Page 25 of Fake Love

Is hiring someone to be your girlfriend a real thing?

Ben nods. “Whatever helps to show people that you are worthy of being here.”

“And you think that getting a fake girlfriend will help with that?”

Another nod. Motherfucker. “I do. People love relationships. They eat that shit up, why not play it a bit? Besides, you just said your mom told you to find a girl, why not make her happy too?”

Never, and I mean never did I think I was going to walk into the park today and get told by my club manager to get a fake girlfriend and lie to basically everyone. Including my mom.

I never would have considered getting into a fake relationship just to please people and make them see me in any kind of light. Like I would give two shits about what people think about me, but my mom wants to see it, and this is my career.

So why am I sitting here, looking at Ben, actually considering this shit?

Because it might actually be a good idea.

Fucking hell.

“From the look on your face, I know you’re considering it, but don’t decide right now if you're going to go through with it. Look at other things you can do, but in the meantime, go get dressed. We have batting practice.”

Ben gets up from his chair but I stay in my seat trying to digest this whole thing.

Yes, there are other things that I can do to convince people that I’m worth having here. A number of them in fact, but this idea, may be the largest steppingstone to get me closer to that.

Ben might have told me not to decide right this minute, but my mind is already made up.

I’m doing it.

But how do I find a fake girlfriend? Especially in a new city. Is there a site for that?

“Or maybe you can find someone to help you with your social media. That would be somewhat better than a fake girlfriend.” Ben voices before he leaves the room completely.

Social media.

It’s as if a light bulb turned on in my head.

I might know someone who can help me with my social media and be my girlfriend.

My fake girlfriend.

I just have to hope that she still works at the coffee shop because I didn’t get her number after our one night together.

7

Jennifer

It’s officially my last day working at the coffee shop.

For years, I’ve been dreaming about this day and it’s finally here. I’m both excited and scared about leaving, but it was time. No way in hell would I have been able to make it another year of coffee making, especially with the coffee Karens I deal with every day.

What made me finally put in my two weeks?

I don’t know. The morning after my unforgettable night with Maddox, I got up from bed and dreaded just thinking about how I had to work a few hours later.

Dread was always something I felt when it came to my job, especially in the last few years, but it was never this strong. It was as if the thought of even getting dressed was going to make me cry.

It was crazy, nevertheless I still went to work that day. I thought that feeling was a fluke, but I continued to feel it the next day and the day after that. I felt it for over a week and after finally talking to Selena over dinner one day, and her telling me it wasn’t a healthy feeling, I put in my two weeks.

Of course, it took me another week to talk to the owner, but hey I did it and now it’s my last day.

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