Andy puts her hand over the rim and nudges it back to the table.
“I know RootDown is about to IPO, but I don’t think tomorrow you will be happy you’re shooting thirty-dollar bourbon like it’s Cuervo Silver.”
My phone buzzes on the bar.
Owen:Hey Liv, I’m at your apartment, but I don’t think anyone’s home. I’m sure you got busy with launch stuff. Let me know when you’re free. I could grab us takeout.
“Is this why we are hiding at Bar None on a Monday night?” Andy says, reading Owen’s text.
“Maybe.”
“I thought you agreed to try something real with him.”
“Apparently, I was theonlyone who agreed to that. Some of us were still faking it.”
I pick up my phone and type out a text.
Liv:Something came up. I think it’s best if we call this what it was and go our separate ways. Thanks for fake-dating me, you were very convincing.
“What happened?” Andy grimaces, reading my text.
I watch the text bubbles appear and disappear until the screen goes blank. No reply.
“I don’t know. I thought we were on the same page, but apparently, I was just some charity project. He has some kind of savior kink, and he was just swooping in to protect me from my ‘mean mother.’ Taking me to play stupid video games because I had a traumatic childhood.”
Andy watches me rant over the rim of her glass, slurping her drink.
“How,” she says carefully, “do you know this?”
“He said it, Andy. I heard him talking to his sister. She said he always does this, and I was just another girl who needs too much.” I shoot the bourbon. Hell with it. “Sound fucking familiar?”
“Oh, Lambchop,” Andy puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You know this is him, not you, right?”
“He’s not the first guy to say I’m not low maintenance.”
She picks up my phone and reads his text again. “Are you sure that’s what he said?”
“Pretty much. Then he agreed it was all fake.”
Andy looks like she’s about to say something more, but something catches her eye over my shoulder.
“Oh, there’s Cal and that hottie I’ve seen him with the past few days,” Andy says, waving to our upstairs neighbor entering the bar.
“Hey, ladies,” Cal says, coming up next to us. I don’t feel like small talk, but Cal has always been a friendly neighbor. Kind of a big brother type.
“I’m Andy,” she says, holding her hand out to Cal’s friend. “It’s a pleasure to meet me.”
Cal and I both laugh quietly, and Cal says, “This is Liam. We’ve been best friends since ninth grade. He’s going to be staying in my apartment while I’m gone on my next assignment.”
“Well, we are downstairs if you need a cup of sugar.” Andy bats her eyelashes, “Or a little spice. I’m versatile.”
“Please excuse my roommate. I’m Liv,” I say, shaking Liam’s hand. “We try to keep her on a leash.”
Andy shrugs. “I mean, I’m into it.”
Cal waves Frankie over and orders two beers, “And whatever the ladies are drinking,” he adds.
“Is this a girls’ night, or want to grab a table?” Cal asks once we all have our drinks.
