“How did you know we had a deal?”
She shrugs. “I guessed. But seeing as you mentioned it…” She jumps onto the counter. “Tell me about this deal.”
“Sean is pretending to go out with me.”
“Mmm…”
“He was only supposed to be my date for one dinner, but things got out of hand, and… And we’re going to carry on until Christmas.”
“Why Christmas?”
“My grandmother wants to spend the holidays with the whole family, and she loved Sean.” I find myself smiling when I know I shouldn’t.
It doesn’t get past Mila.
“Are you sure this is all just pretend?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. I guess it’s the way you look at each other.”
“Why? How do we look at each other?”
“All I know is that I wish someone would look at me that way.”
Her confession floors me for a second. I scratch my head nervously before heading back over to the sofa and sitting down, opening my book again and pretending to read; before Mila works out how to read me, from cover to cover.
“So you’re a chef?” Mila asks, changing the subject and bringing my attention back to her.
I nod.
“And from what I can tell, you’re pretty good.”
I smile, flattered.
“Why does a charming guy like you, with a good job and a smile that could get you anything you wanted, have to find a fake boyfriend to spend Christmas with your family?”
“Trust me, I wish I had an answer for you. But I’m confused about the whole thing, too.”
Mila sits in silence for a while. Just when I think she’s dropped it, she speaks again.
“Can I ask you something, Eric?”
“Sure.”
“Can you try not to hurt my brother? He hadn’t had the easiest time, with me and our parents and everything… And with a few dickheads who tried to break his heart.”
I should step aside now. Pull out. Free him from this deal and let him forget about all this ridiculous time we’ve spent together. But selflessness isn’t a quality I possess.
“Sean is all I have.”
I take a deep breath and try to be as honest as possible.
“I’ll do my best to make sure I don’t hurt Sean. You have my word.”
* * *
WHEN SEAN GETS home laterthat afternoon, I’ve just finished sorting some leftovers that the two of them can heat up.
