Page 55 of Resist

Phoenix shakes her head. “More than once I’ve thought about asking you if I could set you up with him on a blind date. And having seen the sparks of chemistry between you both... I’m even more convinced he’s going to adore you, you’ll like him, and it’ll get messy.”

Maddie nods. “I agree. If you’re going to marry a guy you don’t love for however long you need to be together, we’regoing to have to come up with rules, or a contract, or some form of safeguarding for both of you.”

I snort.

“Even if you think you don’t need it.” Phoenix pushes back from the table and walks to Maddie’s living room. When she returns, she’s got a notebook and a pen. “Okay. If you’re sure you’re going to marry this man, we’re going to make some rules.”

CHAPTER 18

The ‘Don’t Catch Feelings’ Commandments

HEART-PROOFING 101

‘I Do, But I don’t’ Commandments

The ‘no feels’ Pact

Operation Friend Zone

(The Ten Tenets)

"No Hanky-Panky Clause": Keep it in your pants!

"The Expiration Date": This milk's going sour on schedule. Set it and forget it (until it's time to split.)

"Separate Piggy Banks": Mo' money, no problems.

"The Berlin Bedroom Wall": Good fences make good fake-but-legally-married spouses. Bedrooms: two.

"Minimal Mingling Mandate": Together, but not too together. Business not pleasure.

"The PDA Playact": Fake it in public, forget it in private. No "schnookums" allowed!