Page 8 of Good Time Boyfriend
I threw my hands in the air and sighed. “Of course not. Because that’s not what my brain does. It makes things complicated. I tried to get them off my back about dating, because I focused on my career, my life. And the fact that I don’t know if I actually like people enough to date them.” I stopped. “Not that you aren’t lovely.”
Heath waved me off. “No, tell me more.”
“Shush,” I said with a laugh.
“I get it. Dating’s hard. I’m a bartender, so I like people. I have to, in order to do it.”
“Anyway, they constantly worry about me, and it got so annoying that they were pressuring me into wanting to have what they have.”
“And what’s that?” he asked, his voice soft.
It was odd, because he was still making drinks for others, there were still groups of people around us, speaking loudly, going about their nights. And yet it felt like it was just the two of us.
This delusional fantasy of mine was starting to get a little weird. Or, possibly, beyond weird.
“I made you up because I needed an excuse, and then I couldn’t just say you dumped me after a week, so it just became a thing. And rolled into this whole relationship that was completely fake, and a huge lie, and I hate myself for it. I should be strong enough to stand up to my family, but I didn’t want them to be disappointed in me for not wanting to be with the people they were setting me up with. So, I made up a fake you.”
“And apparently I dumped you?” Heath asked.
I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face.
“There’s a meme that says every girl has an ex-boyfriend who was never her boyfriend. And I have no idea where that came from, but that became my random existence. At least when it came to not wanting to go on dates with people that my siblings thought I would be good with. I always had you as an excuse in my back pocket. But when they wanted me to go to a wedding, and bring you with me, I couldn’t just conjure you up.”
“That would be a little tricky. So, I did dump you.”
“I said that we had mutually decided to end the relationship.”
“And your family didn’t believe that?”
“Apparently not,” I said and took another sip. “Apparently even my fake relationships need a huge embarrassing resolution.” I paused. “Why did you lie for me?”
He shrugged as he met my gaze. “Because you looked like you needed help. And I don’t mind. I have siblings, too, and it is nice that they stood up for you, even though that might have been a bit too much.”
I sighed. “It doesn’t help that I actually know your sister too,” I said softly, more mortification setting in.
Heath’s eyes widened. “You know Greer?”
“Yes. From her shop. So things got really sticky when I realized you were related to her, and new to town, and not just a figment of my imagination.”
He just laughed and handed me a glass of water. “Well then, at least we both know that if you’re friends with my sister, we’re not weird stalker people. Just people that happen to lie to your family a bit. But at least they’re letting you breathe. And you’re having a drink. A delicious one.”
One that was hitting me harder than I planned, because the next words out of my mouth were never meant to be uttered.
“So, not only am I a virgin, I’m a lying one. I hate lying.”
I paused and looked up at him, his eyes deepening with a smokey color. Although why I thought I could actually read his emotions after just a few minutes, I didn’t know.
But I honestly could not believe I just said that out loud.
“Well…” he cleared his throat, his voice rough.
“Please forget I said that. How about I pay you for this?”
“No, that’s on the house. Did you drive?”
I shook my head. “No, I took the light rail.”
“Good, because if you’re blurting out things like that, maybe I made the drink too strong.”
