Page 3

Chapter 2

DANI

“None of these dresses will work. They’re all too slutty,” I groaned, looking at the pink cocktail dress that fit like a glove around my hips.

“And the problem is?” my co-worker Tee asked, leaning back against my couch. “You really have the nicest ass I’ve ever seen.”

I chuckled. “You are only saying that because you’re my friend.”

“No, I’m saying that because you are beautiful. And fuck Brendan for telling you he can’t go anymore.”

Well, I was only partly honest with Tee about why he wasn’t going with me to the wedding anymore. I was for sure not telling him who I was actually going with instead. He would flip his shit and never let me live it down.

Buzz. Buzz.

I grabbed my phone off the counter and glanced at the name. Jordy.

Jordy : Can we meet up tonight? Thirty minutes at my apartment?

Dani: Sure, be there soon.

“Alright, I gotta get going. Which means you need to put down the chardonnay and get the hell out of my apartment.”

Tee’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously? I just fixed this glass.”

“Sounds like a personal problem,” I replied, turning to walk back to my room.

A whistle sounded and I turned to look over my shoulder at Tee.

He was the best. Great at his job, and his personality was a ten out of ten—even having to put up with me replacing Elizabeth, our fearless leader who now worked at the Allaire Tower alongside Tee’s partner Cameron.

Although Tee refused to get married, saying he didn’t need anything to label him—which, touché—I knew it broke Cameron’s heart. One day, maybe.

***

I walked into Jordy’s downtown apartment, heading to the fridge to grab a cold water and string cheese stick before plopping my ass on his chaise lounge. I heard his shower running, so I made myself at home, flipping through the channels. We loved a good romcom, so I picked a random one and sat back, enjoying the bits of cheese.

After a few minutes, the door opened and a very wet Jordy walked out with a towel wrapped around him. “Hey, glad to see you made yourself at home,” he teased.

I smirked, watching him walk to his laundry room. “What’d you forget?”

A muffled groan floated through the apartment. “I forgot to get the heating pad down—my hamstring is killing me.”

As he walked back through the living room, he tossed me the heating pad. “Do me a favor and plug that in? I need it.”

I did as he asked; not because I followed everything he asked me to do, but because I knew he was hurting. I had seen him limping earlier today at practice.

Not a minute later, Jordy plopped on the couch next to me with a fresh white tee and black joggers. He propped his leg up on the pad, leaning back against the cushion and tilting his head over to take a bite of my snack. I yanked it back, but not fast enough.

“That’s my string cheese,” I squeaked.

He smirked, chewing before he said, “Actually, it is my string cheese that I let you have.”

I rolled my eyes and put the wrapper on the table in front of us, taking a swig of water before assuming my position on the couch. I was ready to ask him what he needed to discuss. “What did you want to talk about?”

He swallowed the remaining bites, leaned over to grab my water, and chugged the rest of it. “Next week. You and me… I know that you were supposed to bring Brendan.”

“How did you know—”

He interrupted me. “Don’t worry about how I know, but I do. Not only are you abandoning him for this trip, I already opened my big fat mouth to tell Elena that you and I were going together.”

“And how is that going to impact what happens on this trip? I already hang out with you?”

“Yes,” he said, scooting closer to me. “But people think we're going on this trip together. Like a couple together.”

My eyes widened at the thought. People would think we're hooking up? No one would expect that, we were so… different.

“Hear me out,” Jordy urged. “We can hold hands a little, maybe a little smoochie-poochie in public and no one will blink an eye.”

“No,” I deadpanned.

“What do you mean no?” His voice raised another pitch as he scooted closer, grabbing my hands. “Please. Please. Please, Dani. I will do anything you want. I just want to piss Elena off.”

I leaned back against the couch and glanced at his ceiling. He was so wrong. Everyone would freak out.

“Let me think about it, okay?”

He leaned over to hug me and I took in his freshly showered scent. “I won’t disappoint you. Promise.”

***

When I walked back into my apartment, I was not shocked to find Tee and Cameron snuggled on the couch, watching The Bachelor. “No! She’s a stupid bitch. Don’t pick her!” Tee yelled at the screen as I sat my bag on the table.

“Oh, where have you been, missy?” Tee asked.

I flipped him off. “None of your damn business. Hey Cam!”

“Hey!” he replied. “Sorry we barged into your apartment, but the people across the hall from us are fumigating their apartment and it stinks.”

I looked in the fridge for a cold beer, popping the lid off and sitting in the recliner. “Can I—never mind.”

Tee’s hazel eyes seared into mine. “What? Tell me. Right now.”

I sighed, knowing I couldn’t keep this from him forever. “Fine, but promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

Tee raised his brows to Cameron and he laughed. “I don’t know why you’re looking at me—you’re the one with a big ass mouth.”

Tee winked. “Don’t I know it! Anyway. Spill.”

“So hypothetically, if I were to be Jordy Hughes' date next week to the wedding… but we’re not together—I’m just helping cover for him since Elena will be there… Would it be bad if I make a deal with him to hold hands and possibly kiss in front of other people?”

Tee immediately sat his glass of white wine on my table and placed his hands on his knees. “Excuse the fuck out of me? Did you just say you're fake dating Jordy or am I hallucinating? Sweety, am I hallucinating?”

He turned to Cam, who gave him a grin. “No— you are not. That’s exactly what she said.”

I groaned. “Look, I don’t need a lecture, I just need—”

Tee stood abruptly. “Get up. Follow me,” he demanded as he walked down the hallway to my room. I sat there staring blankly after him, turning to look at Cam, who gave me a shrug before Tee called out, “Get your ass in here, Dani!”

I sighed, standing and walking to my fate.

“What is it, Tee?” I asked as I entered my bedroom.

He pointed to my bed and I gave him a side eye. “You know you’re not really my type.”

He laughed. “I’m everyone’s type,” he teased as I sat beside him. “Okay, so here’s what you’re gonna do. You’re gonna make a list of the things that you will allow Jordy to do in this ‘fake’ dating situation and you will stick by it, but—”

I leaned closer, ready to hear what he had to say next. “But if you develop feelings for each other, the deal is null and void.”

I laughed, flipping back on my bed and staring at the ceiling. “That won’t happen. We’re best friends.”

Feeling the mattress press down, I turned my head to see Tee smiling at me. “What do you think relationships are supposed to be based on? Just lust ? You don’t even see it, but I do. You and Jordy are so compatible.”

“But he doesn’t see it like that—and neither do I.”

He pursed his lips. “Ha! Whatever you say, Danielle .”