Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
The store is clean, bright, crowded with a mix of people in business casual and athleisure. Then there are a few women in our demographic—ready to shop.
"You drink tea, right?" She scans the menu. "Not their strong suit, honestly, except for the chai. They use fresh mint and tons of cardamom, but they never use enough milk. You have to ask for it extra creamy. Actually, do you mind if I order it for you? I'm a pro."
"Go for it," I say.
The line moves forward. Cynthia taps her toe in time with the music. An alt-rock song from ten years ago. I only barely recognize it. I've never been great with music. Or anything traditionally "cool."
Cynthia, on the other hand, exudes cool. In her sunglasses, oversized hoodie, short-shorts, and flip-flops she looks like a model on her day off. Or maybe that's the legs and bone structure. It's hard to imagine Daniel not noticing her.
She's gorgeous.
"Would Daniel really care about you crossing enemy lines?" I ask.
She taps her chin, considering the matter. "I'm not sure. He used to complain about Romeo's 'hairbrained schemes,' but ever since Rome brought up the coffee business last time—I think it was a few weeks ago—it seemed to worm its way into Daniel's brain. He mentions it when we pass a coffee shop. Or when I ask him to stop somewhere because I want a drink. Or even when I complain there wasn't anything good to grab for a snack with my afternoon coffee. He'll say, ‘you know what would be great with coffee, Mexican wedding cookies. Or pana cotta. Can you even get an affogato here?' He's a little behind the times on that one." She laughs. "But Daniel isn't one for sweet."
"He likes the idea?" I ask.
"I think so," she says. "But it will take a lot for him to admit it. You know Danny… No, I guess you don't know Danny. But you know Rome now, so many you can imagine the stubbornness that runs in the family."
I can. I nod.
"He likes you," she says. "I get why he's suspicious of everything, with the timing, but, honestly, it's a little egotistical, isn't it? Why would Rome scoop a poor woman off the street just for the benefit of, what even? What would that accomplish?"
Right. What would it accomplish to pretend to be someone's girlfriend. What a silly idea. "Proof he can commit to something, maybe?"
"You think? Does committing to a woman for three months prove he can run a business?" She looks to the line as it moves forwards. "No offense."
"No, you're right. I don't see the logic either."
She throws her hands in the air. "Men. Who can understand them." The line moves forwards again, and it's our turn.
We step to the counter where a barista takes our orders. Cynthia recites them like a pro. Some extra-large dark roast for her, the house way, and a Chai for me, extra creamy, with honey.
"Not too sweet," I say.
She smiles. "Was Daniel right?" She moves towards the pick-up area. "Did Romeo convince you to play up how serious your relationship is?"
Uh…
"It's none of my business." She pushes her sunglasses up her head and looks me in the eyes. "But I won't share anything you say with him. Just FYI. I'm a strict believer in the girl code."
I can't tell her the truth. I can't say, actually, I hired your fiancé’s brother to spice up my sex life, which he did, and he convinced me that was the path to a great fake relationship. But I can give her a version of the truth.
I want to give her a version of the truth.
All this deception is exhausting. Like the last few years of my marriage.
And it's confusing, too. Because I don't know what's real and what's pretend anymore.
"It is true, we started casually," I say. "And it's true I only wanted sex at first. He's just… gorgeous."
She smiles. "He is."
"And he's patient and skilled. The way he drew things out the first night… I thought I was going to die. I wanted him so badly. I didn't know I could want anything that badly." My cheeks flush. It's not an act. The memory does warm me. And it is absurd, talking about sex, in this coffee shop, surrounded by people in business casual attire and moms with strollers. "My ex-husband and I weren't having sex for a long time. I forgot what good sex felt like. How it felt to be desired. To desire."
"I remember that feeling." Her eyes get dreamy. "Not that Danny and I have bad sex. It's good. He tries. If there's one thing you can say about Daniel Galante, it's that when he puts his mind to something, he accomplishes it."
"Including your orgasm?"
She blushes. It's barely noticeable with her dark skin, but it's there. It's adorable.