Connor closed the door behind us but didn’t move toward his bedroom. He just stood there, hands in his pockets.
“So,” I said, feigning brightness. “Thanks for tonight, for the whole Sebastian thing. I’m sure he’ll forget about it by the time they get married, so you won't have to feel bad.”
“Why would I go without you?”
I blinked at him. “Because… I’m not on the guest list.”
“You could be. As my plus one.” He took a step closer. “Did you think I was just going to let Sebastian tell everyone you made the whole thing up?”
“I just…” I wrapped my arms around myself. “I didn’t think you’d want to bring me. I saw that article about you being one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.”
An adorable flush crawled up his neck. “That article was a nightmare.”
“You looked very eligible.” Despite everything, a smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
“I looked like someone about to be buried under an avalanche of LinkedIn requests and baked-goods bribery.” He slid off his shoes. “One woman showed up at my office with homemade snickerdoodles.”
I couldn’t help my laugh, breaking some of the tension.
“Honestly? This could help me too. I’m still trying to figure out my new role, and all this bachelor stuff is distracting.” That sweet flush climbed from his neck into his cheeks. “A picture of us together on my desk would relieve a lot of pressure.”
Was he serious? Was he was really suggesting…
“So you want me to… pretend to be your girlfriend?”
“It makes sense, doesn’t it? You can be my plus-one for the wedding and prove to Sebastian you’ve moved on. And I can focus on my job instead of dodging romantic complications.”
My mind raced through the implications of fake dating Connor McNamara until the wedding, however many months away that was—they hadn’t even set a date yet.
He could avoidromantic complicationswhile I saved face.
“What would that even look like?” I asked.
“Maybe a photo or two on social media. Then you come to the wedding as my date, and afterward…” He shrugged. “We go our separate ways.”
It was practical. Logical. Mutually beneficial. With a clear ending.
So why did the thought of “going our separate ways” make my stomach drop?
“What if…” I hesitated, then forced myself to ask. “What if you fall for one of those cookie-wielding New Yorkers before then? We should have an exit clause.”
Something flickered across his face. “An exit clause.”
“Yeah. If either of us wants out early, we just… let the other person know. End things amicably. No hard feelings.” I crossedmy arms, trying to sound detached. Like my heart wasn’t already bracing for the inevitable.
He nodded slowly. “Okay. If either of us meets someone else, or just wants out, we tell the other person. Clean break, no hard feelings.”
“Right.” I forced a smile. “See? We’re very mature and reasonable about this.”
This idea felt dangerous, like we’d be caught in the lie and exposed… but at least it had rules that should have made me feel safer. A timeline. An exit strategy.
And there was a selfish part of me that wanted to show up with Connor and watch Sebastian’s face when he realized I hadn’t been lying…
But also the part that wanted however many weeks or months pretending I could date someone like Connor, even if it was just pretend. Even if it ended at the wedding.
“Okay,” I heard myself say. “Let’s do it.”
“Yeah?” His smile made his eyes crinkle at the corners.
