Page 54 of Matched with Her Fake Fiance

“You had a specific educational purpose for games?”

He smiles sadly. “Yeah, my mom was determined to get me into this fancy preschool and I had to pass a bunch of tests to be admitted.”

From the slight panic moments I’d seen from him, I know he’s under a lot of stress, but it makes me wonder how long he’s been dealing with anxiety of certain situations.

“Thank you for being there for me. For not ripping me apart when I freeze with a decision.” He’s focused on getting the car going and I wish I could take away some of his pain.

“Does that happen often for you?” I ask, watching as the muscles in his shoulders tighten a bit. There are good reasons for checking him out, I tell myself. Learning his body language, of course.

He shakes his head. “Not all the time, just when I’m faced with a lot of new decisions and don’t have data for them.”

“Like research?” It sounds odd to need that for everyday moments, like board games.

“My mom has always trained me to be prepared, to study people I might meet so I’ll know what to talk about and how to act.”

I don’t know how to respond to that. “So in studying about something, you know you have a firm opinion about whatever the topic or discussion is.”

He nods. “All I could think about when I looked into the game closet was all the information I didn’t have to make an educated decision.”

I reach over, taking his hand in mine and patting it with the other. “You don’t ever need to worry about that with me.”

Not that I could promise forever, but I’ll be here as long as he wants me.

CHAPTER22

Miles

Who am I? Here I am sharing my feelings and insecurities with Dani and I hardly recognize myself.

Everything I told her is true, that panic sets in every time I don’t know the information to make a good decision. In our business, knowledge is power, because one misstep can cause the company hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions.

Talking to Dani about it makes me feel like a trained monkey who no longer has the trainer. Then again, I’ve felt like that ever since my father died. Not that he was an awful trainer, but he tried to give me as many of the tools to survive in the family business as possible. He’d been the one to play the games with me when I was small, and even though he told me that they were to help me with counting or different skills, I wonder now if that was just to keep my mother from getting mad that I wasn’t constantly being quizzed on letters and numbers from flash cards.

I don’t sleep much once I get home. Most of what I think about is that kiss with Dani.

The terrified look in her eyes when I turned her around in front of her mom and sisters that led to her almost melting in my arms. How the nerves in my lips acted as though they were on fire long after we pulled back.

I’m not sure why I reacted like I did, but kissing Dani is one of those experiences I don’t need past research done for. My lips still tingle thinking about it as I walk into work the next morning.

Meeting her family and the banter they have among them is what makes their house into a home. I could tell they love each other by the way they care and support every person there, despite the endless teasing.

I’m in my office, sorting through emails when a knock comes at the door. I glance up to see my mother and remember the missed calls I never returned.

“Good morning, Mom.”

“Miles, we have a lot to discuss.” She steps inside and shuts the door. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen her actually step inside my office. Usually I’m being summoned to hers.

She takes a seat on one of my uncomfortable chairs. Her eyes are narrowed and lips pinched tight. “What is this about you being engaged?”

I think back to giving my grandmother’s ring to Dani and shame fills me. That’s not a way to propose, even if it’s supposed to be fake.

“Yes, Mom. To Dani Higgins.”

“Didn’t you just break up with the one who talked too much? What was her name? Lydia?”

“Amber. Yeah, we broke up a while ago.” More like ten days ago.

“And so you’re rushing into a relationship with a girl not even in any of our social circles? What if it doesn’t work out?”

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