Chapter 5
Three weeks whizzed right on by. Logan learned the ins and outs of his new job.
His time became consumed with long surgeries and being on call.
The best part of his day, though, became his fun late night text exchanges with Brooke.
After they came to their agreement in the hospital, Logan started texting her in the evening under the guise of getting to know her.
He promised it was research to sell their fake relationship to his family and her friends.
But before he even knew what happened, Brooke became the bright spot in his day.
He’d managed to keep his sister and parents at bay about his new girlfriend, but he knew it was tick tock. If he didn’t materialize at Sunday dinner soon with Brooke on his arm, he didn’t know what Danielle would plan without his knowledge.
One evening after a long work day, Logan returned to his apartment, kicked off his shoes and brought his take-out to his couch. Before he even sat down, his phone dinged. He smiled, grappling it out of his pocket expecting a text from Brooke. Instead, tension gathered in his shoulders.
Admit it, this Brooke woman isn’t real.
He groaned and lowered himself onto the couch and set the to-go bag on the coffee table. Logan wondered how best to respond. He found his disposable fork from the to-go bag and removed the to-go box. His stomach growled so he ate half of the orange chicken before he responded.
She’s real. But even you must admit our family is a lot, and I didn’t want to scare her off by bringing her home to meet everyone if the relationship fizzled and died out before it became anything real.
According to my calculations, you’ve been dating this mystery woman for at least a month.
The words dangled like a month was a year. Logan wiped his face with his napkin then picked his phone back up.
EXACTLY! One month is nothing in the land of dating.
Just admit you’re lying so I can invite Shelby over. I ran into her again when I took the girls for a walk in the stroller, and she was looking extra cute in her leggings and beanie.
I don’t care. You have to drop this. I don’t want to see Shelby.
Give me another month.
Two weeks.
Fine.
Honestly, Logan would’ve settled for a week. Two weeks was more than enough time to finalize the details of their fake relationship. While he finished eating, he put on the game but muted it.
Once full, he bit the bullet and called Brooke instead of texting.
She picked up on the third ring and answered, “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine.” Logan kicked up his feet and readjusted a pillow behind his head.
“I thought calling would be easier so we could talk instead of trying to hash this out over text messaging. My sister is hounding me to bring around my new girlfriend. I bought us two weeks which I know isn’t much. ”
“I’m up for it. I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge.”
It made him smile. He enjoyed her sassy confident side.
“I hoped you would say that, but I do think we should meet up in person and go over everything. Make a cheat sheet of sorts, hash out our timeline, memorize the details about each other, you get the idea. What night are you free this week for dinner?”
“Um, give me a second to check.” The phone went silent besides some rustling around. Finally, she popped back on and said, “I can do Thursday night or Saturday morning.”
“Let’s do Thursday night.” He swung his legs around and sat up.
The thought of seeing Brooke made him perk up.
The woman was easy on the eyes, and he did enjoy her company.
Even if they were only fake dating, it didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy himself.
“I was recommended a restaurant around the corner from the hospital. It’s on the Magnificent Mile. ”
“What’s it called? Maybe I’ve been there before.”
Logan panicked. He had no clue what restaurant to eat at, and he had no idea why he said he received a recommendation. But he planned on scouring the pages of Yelp later to figure it out.
“Umm,” he raked his hair, “I’ll text you the name once I secure a reservation. I don’t want you to get your hopes up if I have to book my backup place.”
“Wow, okay.” Brooke paused, “You’ve really thought this through. I wish all my fictional dates put this much time into where they took me to eat.”
“You know me, just playing the part.”
What in the world? Logan shook his head and muttered to himself about his blabbering.
“I see.”
Logan tried to think of a clever response but came up dry. “I’ll text you the details when I’ve confirmed everything. Do you want me to pick you up at the hospital or your apartment? Or should we meet at the restaurant?”
“Umm—I’m not sure yet when I’ll be off work.” Her voice trailed off then Brooke continued, “I’ll let you know. I’d prefer to go home and change first. I’ll either have you pick me up from my apartment or I can meet you there.”
“I don’t mind coming to get you. It gives me an excuse to exercise.
