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We haven’t even made it a week and I’m already panicking about this relationship. But maybe it’s better than not caring, like I had toward the end of my relationship with Clay. And Cameron. Just go with it. That’s my new motto.

I hope it doesn’t mean I’ll crash and burn by the end.

CHAPTER15

Miles

It’s been a while since I’ve been nervous about a date. Hanging out with Dani and Oliver had been easy and I realize now it wasn’t a true test of how we’d do at an actual event. Our first big outing as a couple has me hoping I’ll be able to play the part.

Dani I don’t worry about. It’s me, constantly muddling things up. And being so close to her in the mall had my emotions heading into overdrive, which would be good if I hadn’t started our relationship by asking her to be my fake girlfriend and then further cementing it by being happy about her calling us “friends.”

I’m a mess.

And I nearly kissed her.

It’s been less than a week with several to go and I’m worried I’ll be the heartbroken one by the end of this arrangement. Stuck in the friend zone wouldn’t be all that bad, but Dani is the first woman I’ve actually wanted to hang out with more than getting dinner and drinks.

“I don’t think I’m ready for this,” I say, glancing in the mirror. There’s a reason I never joined any of the school plays or musicals. My acting abilities struggle.

“Yes, you are,” Jack says, stopping by my loft. He’s dressed in a tux and I’m still fumbling with the bow tie. Whoever invented it was bent on making a man crazy.

I walk into my bedroom again and work to straighten the mess around my collar.

“How are things going with your fake girlfriend?” Jack asks, settling into the sofa in the living room just outside my door.

“Good, really good.”

“So, are you thinking about changing it to a real relationship?” Jack’s voice is strangled, as if it’s killing him to get the words out.

I sigh, pulling the loops of the tie and making sure it’s in position. I walk out to grab the coat. “You haven’t even met her. What makes you think that’s the direction we’re going?” I’m not sure what it was that set me off, probably the tie, but frustration grows like a web throughout my chest.

Jack shrugs and grins. “I haven’t seen you this flustered in a while, bro.” He glances down at my tie and I touch it again, making sure it hasn’t moved. “I guess we’ll see tonight, won’t we?”

“See what?”

“If there’s chemistry or not.” Jack waggles his eyebrows and I shake my head.

“It’s possible anything will be one-sided no matter how long the fake part of our relationship exists.”

With a frown, Jack says, “Why do you say that?”

I swallow, trying to pull the shame down with it. “Dani says we’re friends. I think I’m stuck in the friend zone.”

“But you want more?” Jack’s eyes are narrowed on my face, a sign he’s mentally recording this conversation to throw back at me later. His memory is just that good.

“Again, I mean, things are really good. I haven’t been able to talk to a woman like this in my entire dating history. Is that because we don’t have the pressure of a relationship weighing us down? Or is it just the women I’ve dated?”

“Maybe it’s just the magic of Dani Higgins?” Jack laughs. “You don’t usually get this worked up about a woman, Miles. It suits you.”

I sink into the other side of the couch and groan. “The things we do to avoid irritating situations.” If only I’d just left things alone, maybe I’d be a happy bachelor instead of in a limbo-like pretend relationship.

“What? Create better ones?” We both laugh at that and the old grandfather clock in the corner chimes that it’s time to go get our dates.

“Are you ready, Grandfather Time?” Jack asks, slapping me on the back.

“I’m just glad you’ll be suffering there next to me.” I grab my phone and wallet, locking the door once we’re outside. “Who’s your date of the night?”

Jack takes several slow steps. I have to slow down so he won’t keep teasing me about wanting to see Dani.