I squeeze her hand, and she gives me a faint smile. “I know you're trying to make me feel better, and I know you're right, I'll find another job. I just hate feeling like I lost control of my life. I don't like not knowing what's going to happen next.”
“I know you don't, but you know we're a team. I'm going to take care of everything until you find a job. I don't want you to worry about the bills, or food, or anything else. I'm here, Lyl.”
Her smile broadens as her eyes stay static. This time her smile is more natural, and less forced. “Thanks, Doug, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.” She turns her hand so she's holding mine too.
A spark of electricity zips up my hand and through my arm. Hot tendrils wrap around my chest, making my heart stop for a single beat. She swallows hard as we stare at each other, hand in hand, fingers touching, and caressing lightly.
The waitress brings us our drinks and food, snapping the moment in half like a stick. She pulls her hand away, jerking her eyes free as she clears her throat. “Thank you,” she says to the waitress.
Lyllian stares at her plate but doesn't touch it. Her hands are wrapped around the beer bottle, thumbs moving up and down, smearing the condensation.
“You going to eat that?” I ask.
“I kind of lost my appetite.”
“That's fine, we can just have her wrap it up so you can take it home.” My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out to see who it is. “Oh, it's Jim. I'll call him back later.”
“No, it's fine, take it. See what he wants.”
“Are you sure?” She nods, so I hit the green button. “Hey, Jim, what's going on?”
“Hey, Doug, sorry to bother you so late,” he says.
“No, it's fine. What's up?”
“Well, I forgot to tell you something about dinner tomorrow night with Mrs. Gadory.”
“It better not be that it's a costume party, because I just went shopping for a new suit.”
“No, nothing like that. Actually, the thing is, you need a plus one. She's bringing her husband, so I'm bringing Meg. You're going to need a date.”
“I don't understand. Why do I need a date? What difference does it make? I'm pretty charismatic on my own.”
“As much as that's the truth, you need a date so you won't be the third wheel. And it'll look good. Mrs. Gadory is a romance fanatic, it's what all her movies are about. She lives for romance and writes all her scripts around it. You can't show up stag, Doug, you just can't.”
“What if—”
“No what ifs, you need to make it happen. We need this contract, it's the most important contract to come our way, and it'll open so many doors for us. Do not come alone. Come alone and consider yourself unemployed. Are we clear?”
Son of a bitch. A date? A damn date just to make a good impression. This is insane.
“Got it,” I say. If Jim wants me to bring a date because he thinks it will give us better odds of landing this job, then I'll just have to find one.
“And not some stripper, Doug. Make it look real, someone who’s girlfriend material.” Jim hangs up without saying goodbye, and I'm left in my own state of panic.
Where the hell am I going to find someone last minute like this?
It hits me. I know just the person who will do me this favor. Someone I can count on. Someone who will do anything for me, all I have to do is ask.
I look up at Lyl and give her a sly smile.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks, her brows arching high.
“Lyllian, will you be my girlfriend?”
3
Lyllian
“What?” I ask in shock.
Did I hear him right? Did he really just ask me to be his girlfriend?
My hands instantly turn clammy, and my heart races in my chest. I never thought I'd hear those words out of his mouth. Never in my life, not even in my fantasies, did I think it's possible.
“Will you be my girlfriend?” he asks again.
“Doug, where the hell is this coming from? I mean, seriously, this kind of came out of left field.” I'm trying to play it cool and not seem too frazzled. But I am frazzled. I can't even think straight.
What the hell? What kind of question is that to throw at me?
Did he lose his damn mind?
Doug quickly holds up his hand. “Pretend girlfriend.”
In a split second, my racing heart is now aching and bruised. The surge of excitement dwindles to a cold sludge moving through my veins. I feel stupid for even thinking there could be a chance that he's serious.
Pushing the feelings away, I don't let him see the hurt I feel inside. I tilt my head and glare at him instead. “What the hell are you talking about? Pretend girlfriend? For what?”