by T. K. Leigh
I worry my bottom lip, rubbing my hands along my jeans. What do I tell them? What can I tell them? If I’m supposed to pretend to date Julian, won’t we have to keep up appearances? But this is Chloe and Nora, my two best friends. We’re the three amigas. Three musketeers. Sisters from another mister. Am I expected to keep up the charade in front of everyone?
“Okay.” I blow out a long breath. “But you can not tell a soul. No one else can know about this.” I narrow my gaze on Chloe, my stare harsh, trying to relay the severity of the situation. “This is so far off the record, it would be akin to career suicide if you were to print it.”
“You have my word.” Her light eyes are bright and filled with all the sincerity I’ve come to expect from her, especially when discussing private matters. There are few people I believe when they make me a promise. Chloe’s one of them. “This will stay between us. No one else.”
Secure in her assurance, I walk to the couch and sit down. Chloe and Nora follow, sitting next to each other on the opposite end. Once they’re situated, I face them.
“I spent yesterday morning in the Steam Room, like I have been all week.”
“Yeah, I know,” Chloe says.
“What you don’t know is that as I was trying to figure out who August Laurent is, Mr. Armani Suit came in.”
“Shut up!” Nora playfully jabs me. “He did not! What are the chances?” She bounces with excitement.
Ever since I’d shared the story of waking up in a strange man’s bed and struggling to remember what happened, she made it her mission to get to the bottom of who he was. She’d even asked Aiden, the bartender, if he knew, to no avail.
“Apparently pretty good.” I roll my eyes, feigning annoyance with the idea of seeing the man I swore I had no desire to cross paths with again.
“What did you do?” Chloe inquires, not as excitable as Nora.
“I did what any self-respecting thirty-year-old woman in my shoes would do when facing a man whose bed she woke up in after a night of drinking.”
“You tried to hide, didn’t you?”
“Do you blame me? I hoped to never see the guy again. So I did my best to act disinterested, although… Holy hell, girls.” Warmth radiates through me as I melt into the couch, unable to contain my smile. “On a scale of ten, this guy is, like, a solid eleven. He was even hotter than I remember. Usually, it’s the other way around. And bonus, I learned his name is Julian, so there’s that.”
“What did he say?”
I stare into space, recalling our conversation in the coffee house. One thing stands out above all others. “He wanted to know why I left without saying goodbye. He appeared genuinely upset by it.”
“Aww…,” Nora and Chloe say in unison, passing each other an endearing look.
“No. Not aww. This is not an aww moment.”
“It is,” Chloe insists.
“No.”
“It’s destiny, Evie!” Nora beams as she clutches my hand, squeezing. “You get wasted and sleep with who I can only imagine to be God’s gift to the male form, can’t remember a thing, then cross paths with him two weeks later. I’m not sure the odds of something like that happening, especially in a city the size of New York, but it’s got to be unheard of!”
“It’s not destiny.” I brush off the idea, even though I’d briefly considered it. “And…” I trail off.
“And…what?” Chloe leans in, clinging to my every word.
I expect them to break out the popcorn as they take in the story I’ve kept from them for twenty-four hours. I’m not sure why I thought I could keep it from them forever. Maybe because I assumed yesterday was the last time I’d see Julian. Boy, was I wrong. Maybe it is destiny.
Returning my attention to them, I admit, “You were right.”
“Right?” Confused, Chloe’s brows pull in.
“We didn’t sleep together.”
“I knew it!” She pumps her fist in the air. “I mean, who in their right mind would have the wherewithal to put her bra back on after having sexy times? Hell, what woman would fall asleep with her bra on in the first place, unless they were completely incapable of taking it off? And there’s no way he wouldn’t take it off to get a look at those girls.” With a laugh, she gestures to my chest. “You have fantastic boobs.”
“Thank…you?”
“Start at the beginning,” Nora orders. “And don’t leave out a single detail.”
