Page 23 of Pretend for Me

Dev

Are you available tonight?

Me

You know, after not hearing from you for a week, I was secretly hoping you’d bonked into lamppost, gotten temporary amnesia, and forgotten this whole fake marriage charade.

Dev

Sorry to disappoint.

I wait for him to elaborate, perhaps clue me in on his radio-silence all week, but of course, he doesn’t. Why should he when this is neither a real, nor a normal relationship and he doesn’t owe me an explanation of his comings and goings?

But then he surprises me with another text.

Dev

I was in Germany for most of the week, and with my busy schedule and the time difference, it was hard to find a time to chat.

I’m just typing out my response, my lip tucked back under my teeth and my grin begging to be let free, when Joshua knocks on my door, letting me know my next client is here.

Me

I do believe that text was higher than your four-word maximum. Quite the chatty Cathy today. You feeling okay? Should I fetch the smelling salts?

Dev

Is that a yes for meeting tonight?

I suck in my cheeks, knowing there should be no reason I should be feeling this giddy about a guy who’s likely at the limit of his exasperation with me, but I can’t help it. Maybe it’s because I imagine that, even in his curt responses, there’s a hint of a smile there.

Or maybe I want to believe there is.

Me

I suppose it is. I was planning to leave around seven-fifteen. The only plans I had were to encourage Kevin to fuck Natalie Nutbottom. Between you and me, I really think the ice is melting between them and their slow-burn is about to turn hot and steamy. After that, I was going to watch the latest episode ofBite For My Love. Have you seen it? It’s so good. Basically, the contestants get paired up with potential love interests and make a mystery meal together. Afterward, they decide if they want to move forward together or pair up with someone else. Want to watch an episode with me?

I’m just about to head out of the room to get my next client when my phone buzzes once more and I chuckle, not at all surprised by his response.

Dev

No. I’ll see you at seven-fifteen.

“You good with me leaving a few minutes early?” Joshua asks, stopping by my room at the salon around seven. “I was going to take Michelle out for dinner tonight. It’s our six-month anniversary.”

“Aww!” I grin at him. “You guys are so cute. Yes, go. Have fun. I’ll close up. I’m expecting someone, anyway.”

“Oh?” His brow rises. “Like a billionaire tech mogul, someone?”

Joshua, along with Nisha and Sarina, are the only ones who know the engagement isn’t real, but he’s the only one who believes it’s not as fake as it seems. Whatever that means.

“Yes,” I reply, placing the last of the used haircutting capes in the laundry bin. “We’re supposed to discuss ‘our arrangement,’ per his text earlier. I’m assuming the terms and conditions of this whole thing and getting our story straight for his parents.”

“I mean, aside from the timeline, given that you met last week, it’s not a completely unbelievable story. You can always go with the truth of how you met—he was referred to the salon by your mutual friend and you fucked up his hair.”

“Wow, thanks for the reminder, you big jerk,” I deadpan, but relent with a smile.

Joshua shrugs. “You have to admit, it’s a funny meeting. But you can embellish it a little by saying that instead of threatening you, he actually asked you out for a date after you fixed his hair, and that you’ve been dating ever since. Make the timeline seem longer.”

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