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She giggles and says, “For sure. Um, so, our friend Tanya apparently spilled the beans about the nature of our relationship—”

“Are you writing a term paper on this?” I say, laughing harder.

“You gotta do what you gotta do. Have you written a twenty-five page paper? That’s all about filler words. And if I feel the need to die in another couple years of school, I’ll let you know.”

“School does not equal death.”

“Yes, it does. Anyway, because of the help of social media, my mother now thinks we’re engaged. And she’s madder than a kid hitting a hornet that I haven’t introduced you.”

I blow out a breath. “Isn’t the phrase usually madder than a hornet?” It takes some effort to not full out laugh from the mistake.

“Yes, unless you’re my younger sister who doesn’t fear things that can sting.”

“She hasn’t disowned you or anything, right? Your mom, I mean.” From everything I’ve heard about the Higgins family, it consists of everything mine never has. Getting her in trouble with them is not something I want to jeopardize with the current pretend nature of our relationship.

“Not exactly, no. But she’s called an emergency family game night tonight and I’ll be kicked out of the family if we don’t attend.”

“Oh, so I’m supposed to attend, huh?” I’m baiting her to see what she’ll say.

She clears her throat and it sounds like she’s trying to mask a laugh. “I thought that was implied. So? Are you up for a ridiculous spread of potluck food and hours of games?”

I grin, trying to picture the rest of Dani’s family. If they’re all like her, it will be an evening of fun and laughter.

“I think I can manage that. What time should I pick you up?”

“She wants to start around two. So one-thirty? Or I can come get you.” Her voice sounds hesitant with those words.

I shake my head and say, “Game night that starts in the afternoon?”

“Yep, yeah, we’re crazy like that, Miles,” she says, and I love the way my name sounds when she says it.

“Okay, I’ll be there just before one-thirty.” I pause a moment, glancing into my closet one more time. “Hey Dani, what’s the dress code for family game night?”

It sounds like a lame question, but I’ve never taken part in something like this.

“Casual. And not business casual either. Pajama pants, sweats, t-shirts. All are acceptable.”

“Done. I’ll see you then.”

I stand to try and find the most random attire possible, settling on gray sweats and a navy-blue t-shirt. Standing in front of the mirror, I look boring compared to the taco pajama pants Dani wore the other day, but I’d have to work with this.

I don’t know how she does it, but I’m more excited to hang out on a Sunday afternoon with Dani than dress up and hit the country club like I’m used to.

One more notch in the like charts for Dani. It’s getting a lot harder to keep my feelings for this relationship on the fake side.

CHAPTER20

Miles

Iget stuck in traffic on my way to her house and Dani is already sitting outside on the porch. When she sees me approach, she picks up a pan next to her and walks up to the car, dressed in a flamingo print onesie.

She almost doesn’t wait for me to come around and open the door, but she’s carrying a pan with hot pads, which means she can’t do it by herself anyway.

“What do you have there?” I ask, pointing to the tin foil covered pan.

“Zucchini cake,” she says, slipping into the passenger seat and buckling her seat belt.

I wait until I climb back in to say, “What’s that?” All I can picture are sliced zucchinis mashed up together inside a cake mix. Not appetizing.