“There’s something you need to know, too.”
“Oh, um, okay. What is it?”
He took my hands, then let go and paced away from me. With his back to me, he said, “I never meant to lie to you.”
Sadness washed over me. My entire body flashed hot. I was getting ready to tell him I was in love with him, and he was going to tell me everything between us had been a lie.
“I know I should have said something weeks ago, but I didn’t know how to tell you.”
I swallowed. “Just say it, Landon. I can take it.”
He turned to face me, his gaze sliding past mine before he drew a breath and met my eyes. “I’m DirtyLife.”
I tilted my head to the side as I tried to understand what he was telling me. He was… “Wait, you’re what?”
He released a shaky breath. “I’m your match, Casey. My screen name is DirtyLife. You’re TooBusy, aren’t you?”
“Holy shit. Are you serious?”
He nodded. “I should have told you as soon as I figured it out. Andre told me to. I was scared. I thought you’d stop talking to me and that I’d lose you. I wanted to get to know you. I was falling for you. I did fall for you. And I know starting a relationship with a lie between us isn’t a good idea, but I thought it would be okay. I was going to meet you for lunch today and tell you, but?—”
“You’re DirtyLife. You’re my match. I asked you for flirting lessons so I could… flirt with you.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. I… I didn’t know right away.”
“When did you figure it out?”
“When you asked me out. The other me.”
My eyebrows shot up. “That was weeks ago.”
He nodded.
“Did you… All those conversations. I feel like I should have seen it.”
“No,” he said. “I… When we started talking, I had no idea who you were. We hadn’t met, and I didn’t know. When you showed up here, that first time, I thought you were beautiful. And then when you asked me to help you learn to flirt, I wanted to spend time with you. I didn’t know we were talking until you asked me to meet. I couldn’t. I knew if I did, you wouldn’t talk to me anymore. On the app, you were different. I wanted to get to know you. And there, you were a different version of you. More relaxed. I didn’t want to lose the chance to get to know that woman.”
“Were you laughing at me the whole time?”
“Never. Not once. I wanted to get to know you.”
“I… Were you going to meet me for lunch today?”
“Yes. I was going to tell you everything. I wanted to get through the wedding. And then we started to get closer, and I didn’t want to ruin things. I… I love you, Casey. I know it’s fast. I know it seems crazy, but I do. I fell in love with you, and I didn’t want to lose you. But I know I will if I don’t tell you the truth.”
“Is that really the truth?”
“Why… What? Is that I love you the truth?”
“Yes. Or did someone see me yesterday and you know?”
“Know what? What happened yesterday?”
I stared at him. I had to know. Maybe it wasn’t fair to him, but I had to know if he was convinced he loved me because I was carrying his baby or if he really meant it.
“What happened? Are you hurt? Is something wrong?”
I shook my head. “I… I’m pregnant.”
