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I’ve seen a few posts. Winona brought a few more to my attention.

“And … anyway … she … Kate, that is … she wants us to keep it up.”

“Keep it up, meaning to keep dating?” I correct myself immediately. “Keep fake dating. Pretending?”

I send up a thank you in my heart.

He’s asking me! I don’t even have to grovel. Someone loves me. Not him, of course. But someone.

“Mm hmm,” I say, playing it coy. “So you’re calling to beg me to fake date you?”

“Not exactly beg,” he says.

“Okay. Well, good talk. I’ll let you go now.” I pretend like I’m going to hang up.

“Cass. Wait.”

I can’t help it. This is too fun. I’m not groveling, but I’m not above making him work for this—just a little. If he works for it, he’ll believe I’m doing him a favor. He doesn’t have to know the favors go both ways.

“Hmmm?” I say.

And then my natural decency kicks in.

Would I want him to string me along?

I was prepared to crawl across nails to get a yes from him.

But my motive was altruistic. His is sheer selfishness. Maybe he should have to work for it.

“Cass. I’m not begging.”

“That’s a shame, Delaney. Because as much as I love the Thunder, you’re asking me for a favor that sounds pretty personal. I’m beyond sure some begging is in order.”

“Please,” he practically whispers the word as if it’s killing him to say it.

“Did you say something, QB?”

“I said, please. Please, Cass Carter, will you pretend to date me for about another month or so?”

“The romance of it all,” I joke. “How can I resist?”

“Is that a yes?”

“It’s a maybe.”

He’s quiet. And I can’t bring myself to make him suffer, even if he’s insufferable.

“Fine,” I say. “I’ll do it. But it will be on my terms.”

“Your terms?”

“I have boundaries.”

“Oh, I know.”

“Watch it, Cold Turkey …”

“Right. Okay.”