If that were actually possible—
Don’t dream about impossible things. At least I’m not dreaming about having a family like the Vincentis; another planet is in the realm of possibility.
If only I had someone to fake date, like in Daria’s book. That would take away all the issues with Max and Hope.
“You look awfully deep in thought.”
Canyon’s voice makes me jump. “Hey, Canyon. How are you today?”
He always has a happy smile on his face. “Good. Did you make any mint-chocolate cupcakes today?”
“Sure did. You should—” Canyon would be perfect. He’s sweet and kind…and understanding. Better than that, he’salways up for a prank. This is sort of a prank, but more like a secret.
“What should I do?”
Could I ask him to do this? “You should come in for one today.” Do it. “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“Sure, Fea. What do you need?”
“A fake boyfriend?”
He starts to cough. “Excuse me,” Canyon chokes out. “I thought you said you need a fake boyfriend.”
“I did.”
“But…” He looks me up and down. “But…” He clears his throat. “But…any guy would give their left arm to date you for real.”
Like I want to date any guy for real. It’s hard not to roll my eyes. “I don’t want a real boyfriend.”
“Then why do you—Is someone harassing you? I can have a ‘conversation’ with them. If need be, the Adders can have a discussion with them. But I can be pretty convincing myself.”
Oh no. This conversation isn’t going the way I hoped. “No. No one is harassing me. I just, um, want to fake date someone.”
“You, Fiona Shaw, after twenty years of not even letting a man look at you, wants to fake date someone just because?” Canyon’s eyebrow goes sky high.
It sounds so wrong when you say it that way. But it’s still better than I want to thwart some teenager who thinks she’s a matchmaker like her grandmother…and she very well might be. “Yes.”
“No.”
What? Canyon never says ‘no’. He went snowboarding during a blizzard because someone asked him. “Why not?”
“Because I’m going to kill the guy, not pretend to be your boyfriend.”
“There’s no guy.”
“Don’t believe you.”
“I swear to you, Canyon, there isn’t a guy. I just need you to pretend to date me for a few weeks. Then we can publicly break up. There won’t be any issues.”
He shakes his head.
“Please?”
“Fiona.”
“Pretty please?”
“Fea.”
