Page 93 of Faking it For Summer
“No, I would never do that to Mia.”
“So, why are you calling? Is everything okay?”
“I just … it’s actually about Mia.”
“What’s going on? Do you want to meet for coffee or?—”
“No, I’m actually headed down to the shoreline to meet up with her and talk, but I think she’s annoyed with me, and I just don’t know how to address the situation.”
“Why is she annoyed with you?”
“I’m not really sure,” I lie because there are three reasons in my mind why she could be upset.
One, she could be upset because we’d been extremely physical. Two, she could be upset because I hadn’t gone to the beach with her, which I thought was unlikely because we went swimming in the ocean all the time. Or three, she was just cranky because she was worried about something else. Maybe she’s still heartbroken over Rex. The thought makes me distraught.
“Luke, you don’t have any clue?”
I realize then that my grandma can’t help me because there’s not much information I can share with her. No one can help me unless I’m fully honest with them, and the only people I can be fully honest with are Mia’s friends, and they are her friends first and foremost.
“Actually, I think it’s probably just a stupid minor argument. I think I see her. I have to go.”
I hang up and stand there in the grainy white sand. I don’t know what to do. I can head down to the water and search for Mia, or just leave it until later. When I spy the tiki torches outside of Cocktails & Chaos, I think about Preston and his own situation. He knows this relationship is fake. He is also in a similar situation with Louisa. Maybe he’ll have some advice for me. I hurry down toward the bar and walk past the palm fronds that decorate the front pole, along with several colorful flags.
“Hey there, Luke. You want a beer?” Preston asks as I enter and make my way to him.
It’s still quite early, so the tourists haven’t flooded the place yet. I notice two older men playing darts toward the back and a single lady sitting at the bar, reading a book. I wonder if it’s aromance. I know if Mia were here, she’d ask the lady what she was reading.
“No thanks. Actually, I was wondering if you had five minutes so we could have a quick chat.”
“Sure. We’re not very busy right now. What’s going on?” He heads toward the front with a rag and starts drying the stack of cups.
“I’m kind of frustrated about this situation with Mia.” I lower my voice and look around. I definitely don’t want anyone to hear me.
“Oh, no. Is the fake dating situation not going well?”
“It’s not going poorly. I just think we’ve crossed a couple of lines that maybe we shouldn’t have, and I think maybe she’s mad about it. I don’t know. She’s just been really grumpy today, and I’m trying to navigate that without having her blow up at me.”
“You think it’s got to do with the kiss from last night?”
“That’s the least of it, dude. We’ve done a bit more than kiss, Preston.”
“I got you,” he says, nodding, his eyes twinkling as he pours me a beer and sets it in front of me. “Just in case you need it. I understand how complicated these fake relationships can be.” He grimaces. “These women know how to drive us crazy.”
“I’m guessing you and Louisa have also crossed a couple of lines?”
“I will not say if I’ve sampled the goods or not.” He winks. “Luke, I’m a gentleman.”
“I’m a gentleman as well. How’s it going with you and Louisa? Is it super complicated?” I want to hear it’s not just me who is going out of his mind.
“Aren’t these things always super complicated?” He grabs a bottle of whiskey. “You want a shot?”
“Sure, thanks.” I nod.
I’m starting to realize the whole fake dating with Mia may not have been my finest decision. Nor sharing the same room. Nor flirting. Nor touching. Nor kissing. Nor getting to know each other intimately.
“I figured Mia and I have been best friends for so long that this would be fine, to pretend we were dating, but I guess I didn’t predict that she would be sexy as hell and I wouldn’t be able to resist her.”
“She’s a good-looking girl,” he says with knowing eyes. “A lot of guys try to get with her.”
