Page 109 of The Great Dating Fake Off
The ice in my coffee is quickly melting. I take a sip. Is there a “level” where we give all of ourselves behind closed doors, but we’ve never even been on a real date? Where I want to be with him so badly that I have to force my heart not to get ahead of itself, but I’m also brutally aware that he’s leaving and try to avoid thinking about it? “I’m not sure we fit a level.”
“How is that possible?”
“Well, we— I really like him, but—”
“Look at you blushing.” She waves her hand, her iridescent nail polish glinting in the sun. “You are obviously still banging.”
My phone lights up again as my stomach flip-flops.
What’d you wear to this meetup? Important for context. Feel free to send a picture.
If eyebrows can be smug, hers are.
“Okay, there are feelings there,” I blurt, turning over my phone. “But he’s scheduled to move soon, and that makes me want to keep my heart distance.”
Not that I’m doing a great job at that.
“Oh crap, really? That sucks. But that doesn’t have to be the kiss of death.” Her nose scrunches up. “What’s heart distance?”
“Where you let yourself be mentally and physically present but keep your heart where no one can reach it. My mom used to tell me to keep my heart distance from boys so I wouldn’t get hurt, which was ironic because she flung herself headfirst into every relationship she ever had. Then they’d implode.”
Out come my octopus sharing arms. I’m saying a lot of things out loud. But it feels so easy to open up to Ro, and it’s a relief to lay it all out there so plainly. “Anyway, last night I thought about talking to him about our situation, but then we…you know.”
She nods sagely. “And then you forgot all about talking. Unless there was the not-safe-for-work kind.”
I fan my now-sweaty neck. “There was some talking…”
“Good job, Sebastian.” A smile touches her lips. “Gosh, I miss the early days with Enzo. When we started dating it was twice daily. I couldn’t get enough. I was like a rabid animal.”Her face falls as a breeze ruffles her ponytail. “I miss him. I wish I could go back in time for just one more night with him.”
I sense my opening and pounce. “How would you spend it?”
“Probably a fun date night at the bowling alley, then a night spent breaking the bed. We have so much fun together. I think that’s part of why I fell for him. And he’s really good at the stuff, if you catch my drift.”
“Consider it caught.” I take the knife and hack off a piece of fudge. I try to keep my tone light so she doesn’t think I’m steamrolling her. “I could talk to him, you know. I really want to help you, if I can. I know he really loves you, and you clearly love him, too.”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to make you a messenger.” She exhales. “I mean, we’ll have to see each other eventually. We still live together, even though I haven’t been there.”
“And if I arranged a situation where we were all in the same place at the same time so you can talk with no pressure, what then?”
She laughs. “Why, are you throwing a house party or something?”
“Listen, I’m here to help and make amends for the wedding. If a house party is what it takes, I’ll get a disco ball for my apartment or get you two locked in a closet for Seven Minutes in Heaven.”
“You are incredibly sweet. Benji has good taste in friends.” She bites her straw. “He’s going to have to learn to share you. In case it’s not clear, you and I are good. All is forgiven. I’m glad you plus-one’d my wedding. Sebastian too. Cheers to us, friend.”
“Thanks.” I lift my coffee as my heart balloons, pressing against my ribcage. “Cheers to us.”
By the time we go our separate ways, I’m floating on a cloud.
It wasn’t a no to getting her and Enzo in the same room, and it was a better meeting than I would’ve dared to hope for.
I’m not even out of the park yet when I text Sebastian back, hope cushioning my every step.
I think there’s hope for them. We just have to get them bowling.
Sebastian responds right away.
I didn’t realize bowling held that kind of power.
