Chapter Three
Amelia
With Metro Café’s bright lights and loud music, Amelia wouldn’t call it a first choice for a date. Not that this was one.
She figured something more casual would be better for her and Daniel. She didn’t know what it was called when two people were discussing fake dating, but it certainly wasn’t fancy-dinner worthy.
The two of them walked in around five-thirty. The cafe was usually its busiest at breakfast, so it was empty when they arrived. A bored-looking hostess led them to a table near a window.
Daniel was as aloof as ever, and now that Amelia had a few hours to think on it, she had a few concerns.
The main one being how they had only ever interacted as coworkers. Her family would see right through them if that continued. When she was with Andrew, they had been all over each other, and if she and Daniel couldn’t at least walk close together, her family would immediately tell her she was with the wrong guy.
“Amelia?”
She blinked out of her thoughts. Both Daniel and the waitress were looking at her expectantly. “What?”
“Sorry, she’s had a rough day at work,” he explained with a smile she had never seen before. Wide and bright, it was so different from the small one she had seen earlier that day. It radiated charisma. “What are you having to drink?”
Amelia inwardly screamed. Did she seriously just zone out so bad that she didn’t even notice their waitress? Andrew would’ve yelled at her for a mistake like that.
“Um, water, please,” she said and waited for the waitress to walk off before adding, “I promise I’m not usually rude to waitstaff.”
“I know,” Daniel said. “If memory serves, you gave a $50 tip out of your own pocket to a pizza delivery driver. It was talked about so much that even I heard it.”
“When was that?”
Daniel shrugged. “Like a year ago? It’s one of the very few things I know about you.”
She was surprised he knew anything about her at all.
“I don’t even remember it, but it’s something I’d do.”
They lapsed into silence and she busied herself with looking at the menu. The waitress came back, and they both ordered breakfast platters, despite the fact that it was evening.
“So, tell me about this trip,” Daniel said, looking at her. “And about your family.”
“Right.” Time to get down to business. “So, my family has a tradition of going to the beach every year. My parents live about an hour away from here, so we don’t get to hang out all the time, especially since I was promoted to director.”
Daniel nodded, lips pressed together. The hours they both pulled were long, and Amelia wondered if his had anything to do with his failed marriage.
Nope.No. She wasn’t going to be asking questions about that.It was none of her business.
“Anyway, we’re going to Folly Beach.”
Daniel nodded. “You said that. It seems very relaxing.”
“My dad knows an owner of a condo there that can fit my whole family. So, each year, we go to try to get some family time. Fair warning, my dad is going to want to pay for food. I mean, unless your wife took all your money, I’m sure your salary is enough to cover that, but . . .” She stopped, realizing what she was saying.
Daniel was still only looking at her. He didn’t look mad, but he also didn’t look happy.
“I am so sorry,” she apologized. “I need to stop talking before I say more stupid things.”
“I’m not offended.”
“Really?”
“In fact, the opposite. I’m very tired of people treating me as if I’m going to break at any time.”
Amelia nodded. She could understand that. She blew out a relieved breath.
“But no, I am very fortunate that I don’t have to pay my ex-wife alimony.” His lips pressed together, as if the reason why he didn’t have to pay alimony wasn’t a good one. “I can pay for my own food.”
“I can too, but my parents are incredibly stubborn. Plus, you’re the first guy I’ve let them meet in five years, so be prepared for special treatment. If you go through with this, that is.”
“None of your exes made the cut?”
“No, it’s not that. I just haven’t dated in five years.”
“How come?” he asked. Amelia raised her eyebrows, not expecting it to be a topic of conversation. He noticed, and his cheeks turned slightly pink. “I mean . . . you’ve obviously had options.”
“What does that mean?” she asked, tilting her head to one side.
“I . . . I don’t know if I should elaborate.”
“Come on, I’m your fake girlfriend. I won’t judge.”
“You should probably not use the word fake if you’re referring to me.”
“Fine. I’m your girlfriend.Now, tell me what you meant.”
“I meant . . . you’re beautiful, Amelia. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
Her skin grew warm at the words. Daniel was far better at wooing than she thought. He must have barely had to try with Lucinda.
“Was that too far?” he asked. “Should I take it back?”
