Twenty
Stacy
“So, you’ll both come? Charlotte will be so happy,” my mom squeals, only her forehead visible on the FaceTime call.
“Mom, you’re getting excited again. We can’t see you,” I tell her as I hold the phone between Reece and me.
“Whoops!” She lowers her phone so we can see her from the nose-up.
Close enough.
“We’ll be there,” I say, holding back a sigh. “But we can’t stay late! The football team has an away game the next day so we have to be up at like five in the morning.”
“No, that’s perfect,” Mom enthuses. “I’ll get a cake and some balloons, we’ll make a night of it.”
“We wouldn’t miss it, Sheryl,” Reece butts in, a crooked smile on his face. “Hey, by the way, did you see that recipe I sent you for those cranberry stuffed baked brie bites? Could be a killer Thanksgiving app.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes at Reece and my mother. They gab like old pals nearly everyday and I try not to let it annoy me because truthfully, Reece plays the part of doting boyfriend so well .
A little too well.
So well, in fact, that when he makes out with me at parties, the kisses feel so real that they leave my brain in a whirlwind for the next few days.
But we don’t talk about those kisses. Why would we?
They’re fake kisses for a fake couple. They shouldn’t matter, right?
So, we should just continue on with cheer practice, with our fake relationship, with our lives, and not ever mention the hottest make out session known to man. Right?
“ Yes , I saved it. They look to die for, we have to make them,” Mom interrupts my stewing.
Reece chuckles. “Not sure if there’s going to be a ‘we’ involved in that. I can’t cook to save my life.”
I see Mom’s eyes light up and I assume she’s smiling.
Even though I can’t see her mouth.
“Stacy’s a pretty good cook,” she goes on in a playful tone. “Maybe she can teach you. I bet she can teach you a lot of things—”
“Alright.” I cut her off, shifting my phone so Reece disappears from the shot. “On that note, we’re going to hang up now. We’ll see you at game night, okay?”
I can finally see my mother’s whole face and she’s pouting. “Fine. Reece, play me back in Words with Friends !”
“Love you, bye.” I hang up before she can reply and Reece chuckles, leaning back into my couch.
He came over for my obligatory call with my mother to discuss my sister’s birthday plans.
Even though he’s been to my apartment a few times before, the energy is different now.
He’s sitting too close to me, our thighs pressed together on my couch, and everywhere his skin touches mine leaves a trail of tiny flames.
I feel like I can reach out and grab the tension between us but Reece seems completely at ease.
Because he is.
Because this relationship is fake along with all of the physical touch that comes with it.
“So, game night for your sister’s birthday, yeah?” Reece asks as I jump up to check on the enchiladas I put in the oven before he came over.
Poor boy really can’t cook so I’ve taken the liberty of making him home cooked meals whenever he comes over to FaceTime my family with me. You know, as a thank you.
Not because I care about him.
I meander to my kitchen, opening the oven door to see that the cheese on top of the enchiladas is perfectly melted.
The rich, savory smell hits me in the face along with the heat of the oven as I put on a pink oven mitt and pull them out.
My whole apartment smells like cumin, chili powder, and garlic, and I revel in the fact that I can’t be overwhelmed by Reece’s sweet cologne right now.
Enchiladas for the win.
“Yeah,” I go on, making both of us plates and carrying them back to the living room along with a couple of drinks. “My family loves games. All kinds of games, but they like trivia a lot . Guess because they’re all smart as hell.” I shrug, blowing on my first bite.
Reece glances my way before taking the remote off the coffee table and turning on The Office . “You’re smart as hell,” he tells me.
I snort with my mouth full. You know, like a lady.
Reece shoots me a dubious expression, one of his eyebrows cocked. “I’m serious, Stace. Stop shitting all over yourself. You’re a smart woman, you have a lot to offer. ”
I focus on cutting my enchilada with my fork as I respond so Reece can’t see the blush in my cheeks. “Spend a little more time around my family. You’ll see I got the short end of the stick when it comes to brains.”
“So what? So what if your mom’s a lawyer and your dad and sister are doctors?
Their accomplishments don’t make you less of a person, Stacy.
” Reece speaks with such conviction that he almost sounds upset.
It’s as if he genuinely believes I’m better than I am and he’s angry that I don’t see it for myself.
I shrug again, swallowing down my emotions along with a bite of my food. “I know,” I mumble.
“Do you?” he demands.
