Page 70 of Catching Kyle

“That’s it!” Michael says, jumping up to his elbow.

I wipe my eyes and yawn. “What is it?” I ask.

He jumps up and faces me, sitting cross-legged. He’s holding the book open, and he points down at the page. “Fake dating.”

“Fake what now?” I ask.

He rolls his eyes. “Fake dating. That’s our solution.”

I prop myself up on my elbow. “Fake dating… isn’t that the trope where the main character needs a partner, so they get someone else to do it?”

He nods eagerly. “And then they fall in love.”

I blink at him, processing what he’s saying. “But…”

“But what?”

“Forgive me… but doesn’t fake dating only work when the partner is accepted by those around them?”

“Yes,” he says like it’s obvious.

I grunt. “Then how can fake dating help us, Michael? You and I aren’t supposed to be together to begin with.”

He slaps his forehead with his hand, a smile forming on his face. “Oh, no no no. Sorry. I should have been clearer. You’re going to ‘fake date’ someone else. And then you and I can date in secret. That way you can play football for another year, and then you can come out after that.”

I look at him, deadpan. “You’re serious?”

He shrugs. “What other option do you have?” he asks. “This way, you can have both: you can ‘come out’ by dating me, but you can also still play football. It’s a win-win.”

I can’t help but wince. “But there’s so much that could go wrong. What about this person I ‘fake-date’? They won’t know it’s fake dating. And the media would be on me like crazy. That would be a logistical nightmare.”

His shoulder sags, and he starts twirling his beard. Then he lights up with another idea. “I know just the people who could help us come up with a plan. And they would keep the secret too.”

I raise my brow. “Oh yeah?”

“I do,” he says. He lays down next to me and starts stroking my thigh. Blood rushes to my dick, as if his touch alone can get me hard.

“But will you hear me out?” he asks. “Is this something you’re willing to give a chance? Or would you rather just decide on your own?”

His question comes across honest, not pushy. If I were to do nothing, he and I would have a maximum of two months, and that’s if I found a girlfriend at the last second. But Timmy’s on my ass about finding a girl. I’d have to give up Michael practically right now if I chose football. And I feel like I’d be missing out on something big if I just forewent this next season. But if I went with Michael’s plan, I’d get both, just like he said. And maybe we’d come out on the other end of the season still together. And maybe then I could officially come out.

“Alright,” I say. “I’m willing to strategize.”

He smiles. “Great. But this will require one thing.”

I frown. “What’s that?”

He sighs. “I’ll need the help of my writing friends,” he says. “So they’d know your secret. We can meet here to discuss it. Is that okay?”

I sigh as well. “Eh, what the hell. I trust you. Invite them over.”

Chapter 27

Michael Cunningham

“Yourmysterioussexycritiquepartner is Kyle fucking Weaver?” Amani asks.

I gesture for her to be quiet as she, Skye, and Josue walk through Kyle’s front door.