” He should’ve stopped talking but the nervous energy pulsating through his veins made him ramble on.
“And you don’t need to dress up for me. I think you look good no matter what you wear.
I mean you can if you want, but you don’t have to.
You’ll look fine in anything.” He snapped his mouth shut.
Boy, his game was rusty. Good thing this whole relationship was fake.
“True,” Brooke groaned. “But I’m not going to go out with you to a nice restaurant wearing sweats. I do have some standards. They are remarkably low, but they do still exist.”
“Gotcha, you only wear sweatpants to buy bread and Oreos,” he countered, hoping she understood his comment as fun flirting and not a dig.
“Yes, and then I take them home to eat them alone in the comfort of my own apartment.”
Logan’s lips curled into a smile. “Same.”
“Really? I figured the French bread you bought was to take to some sort of dinner party, at least that was the story I made up in my head,” Brooke said. “I figured you as a CrossFit, I only eat clean, type of guy.”
“I’m glad I give off that vibe. Can you share that with your single friends you want to set me up with?”
Brooke laughed. Her laugh vibrated through every cell of his body, invigorating him more than it should. “I’m never setting you up with anyone. Nice try.”
“Noted. I’ll text you the details of our dinner.”
They said their goodbyes.
Then Logan spent the rest of the evening researching where to take Brooke on their fake date.
He knew it wasn’t a real date, but he felt hopeful and excited in a way he hadn’t for a long time.
After careful research, he decided on The Purple Pig and was able to secure a reservation.
Though he planned everything immediately, he waited another day to text Brooke the details.
He didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to appear overly eager.
They agreed he’d pick her up at seven from her apartment then walk the few blocks to the restaurant.
Thursday came before he knew it. As he neared Brooke’s apartment that evening, his hands shook with nervous energy.
The winter air nipped at his skin making the tips of his ears sting.
He tightened the scarf around his neck and buttoned his peacoat jacket up to his neck.
The doorman, who he remembered as George, stood stationed outside of the apartment building.
“Good evening, George,” Logan greeted as he halted in front of the building.
For a second George studied him, then his face lit up and he remarked, “You’re Brooke’s new doctor friend, right?”
“That’s me.” Logan shuffled back and forth on his heels. “She told me to text her when I arrive, and she’d meet me in the lobby.” He texted her quickly.
George opened the door to the building and motioned for him to enter. “Go right on in and wait in the lobby where it’s warm. Brooke mentioned she had a friend coming by.”
“Thanks.” Logan slipped inside and loosened the scarf from around his neck as the cozy warmth of the building enveloped him.
George didn’t enter the lobby but remained outside at his post.
Five minutes later the doors to the elevator opened, and Brooke sauntered out.
His jaw dropped. The woman looked like a knock-out in her black dress and heels.
Her hair hung loose in soft beach waves which danced over her shoulders.
A part of him wondered how her hair would feel between his fingertips.
She had a small sparkly clutch in one hand and a long peacoat jacket slung over her arm.
Suddenly, he wondered why he hadn’t put more of an effort into his own appearance.
Though he had on a checkered button-down shirt and slacks, he couldn’t even remember what color it was or if it was new or old.
Nothing about the pounding in his chest felt fake.
His attraction to her was one hundred percent real.
He choked back on his saliva and forced himself to find his center.
“You look beautiful,” he remarked as she arrived in front of him.
She smiled shyly at him. “Thank you.” The air dripped with the aroma of her perfume. It wasn’t too spicy or too sweet, but it made his heart hammer harder.
He swallowed. “I’m glad we could do this.”
“Me too.” Her eyes dazzled with the lights of the foyer. “Even if this is fake, it was nice to have an excuse to dress up.”
“Well, you nailed the part.” His fingers itched to take her hand. He clutched them into a fist and forced them into the front pocket of his peacoat. “Are you okay to walk?” His gaze dropped to her magnificent heels with a strappy back.
Gosh, her legs looked fantastic.
“Oh, these.” Brooke lifted the heel of one foot. “They are more comfortable than they look.” Then she winked as her face filled with amusement.
Heat flooded his core while his heart took a few liberties.