Page 47 of For the Plot
Damn, rude
But unfortunately, also accurate
So?
I don’t know…
Do you think this is a good idea?
I promise I’ll be on my best behavior
*gif of someone making the sign of the cross on their chest*
Ok, I’m in
But you're paying
For the accuracy of the research of course
*gif of Westley fromThe Princess Bridesaying “as you wish”*
Smiling down at my phone, I tried not to let my excitement get the best of me. This was afake date.I had to remember that. The next step was using this fake date to get her to see what it could be like for real, if she wanted it.
I had planning to do.
Nikki
Iwasonlyslightlypanicking. I had no idea why James had asked me to go on a date—afakedate—with him. And I didn’t know how I felt about it. I just kept hearing Noah’s words,be careful, repeating in my head.
The thing is, a part of me really wanted to go on a date with him. Just to see what it was like. I’d gotten to experience the sexual side of him, but part of me was curious to see the romantic side as well.
But maybe I already had been seeing that side of him, and just hadn’t noticed. The night he pulled me outside to kiss me in the rain flashed in my head, the weird feeling I’d gotten in my chest as he looked at me. But just because he remembered something I’d said, and then actually done something about it didn’t mean that he actuallylikedme. In all the years I’d known James, he’d never been in a relationship. I didn’t know if he even wanted that for himself, or if he was content as he was.
Besides, I could barely take care of myself, barely get through what I was supposed to do when it came to work. I didn't have the capacity to be in a relationship. To give that person the time, and energy they deserved from a partner.
I forced myself to finish getting dressed, and to stop thinking so deeply about it, and reading too much into everything. James knew I needed help getting past this mental block, needed help getting inspired to write again, and he was just trying to help. That was all.
I looked at my watch, realizing I needed to get out the door if I didn’t want to be late. James had texted me to meet him at theCheesecake Factory. It was one of my favorite restaurants, which he knew, but it wasn't some super fancy place that would make this fake date feel all too real.
He’d said he had a few errands to run beforehand, which was why he was having me meet him there, and I was grateful for that. Him driving me there would have made it feel too much like a real date, and I needed to make it clear to my brain that this was just for practice.
When I got to the restaurant, James was waiting outside for me, holding a paper orchid. How did he know that was my favorite flower?
He handed it out to me, my fingers tingling as they brushed his. “I figured a bouquet would be too much.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “And this way, it won’t die on you.”
It was beautiful. I smiled at him and slid the flower into my purse. "Thanks." He opened the door, letting me walk past him. He went to check with the host to see if our reservation was ready, and I chewed my lip, looking around. I’d never come here on a date before, but I’d of course seen people on dates around me when I went with friends or family, and I’d always thought it was a romantic, if cheesy, place to go on a date. But who didn’t love a little cheese sometimes?
He came back with the host who led us to our table. We settled in, and I picked up the menu, pretending to browse like I didn’t order the same thing every time. I just needed a minute to get my bearings. I had no idea what to talk about. Which was stupid! We were friends and roommates, and lately, fuck buddies. In our four years of living together, I had never felt awkward or like I didn’t know what to say around him. I knew this date was supposed to be fake, but somethingfeltdifferent.
“So, come here often?” His voice floated over from the other side of the menu covering his face.
I snorted. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“Breaking the tension, as I do best.” He gave a little self satisfied bow and I laughed again.
“You are such a fucking dork.” I shook my head at him, but the huge grin on my face softened the severity of my words.
“Yeah, but I got you laughing, didn’t I?” He winked at me, picking up his own menu to browse.
