‘Well …’ I trail off, considering her words.‘I need to knuckle down and focus.I need to stop going out as much, and having a girlfriend would solve my Leasa issue as well.It would give you more dating experience, too, to solve your editor’s problem.I’m happy to explore whatever experiences you want to.I’m game to go all in, if you are?’
She studies me for a moment, as if carefully reading my expression, trying to figure something out.After a moment, she is seemingly satisfied with what she sees.
She holds her hand out towards me.
‘Let’s do it.’
Clapping my hand to hers, I interlock our fingers.
‘Game on.’
7
NORA
MY MIND IS REELING.
The footpath glows under the orange cast of the streetlights.Even at night, Stratton hums with life – music spilling from open bars, the echo of skate wheels on pavement, people gathered in groups, laughing and chatting.Neon signs flash as we pass, the thrum of a busker’s guitar nearby.
Then there’s us, strolling down town like we didn’t just shake on the most unhinged plan either of us has ever agreed to.Two people who just made an arrangement to fake date.Romantic in theory.Ridiculous in reality.
‘So,’ I say, slow and casual, like I’m not spiralling inside at what we just agreed to do, and what it means moving forward.‘I guess you’re my boyfriend now.’
With the online relationship, it was safe.At least it felt safe, because I wasn’t facing a real-life person in front of me.It made me feel like there were no boundaries we couldn’t cross.That’s the whole reason it felt so easy.So easy to be caught up in it and fall into his trap.
I exhale, hating that this still plays on my mind.It’s scary how much he learnt about me, so quickly, and yet I would not know this person if they passed me in the street.Somehow, I’ve landed myself in anotherfakekind of relationship, but this one feels morereal than whatever that was, because at least Zayden is right here with me, a real person, and that has to count for something.
Zayden shoots me a sideways look, his mouth twitching into the beginning of a grin.‘It appears that way.Speaking of, I should document our date.’He pulls out his phone and drops back a few steps.I keep walking and half-turn back, in time to hear the sound of my picture being taken.He catches back up with me and shows me the photo.It’s cute and candid.He tags me in it with two little hands connecting in a heart shape.He posts it and I blink down at his phone, a little surprised that he’s willing to do that, so easily.I suppose it’s important to make it look real, but I’ve never seen Zayden post this kind of thing before.
We turn down a quieter street lined with palm trees and takeout places still open for the midnight crowd.Our arms brush, and I can feel how weird it is.Hownewit is, even though I’ve known him for a while now.Zayden Stark, my best friend’s older brother – serial flirter, football royalty, a guy who’s the topic of a lot of conversation around campus.Everybody knows who Zayden is.I gulp at the realisation that people are now going to be noticing me.I’m not sure I’m quite ready for that.
He once tricked me into eating a spoonful of Vegemite straight.Now he’s going to be fake holding my hand at Lindsay’s wedding for my entire family to see, as well as students around campus.How the hell did we get here?
‘You sure this helps with the whole “coach breathing down your neck” thing?’I ask.
Zayden nods.‘The tutoring is going to save me, and hanging out with you will keep me from ending up in stupid situations that I don’t have the time for.I need to prove I’m not a walking disaster, even though that’s what I am.’
‘You’re not a walking disaster.Uni ishard.School, assessments, study, it’s not for everyone.You can be a very intelligentperson but still not fit into the curriculum.It doesn’t make you any less of a person than someone who manages to get good grades.’
‘Thanks, Nora,’ he offers me a lopsided smile, but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes.He doesn’t view it that way.‘You think fake dating is going to get your family off of your back?’
I shrug.‘Honestly, just getting through one more event without the relatives asking why I’m still single and acting like it’s a terminal illness is enough for me.’
‘Match made in heaven,’ he says, and I grin at that.Maybe that could be the next idea and title for a book.Fake dating my best friend’s older brother.There are some fun tropes I could work with.
We pause under the glow of a flickering streetlamp near the esplanade.The breeze whips in from the water, cool against my bare arms.He turns to face me, his expression unusually serious.
‘Are we crazy for doing this?’he asks.
I nod.‘Very.’
He offers his hand again – steadier this time.I take it.I like the idea of seeing what disaster we’ll create together.Spending more time with Zayden sounds like a pretty great idea to me.
He steps closer to me, and for some unknown reason, my hands move out, touching his chest.The heat of him spears through his shirt and onto my fingers, which have involuntarily bunched up the fabric.His hands move up the sides of my body, before circling around my hands, holding them firmly.
I feel so content with him.Safe.
He’s looking at me with heat in his gaze.That intense stare that makes my breath catch and my cheeks blush.He makes me feel beautiful when he looks at me like that, and that’s something I don’t experience very often.