“No. But you should save that for when we’re at the beach.” She couldn’t help the smile that turned her lips upward. “And to answer your question, my last relationship . . . didn’t end so well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s fine. It’s in the past. My mom thinks I should get back out there, but I’m really fine being on my own.”
“I feel the same way. About the divorce.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“Then we’re just two fine people pretending to date. Easy, right?”
“I don’t think anything about this is going to be easy,” he said. “I don’t . . . I haven’t dated in a long time.”
“Me either, but it can’t be that hard. We just hold hands and casually touch. It’s not like we need to fuck or anything.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“Sorry,” she said, holding up her hands. “I sometimes don’t have a filter. Especially after a day at the office. I can keep it in check, I promise.”
“It’s fine. Just unexpected. And if this is who you are outside of the office, then I should probably see it.” He gave her another smile, just like the one he’d given the waitress.
Amelia could remember when Andrew barely used to huff out a laugh at her little quirks. He soon didn’t think it was funny at all.
But she and Daniel were only doing this for a few weeks. Maybe two. Hopefully, she wouldn’t get on his nerves in that time.
“You’re right. But if you’re ever uncomfortable, or it’s too much—” Or if she was too much. “—then let me know.”
Daniel’s dark eyes were back on her again. By the way his jaw went slack, she wondered if he had ever been told this in his life.
“That’s helpful,” he said. “Thank you.”
“I’m just doing the right thing. I’m not comfortable if you’re not comfortable. Let me know if we’re ever going too far.”
“I will.”
“And once again, I’m sorry if I’m being weird. Today was a lot.”
“Fake-dating discussions aside, I saw you sent out a controversial email.”
“It wasn’t my idea, that’s for sure. No one was abusing the work-from-home policy. Our executives just want people in the office.”
“It’s an unfair rule,” he said. “If we treat our employees like people, then they’ll have an easier time doing the work.”
“I agree.” She gave him a mock toast with her drink. “It’s going to be so nice getting away for a bit.”
“Absolutely. I haven’t been to the beach in a very long time.”
“Was the last time your honeymoon?” After she said it, she cringed. Why did she bring up his marriage? The first rule of dating, fake or not, was not to bring up the ex. “Where did you go?”
“Hawaii. Lucinda spent most of the time posing for Instagram shots. I hear those photos got a lot of likes.”
“Did . . . you enjoy that?”
“Does it matter?”
“I think it does.” Amelia was dying to know more, yet the pinched expression on his face made her question if she should even ask.
“You and Lucinda would disagree there then,” he said.
That was far sadder than she expected.
“You know what? Fuck the ex. We’re talking about the future now.”
“Okay, let’s talk about the future.”
“It’s all sunny beaches from here. And a lot of walking. We like to pretty much park the car for a week unless we find a restaurant a little farther away we want to go to.”
“Sounds like exactly what I need.”
They were interrupted by their food’s arrival, and Amelia’s stomach panged with hunger. She tore into her pancakes, forgetting about the man across from her. After half of them were gone, she looked up.
Daniel was cutting his neatly. She wondered if he’d watched her in horror as she stuffed the food in her mouth.
Be normal.She desperately needed to be normal.
She paused to look for something to entertain her. What she settled on was him. Daniel ate slowly and methodically, just like he seemed to do his work. She knew she was straight chaos, but she’d have to tone it down for him.
“Are you already finished?”
She blinked, realizing she hadn’t eaten in a good few moments. “No,” she said. “Just taking a minute.”
She resumed, but slower this time. After she’d almost finished her plate, she looked back up at him.
“So,” she started, “do you think that this could work?”
Even after she shoveled her food into her mouth like a gremlin?
“I think it could.”
“Great.” She felt relieved. She hadn’t blown this just yet. “Maybe after this, my mom will get off my back about being in a relationship.”
“Being single isn’t a problem. Sometimes, it’s better this way.”
“Right? I was relieved when Andrew left.”
“I felt the same way with Lucinda.”
Amelia wondered if he had dealt with the same things she had. Did Lucinda put him down at any chance she got? Did she get angry and take it out on him? She wouldn’t wish that on her worst enemy.
A cold bed and silent home were small prices to pay for not being put through that again. All she needed was her work and her family. That was it.
Her mother didn’t understand. She thought Amelia was lonely and needed a partner. But she didn’t need one because she didn’t need the inevitable fighting that came with it.
She was fine. And pretending was easier than trying to get others to understand.