Reece is still looking at me but I’m staring at the TV. His intensity is off-putting because Reece is nothing if not a mild and apathetic person.
“I do,” I finally tell him, daring to glance his way. His eyes are bright, boring into me with no hesitation. It makes me shiver and I turn back to the show. “I’m just a product of my environment. I was raised to be perfect, like Charlotte, and I feel like I’ve fallen a little short.”
“You haven’t.” Reece speaks with such fervor that it almost brings tears to my eyes.
Almost .
I may be confused. I may be failing at the sport I’ve loved my whole life. I may be incredibly physically attracted to my annoying, fake boyfriend after a stupid, fake kiss. But I am not weak.
There are so many things I want to say to Reece. About my family, about my feelings, about that godforsaken make out session at the football party. Instead, I just say, “Thanks. ”
We lapse into a companionable silence while we eat, going back to The Office . The show has become somewhat of our show, something we always put on while we eat dinner after our calls with my family. It feels domestic. It feels comfortable.
It sometimes feels like a real relationship.
I shake away the thought and wash my food down with a sip of red wine. No matter if I can still taste Reece’s lips or feel the imprint of his body on mine, it is not . Real .
Reece clears his throat, pulling me out of my trance as he follows suit and takes a sip of the beer I brought over for him. “Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?”
Oh, god. Oh, god , it’s happening. We’re going to talk about the party, he’s going to set boundaries, he’s going to confirm that this fake relationship is still very much a fake relationship and that our physical touches are merely part of the act.
Despite freaking the hell out on the inside, I maintain a cool composure and take another long drag of wine. “What’s up?”
He hesitates as his eyes stay locked on the TV and I’m sure I’m going to implode. Is he mad? Is he still thinking about it? Does he want to do it again? Does he want to do more ?
“I talked with Evan and Brayden yesterday about the whole joint bachelor and bachelorette party. We talked about a weekend in Nashville, maybe over winter break. I know that’s a lot to ask but would you be willing to come with?”
I’m not sure if relief or disappointment is flooding my body at his question but I know that my heart rate is still elevated as I blow out a breath. “Yeah. Sure, of course. Could be fun.”
He lolls his head in my direction, shooting me a look of disbelief.
“Okay, could be tolerable,” I amend.
“Spend a little more time with Brayden before you make that statement,” he jokes, knocking his knee against mine. “Miles might come. He’s known my brother since we were in high school so he’s kind of weaseled his way in. I can check and see if it’d be cool for you to bring Mae?”
I nod. “Mae and Miles on a weekend trip together? Are you trying to get the FBI involved in this bachelor party?”
Reece snorts. “Yeah, what the hell is going on with them?”
“Beats me,” I shriek, suddenly happy I have someone else to discuss this with.
I set my plate down on the coffee table, tucking my legs underneath my butt to face him.
“Mae’s always so weird when I ask her about it.
They met, what, sophomore year? Whenever Mae got involved with Landon?
She’s hated him ever since and I have no idea why.
But she’s been so dodgy about him lately. ”
“I know .” Reece turns to face me as well, his eyes wide with gossip. “I’ve tried to get Miles to tell me about it a million times and he always blows me off.”
I lower my voice even though we’re alone. “Do you think they hooked up?”
“No way. They’re our best friends. They would’ve told us about it, right?”
I nibble on my bottom lip. “Maybe not. Not if Mae’s involved with Landon. Miles and Landon are teammates, maybe they’re keeping it a secret.”
Reece’s green eyes widen as he leans into me. “Holy shit, you’re right.”
Stacy, don’t think about how close he is. Don’t think about the heat of his body or how you can smell that godforsaken cologne now and certainly don’t think about kissing him again.
“Dude, they totally hooked up!” I squeal, pushing Reece’s shoulder playfully.
Reece starts to cackle and I join in, warmth spreading throughout my body.
We sit in our little bubble of gossip and secrets, laughing while Michael Scott blabs on in the background, and I don’t even feel like I’m pretending to like this man anymore.
I genuinely enjoy his presence, much more than I want to, but I’ve got to keep it in check.
We can be friends and that’s perfectly fine.
But that’s all.
Reece is still laughing until his gaze catches on something behind me. Suddenly, his face drops, his eyes going wide again like he’s seen a ghost.
“Reece?” I glance behind me, fully expecting to find a serial killer standing in my kitchen, but I see nothing.