With a grin, I run them through yesterday’s unexpected events. Seeing Julian and learning his name. Dismissing him so I could work on finding August Laurent. Being unable to focus after our encounter. Running into Trevor with another woman as I left the coffee shop. Bumping into Julian again. Him telling me what happened the night of my birthday, then proposing a little arrangement.
“An arrangement?” Chloe waggles her brows deviously.
“Like a friends with benefits thing?” Nora smirks. “No strings, but you still get treated to a rocking orgasm when needed? Trust me. Those are a lot of fun.” She looks to Chloe, who nods in agreement.
“No… Well, I don’t think so. We still have to iron out the details, but if I agree to be his date to a bunch of stuffy dinner parties and events he has coming up, he’ll help me win back Trevor. I turned him down, claiming Trevor was too smart to believe I’d be dating someone like Julian, especially so soon after our own breakup, but then…”
“Julian sent flowers to you at Trevor’s while he was conveniently present,” Chloe sings, filling in the blanks.
“Exactly.”
“And it made him jealous.”
“Sure did.”
“So Julian wanted to prove you were wrong about Trevor being too smart. Now you’re considering his proposal.”
“You hit the nail on the head. But I haven’t agreed yet. I still have my doubts—”
“Despite the fact that Trevor was jealous after only a bouquet of flowers?” Chloe tilts her head at me. “Imagine if he caught you guys doing it? He’d come crawling back to you in a flash.”
“I don’t know about that. Even if he is jealous, there’s no guarantee it’ll make him want to be with me.”
Chloe and Nora share a look, shrugging.
“The reason Trevor broke up with me is because he doesn’t think I’m serious. Lying to him and pretending to date someone else?” I grab one of Chloe’s colorful throw pillows and hug it to my body. “That will most likely only solidify his original opinion.”
Squinting, Nora considers my words for a moment. “Then why didn’t you tell Trevor you weren’t dating Julian? And why didn’t you refuse to meet Julian for dinner tonight?”
I stare forward, shaking my head as I give the only answer that seems fitting. “I couldn’t say no to him.”
Chloe jumps to her feet, tugging me off the couch and into the den, which has become my bedroom, Nora following close on our heels. “Well, what are you going to wear?” She proceeds toward a hanging rack, shifting through all my clothes.
“I have no idea. I don’t even know where he’s taking me tonight.” I plop down onto the bed.
“Ask him.” She nods at my hand, which still clutches my cell.
“What? I can’t do that.”
“Sure you can,” Nora encourages.
“Then he’ll think I’m excited about tonight, and I can’t be excited about tonight. It’s strictly a business dinner. A glorified negotiation, so to speak.”
With a groan, Chloe steps toward me, taking the phone from my hand. “Then I’ll text him. While I’m at it, I’ll ask him what kind of panties he prefers. Briefs, thongs, or commando. Ya know… So you can dress appropriately…in all respects.”
My reflexes have never been so quick as I rip my cell out of Chloe’s hands. “Fine. I’ll text him.” I open my messages to see he responded to the one I’d sent with her address.
The Village? My mother always warned me about dating a village girl.
A smile builds on my face as I respond.
Well th
en, it’s a good thing I’m a Nebraska girl. Is there a dress code for dinner?
She warned me about Midwest girls, too. And wear something nice. A dress. Nothing too formal, but nothing too casual, either.
What will you be wearing?
Are you sexting with me?
I blush at his comment, drawing a blank as I try to come up with a witty response. Normally, I’d have an entire arsenal of possibilities. But something about Julian unnerves me, like I’m not myself.
If I were sexting, you’d be squirming in your seat, itching to drive over here and see me. I’m simply asking as a point of reference. And so I don’t pick out the same Brooks Brothers’ suit. It’s happened before, and it was the embarrassment of the century. So I made Trevor go home and change.
Chloe bursts out laughing. I glance over my shoulder to see her and Nora peering at the screen.
“You’re horrible,” Nora comments.
“Everyone uses comedy in awkward situations.”
“But you use it in all situations.”
“What can I say? I live an awkward life.”
When my phone buzzes, we all fling our eyes back to the screen.
