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Her crooked smile tells me I’ve successfully deflected her question. “Try thirty. I tried to get Mr. Franklin to add some vegan options ages ago. He said the menu already had salad and mixed vegetables as a side. His exact words - if they want rabbit food, they can drive out to the farmer’s market.”
A laugh escapes my lips as I pretty much got the same response from Frankie when I asked about the menu. Frankie had no clue what gluten-free was when I asked him. “Are you vegan?” I ask, feeling silly for missing such a big detail. The type of detail we should be covering as a fake couple as opposed to my market research.
“I was for two weeks in high school.” She pushes back in the chair and her face lights up with a happy memory. “For the record, a good burger - no cheese - fries, and a strawberry shake is my go-to favorite.” She runs a finger up my forearm and the jolt of electricity follows. “But stop trying to change the subject. Why is a… staff member of Legendary worried about their menu? What exactly is your job title?”
She bites down on her lower lip, her white teeth peeking out over her pink lips. The looks shoot another charge right down to my core. “Don’t you think that’s something your girlfriend should know?”
“So, you heard that? I hope I wasn’t being too presumptuous.”
She gives me a short head shake. “I liked the way you said it. All possessive and territorial.” Her hand lingers for a second before slipping off my forearm. “It’s been a minute since someone’s spoken about me that way. Even longer since someone’s taken me to a fancy restaurant. This is nice.” I nod, now understanding her reaction back by the hostess stand. How in the world does a beautiful woman like Catherine not have a line of guys fighting over her? I quickly push down that thought, I can’t get distracted. Besides, this is not a date, even if we are using the term fast and loose.
Catherine captures my gaze, her long eyelashes fluttering before she speaks. “Even if it’s only pretend.”
There is so much I want to say to her response but at the end of the day she’s right. We’re both sitting here lying to one another. “Operations staff.” I push out yet another lie.
“Huh?”
“My title. It’s one step above grunt.”
“Ah, grunt. That was my title when I worked there.” She pushes back into her chair, raising the menu. I kick myself for feeling the sense of loss from this slight movement. The heat of her hand on my arm, the tingling in my stomach whenever she leans close to me. “Why is an operations staff member worried about the menu at Legendary?” She doesn’t forget the earlier question and won’t let me avoid it any longer. I can tell she’s great at her job – perceptive, relentless, and committed to following up. Check, check, and check.
“My dad started his career on the janitorial staff of a company he would one day lead. He’s told each of us that no matter where you work, look at it as if you owned it. Regardless of the circumstances, take pride in your work and look to learn and improve every day.” I blink back the memory of my dad. Every week talking to me, my sister, and two brothers. A lesson on independence, ownership, investment, and growth. The Farro household was all about pushing one another - advancing one step at a time.
“Hey.” She lays a palm on the back of my hand. “You okay? You drifted away for a second. Want to talk about it?”
I feel the pinch of my brow as I process her question. No matter how attracted I am to Catherine I must never forget why we are here. “I’m good. Just thinking about family for a minute. I think we should order. I’m starving.” I raise the menu and hide, pretending to read a menu I’ve already memorized.
I love my family but there is a lot to tell. My family history is deep, complicated, and if Catherine hears it, she may connect dots. Dots I can’t afford to be connected in the near term. Dots that will be revealed in time and I doubt Catherine will be looking at me as some sort of kindhearted stranger here to help her. Once my family history is revealed, Catherine will know that our relationship isn’t the only fake thing there is about me.
