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“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you just tell her you weren’t ready for that yet? I mean, you and “mystery man” have only been dating for a week, after all.” She’s trying not to laugh and I’m glaring daggers at her, but it’s not working.
“How much will it cost me to get a new best friend?” I mutter.
“More than you have, I’m sure,” she says, smacking me on the leg.
“Look, I thought If I told her it was someone she already knew it would get me out of the ‘wanting to meet him’ bit. I didn’t expect it to backfire on me. But she got so excited about us being together again she wants me to bring him to dinner. What am I gonna do?”
Okay, now she’s smiling again. What the fuck? “Seriously, what is wrong with your face?” I ask again. “It’s broken.”
“What?” she says. “No, it isn’t.”
“No, it definitely is,” I say. “Because that’s not what concerned or frantic looks like. You look happy that I’m screwed.”
Riley rolls her eyes at me. “You’re not screwed.”
I scoff. “Um, excuse me. I just told my mom that I’m dating Cooper Williams, and I haven’t even talked to the guy in nine years, so how the hell am I supposed to show up with him at my parents’ house for dinner next weekend?” My voice is a bit harsh, but come on, I’m desperate. “What do I do? Call her back up and tell her that her youngest son is a lying jackass?”
“No,” Riley says, taking a sip of her coffee with so much calm that it makes me want to scream. And then she makes the next statement as if it’s clearly the most logical solution, and one that I would have thought of if I wasn’t so dense. “Bring Cooper to dinner.”
I almost choke on air. “Excuse me?”
“Look, you need him to do you a favor, so reach out to him. I happen to know he’s not seeing anyone.”
“I don’t understand why you’re still talking to him,” I grumble.
“We’ve been over this, Wes.” She gives me a stern look. “He was my friend, too. And what happened between the two of you didn’t have anything to do with me. He’s not a bad person. I care about both of you, and I can’t pick sides. I shouldn’thaveto pick sides. You can’t ask me to do that. It’s beennine years. You guys have to figure out a way to work past this. And even if you can’t be best friends again, maybe you could at least figure out a way to be amicable with each other.”
I shake my head as tears start to fill my eyes. “I don’t know if I can, Riley.” Fuck. I hate that that bastard still has this affect on me all these years later.
Riley’s gaze softens. “Look, if you want me to, I’ll reach out to him and set everything up. You just agree to meet and I’ll give you the details. Who knows, maybe it will go better than you think.”
I sigh. “Listen, what makes you think he’ll even go for this? Why would he? He doesn’t care about me. Not anymore.”
She reaches over and squeezes my arm. “You never know until you ask.” She sits back and takes another sip of coffee. “You could always offer to pay him if you’re worried about it. It’s not like you’re exactly hurting for the cash.”
I bite my lip. She’s not wrong. But, oh, god, how pathetic did you have to be to pay someone to pretend to be your boyfriend? Apparently about as pathetic as I am because I find myself saying, “Fine. If he agrees to meet with me I’ll do it.”
COOPER
What the fuck am I doing here? I run my fingers through my hair, my leg bouncing up and down like it always does when Iget nervous. And why am I nervous anyway? It’s not like I don’t know Wesley. Or maybe it is? We haven’t interacted or spoken to each other in nine years. And now we’re meeting to, what? Talk about fake dating each other? At least that’s what Riley said when she called. The whole thing seems fucking insane. But that’s why I’m here. To meet Wesley and hear it from the man himself.
I pick up my phone and growl when I see what time it is. Then I text Riley.
Me: He’s not here.
Riley: Wait. He’ll be there
Me: He’s probably making me wait on purpose just to make me sweat it out.
Riley: You guys are ridiculous. When are you going to just grow up and forgive each other? Am I ever going to be able to be in the same room with both of you again?
Me: Doubtful.
Riley: Look, I hate to be the one to point this out, but if you are going to have a convincing fake relationship, even short term, you’ll have to not be fighting constantly or glaring at each other
Me: Good thing I’m such a good actor then