Oh, Guinevere. I do enjoy your wit. No need to worry about us wearing the same Brooks Brothers suit. I don’t own any. Most of mine are Tom Ford, which I’ll be wearing tonight. I think slate gray. I’ll see you at seven.
I’m about to type a response when Nora snatches the phone from me. “Don’t.”
“What? Why?”
She blows out a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’ve been out of the dating world for too long.”
“No, I haven’t,” I protest. “I’ve been working in it for years.”
“Working in it and living it are two different things.” Chloe gives me a knowing look.
“I—”
“You need to make him want you.”
I stand up from the bed, heading to my rack of clothes to find something suitable for tonight. “This isn’t a real relationship. It’s not even a relationship. Plus, I haven’t agreed to his proposal yet. I’m not sure I want to. Using someone to make Trevor jealous? It’s definitely a bit juvenile, if you ask me.”
“Fuck Trevor,” Chloe interjects harshly. “Don’t do this for Trevor. Do this for you. Have some fun this summer instead of moping around with a broken heart. And maybe this Julian is just the person to help you do that and get over Trevor.”
“I doubt that.” I stare ahead, avoiding her eyes. “We have absolutely no interest in each other.”
Nora stands, walking toward me. “I find that hard to believe. For both of you. You blushed the entire time you spoke to him. And Julian? He digs you. Mentioning sexting? He’s flirting with you. I told you not to respond to his text because he wants you to. By leaving him hanging, you’ll have him thinking about you all afternoon until he sees you tonight. He’ll be so on edge, he won’t be able to contain himself.”
I pull a yellow polka-dot dress from the rack, holding it up to my body. It’s a fun, flirty, summer dress, reminiscent of a pinup girl style. Both my friends simultaneously shake their heads, grimacing. I groan. I want to go for something that screams just friends. I have a feeling they want me to wear something that makes me look like a temptress.
“Like I told you…,” I begin with a sigh.
“Yeah, yeah. It isn’t real.” Nora does her best imitation of my voice.
“It’s not.
“Trust me.” She narrows her gaze on me. “He’s into you. If he weren’t, he would never have proposed this arrangement. I have a knack for picking up on these things. It’s, like, my superpower or something.”
I scoff, averting my gaze so my friends can’t see the twinge of hope building over the idea of someone like Julian Gage being interested in me. He’s so mature, so mysterious, so…sophisticated.
“In fact, I can prove it to you.” She jumps up, shifting through my dresses.
“How?” I place a hand on my hip, arching my brows.
“I guarantee, before we’ve all agreed on a dress for you to wear tonight, he’ll text again. He’s probably staring at his phone, waiting for you to respond. Eventually, it’ll be too much, so he’ll message you something he hopes you won’t be able to ignore. But you’ll do just that. When you see him tonight, you’ll have the upper hand. You’ll be the one in control.”
She returns her attention to my clothes, stopping to look at a few dresses before moving on. I’m about to argue, yet again, that her experience on Tinder doesn’t make her a dating expert when a loud chiming rips through the quiet space.
We stop moving, all eyes zeroing in on the phone on the bed. Nora faces me, wearing a self-satisfied smirk. She crosses her arms over her chest.
“Did someone text you, Guinevere?”
My mouth growing dry, I slowly walk toward the bed and grab the phone. “Sorcery,” I murmur as I unlock the screen.
“Who’s it from?” she asks in faux curiosity.
“Julian.”
“And what does it say?”
I’ll never hear the end of it after I read this to her. “‘And as far as your earlier comment that I’d be itching to see you if you were sexting… I already am.’”
Her expression is smug as she turns from me, looking through my dresses once more. “Dating is one strategic game. Even fake dating.”
On a hard swallow, I remain silent, her words mirroring what Julian said. How all of life is simply a game.
“Play your cards right, you might just end up with a royal flush.”
Chapter Twelve
“Holy crap, Evie!” Nora squeals when I walk out of Chloe’s bedroom and into the open living area.
