–Georgia: WTF??!!!! That asshole!
Her instant fury soothes the frayed edges of my nerves. It was amazing to have Nicholas jump to my defense, but I realize I need my bestie’s support too.
My phone buzzes with an incoming call.Georgia!
I instantly decline and text her.
–Me: No! Stop!
–Me: Don’t call!
–Me: I’m at Nicholas’s place right now, and I don’t want to have him hear the conversation.
–Georgia: You’re staying with Nicholas?
–Me: Yes. Long story. He’s in the kitchen, so probably can’t hear me, but it feels weird to talk about him when I can see him from where I’m sitting!
–Georgia: Okay, got it. But I’m DYING here. Text me everything. Now!
I quickly type what’s happened since Owen declared his need to improve his “personal brand” by dumping me and being with Dana Mincer, and hit send.
–Georgia: What personal brand? That he’s a fucking asshole??? Ugh. And Dana’s just a bitch. I never liked her. I guess those two roaches will be happy together. Great that Nicholas was there for you so you could fuck with Owen’s ego. So does this mean you’re going to give him a chance?
–Me: Who, Nicholas? What chance? He was just being nice. I need to find a new apartment as soon as possible so I can get out of his hair.
I’m not letting Georgia get any unrealistic ideas. She has an over-the-top imagination and can be excessively romantic. It doesn’t help that both Paul and Nikki encourage her. Nikki once said to Georgia, “If a man doesn’t know how to make you happy, dump him. There are other fish in the ocean with more money, better brains and bigger cocks.”
–Georgia: There’s nice and there’s nice. He’s never offered to let a girl stay the night with him.
–Me: Never? Not even his ex-girlfriends?
–Georgia: Don’t think so. I overheard Nikki complain to Dad about how cold-hearted and awful Nicholas can be. She thinks that’s why he’s having trouble getting a long-term girlfriend.
I like Nikki, but I’m beginning to think she might not know her son as well as she should. He’s anything but cold-hearted and awful.
–Georgia: So it’s a huge deal that he’s letting you stay at his place. If he wanted to just be “nice” like you said, he could’ve dumped you at a hotel and offered to pay for a night or two. And he didn’t object to you being his fake girlfriend, which means he wants you around.
–Me: You think so?
–Georgia: Hello? Fake Dating Rule Number One? You have to make people believe you aren’t fake-dating. Which in your case means you can’t immediately move out or it’ll look like you dumped him.
–Me: Ha. Nobody’s going to think that. They’ll think he dumped me.
–Georgia: Come on, girl. You know that isn’t true.
–Me: Have you seen your brother?
–Georgia: Yes. And I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I bet that right this minute he’s thinking of a way to date you for real.
I roll my eyes with a smile. She’s such a romantic.
–Me: This is my life, not a romance novel. Things like that don’t happen.
–Georgia: I love you, so we’re going to have to agree to disagree. While secretly acknowledging that I’m right and you’re wrong, of course.
I laugh fondly. This is how my best friend and I end minor arguments because they aren’t worth hard feelings. Our friendship matters more.
–Georgia: And let’s suppose the world has ended and you’re right after all. Why move out so quickly? The whole point of fake dating is enjoying the benefits of being somebody’s fake girlfriend. So use his house and his money and everything else that comes with the fake relationship until you fake-break up. I’m rooting for you both to get what you want out of this.
