Page 98 of Fake it ’Til Fall
“There’s Puck, the dog,” I continue. “Emotionally central. Legally questionable.”
“Perfect. Simple story. You met at The Turning Page. He kept coming in. He brought his dog. The dog tangled you in his leash, and that’s your first kiss.”
“That’s my first kiss?” I arch an eyebrow. “A leash-related incident?”
“Yes,” she says. “Familiar is good. Familiar is believable. You kept it private because you’re dealing with Liam and Carla’s wedding, and Forrest is avoiding attention before the coaching thing.”
“That sounds very reasonable.”
“This is how you structure a good fake relationship,” she says. “A history built around truth, with a strong visual concept. Actually, we need a picture board. Maybe glitter. Maybe—”
“Win, focus on my issue, please. I don’t have time for craft-based fraud.”
“Rude,” she complains. “There is always time for schematics, vision boards, and an emotionally supportive theme.”
“I don’t think—”
“Daisy, are you writing this down?”
“Obviously.” I glance at my notebook. “It’s going to become a list after we’re done with the call.”
“Underline less,” Bea says, leaning over my shoulder. “Fewer exclamation points.”
I cover the notebook with my arm. “You run a bookstore. You of all people should respect language and punctuation.”
“I respect them when they’re not panicking.”
Winnifred laughs. “Bea, please make sure Daisy doesn’t overdecorate the lie.”
“I’ll take a marker to it if necessary.”
“Traitor,” I tell Bea.
“I’m a great employer,” she corrects. “Big difference.”
“Why does this feel too . . .” I press my lips together and twist them sideways. “It feels too clean.”
“That’s because your actual life is currently a corn maze designed by emotionally unavailable people.”
Bea nods. “Accurate.”
I glare at my phone, then at Bea. “Wonderful. Very healing. Love being emotionally assessed by a committee.”
“Second thing,” Winnifred says. “Do not make Forrest charming.”
“I couldn’t if I tried.”
“I’m serious. If he suddenly starts smiling and saying the correct thing, people will know something is wrong.”
“I’m not sure Forrest has ever said the correct thing on purpose.”
“Exactly. Let him be grumpy. The whole appeal is that he’s grumpy to everyone else and slightly less grumpy to you.”
Bea points at me. “He’s extra grumpy to you.”
Winnifred claps. “That’s even better. I love visible character development.”
“You think his extra grumpiness is character development?”