The two girls took it upon themselves to give me a makeover as we opened a bottle of chardonnay. It was reminiscent of adolescent slumber parties, apart from the wine. We gushed over the prospect of a date with a ridiculously attractive man while they perfected my hair and makeup. And, of course, being the list-maker I am, I jotted down a list of pros and cons for Julian and Trevor, hoping it would help sway my decision. It didn’t.
“You’re smoking hot. I barely recognize you.” She gets up from the couch, bringing her half-filled wine glass with her.
“Thanks… I think.”
“It reminds me of my first date with Jeremy,” she gushes as she leads me over to the full-length mirror hanging on the far wall, checking her handiwork.
“How?” I turn to her. “You met him on Tinder. Your first ‘date’ was a no-strings hookup. This is nothing like that.”
“Whatever you say, Evie.” She squares my shoulders, forcing me to face the mirror once more as she smooths a few of my flyaways. “Unlike what you think, you can’t plan for everything. I wasn’t looking for anything serious. Neither was Jeremy. You can’t deny chemistry. Now look at us.” With bright eyes and a brilliant smile, she holds out her left hand where a stunning diamond sits on her ring finger. “I’d say that’s a pretty damn big string. All because I stepped out of my comfort zone, veered away from my plan, and allowed life to take the wheel.”
“I’m happy for you, Nora.” Despite their unconventional beginning, they are perfect for each other, not to mention Jeremy treats her like a queen. That’s all any woman wants. Too bad there appears to be a lack of kings around these days.
I return my eyes to the mirror to do one last check. Nora was right. I don’t look like myself. I wear makeup on a regular basis, but don’t spend this amount of time on all the shading and contouring. The pallet Nora used makes the green of my eyes pop even more. Couple that with my red hair, the pouty, red lips, and the slim-fit black dress that hugs all my curves in the right places, which Chloe insisted I wear, and I’ve never felt so glamorous, so...beautiful.
“You don’t think it looks like I’m trying too hard?” I spin around to face my friends. “I mean, this isn’t a date.”
“We know,” Chloe groans. “You’ve only reminded us every minute since you hung up with this guy.
And it’s not about trying too hard. It’s about using your natural…assets to come out on top in your negotiation. With a dress like that and your fantastic curves…” She gestures down my frame, “this guy will be eating out of the palm of your hand. Trust me.”
“I don’t—”
The buzzer rips through the apartment, interrupting me, and we all jump. My pulse skyrockets as I fling my wide eyes to the door, my breath quickening. I’ve never wanted to run away and hide as much as I do right now. I don’t remember being this on edge when Trevor picked me up for our first date. Then again, we were friends first. Not to mention, all he had to do was take the elevator down a few floors in our dorm.
“Evie…” Nora places her hands on my arms, soothing me. “Relax. You remember all the conditions we discussed earlier?”
I nod quickly. “I made a list in my phone.”
“Good. Remain firm. Keep the ball in your court.”
“How do I even do that? I haven’t been on a date, real or fake, in over a decade. Not like you guys.”
“Well, then…” Chloe approaches and slings an arm along my shoulders. “If you ever find yourself in an uncomfortable situation and aren’t sure what to do, ask yourself, ‘What would Chloe do?’”
My two best friends burst out laughing. It’s no secret what Chloe would do. It’s what she always does.
With a groan, I push away from them. “That would end with me beneath him. And we are not going there. It’s on my list.” I hold up my phone before dropping it into my clutch. “No sex.”
“It wouldn’t end with me beneath him,” she argues, then winks. “I much prefer being on top.” With that, she spins, heading toward the door.
When her hand touches the doorknob, about to turn it, she glances over her shoulder, her brow arched, giving me one last chance to call it off. This is why I love her. No matter what, she’ll always have my back. As much as she’s exhibited her excitement over the idea of me going to dinner with Julian, she’ll support me if I decide to cancel. Friends like Chloe and Nora are nearly impossible to find. I’m grateful I did. Navigating the stormy waters of my break up with Trevor would have been infinitely more difficult had it not been for them.