And his friends are sweet, like I expected, and totally welcoming even though I’m some random quiet dude dressed for a funeral.
This fake boyfriend gig is pretty easy.
With everyone else mingling around the snack table, Milo joins up with me and Matty by the couch. “You’re a tattoo artist, is that right?” he asks, offering me a smile almost as nice as Matty’s.
“Yeah, an apprentice.”
I notice Matty tense slightly beside me, and I realize that this is supposed to be my moment, our chance to really sell the relationship to Milo. Without thinking, I sling my arm over Matty’s shoulder and pull him closer.
His warm body slides against mine, fitting me perfectly. “He’s super talented,” Matty says and glances up to me. “It’s true, you are.”
I’m okay, but I’m nothing like the other artists at the shop.
Plus, this isn’t really about me. “Matty’s the one with the real talent,” I tell Milo. “But I’m sure you know that.”
“He is brilliant,” Milo agrees as he rests a hand lightly on Matty’s bicep. “You’ve seen his movies?”
My jaw tightens. I see that their friends are all affectionate with each other, but that doesn’t mean this Milo guy has to be feeling up my date right in front of me.
And no, I haven’t seen his movies, although I probably should have asked to when I was at his apartment.
Fuck. I have no idea how to act around people who are this… nice.
“We’re saving the movies up,” Matty offers, rescuing me.
Milo eyes me, his welcoming expression hardening into something more cautious. “You’re in for a treat when you do,” he says.
“Definitely.” I pull Matty closer, bumping our hips together and forcing myself to relax again. “It’s just that the second we’re alone on the couch, I can’t keep my hands off this cutie.”
Milo smiles, then he excuses himself to use the bathroom. I’m surprised to realize I’m holding some tension between my shoulders, which eases when Milo is gone.
A few minutes later, Matty and I take up spots on a loveseat as his friend Tonya introduces the night’s movie,Spice World. I keep my arm slung over his shoulder, figuring I might as well enjoy the nice feeling while I have it. I haven’t dated anyone seriously in a while, and the warm touch is too nice to let go of.
“Thanks,” Matty whispers when he gets a chance. “You’re really selling it. Now Milo keeps staring at us.”
I sink in a little closer to him, enjoying the way our bodies fit comfortably together. “No problem,” I say and take a handful of popcorn. “We’re good.”
And Matty is good. Everything is totally chill and going exactly like we planned. His friends are nice and welcoming, and I barely have to do anything but sit back and watch a movie.
So it’s great and not a problem for me at all that my fake date keeps looking at this Milo guy and smiling.
When the movie starts, I pull out my phone.Updates, the message from Billie reads.Now.
I tilt the phone, hiding my screen from Matty while I reply with one hand.Good news. We’re totally passable fake boyfriends.
You think Caesar will buy it?
You think Caesar will pay enough attention to remember my name this time?
Billie replies with a crying and laughing emoji.To be fair, he doesn’t use anyone’s name.
It will be chill. Matty’s fun. You’ll like him.
A second passes, and the dot dot dot thing keeps appearing and reappearing until Billie finally answers.
Do you like him?
Matty laughs along to a corny joke in the movie along with everyone else, and his knee presses against mine. Warmth pools at my core from his touch, and yeah, of course I like him.
