelikeEthan?
Fuck, is thatjealousy?
“Tara! Light of my life, queen of my heart?—”
“What do you want?” she deadpans.
“Can’t a guy just call to tell his favorite honorary sister how much he appreciates her kind soul, her generous spirit, her?—”
“Ethan.”
“Okay, so there’s this girl...”
I watch as he explains, his hands gesturing wildly even though Tara can’t see him. He tells her about Paige, about the restaurant and wanting to show his serious side.
“Let me get this straight,” Tara says, and I can hear thesmile in her voice. “You want me and Alfie to go on a double date with you and your astrophysicist?”
