Page 57 of The Pucking Kiss
“Are you trying to psychoanalyze me again?” I said, dreading the thought of discussing my feelings with her.
She bit down on her lip. “Maybe. Don’t avoid the question.”
“I’m just too busy with my sports,” I replied with a shrug. “Relationships are too much work.”
“Not with the right person.”
“Hey, I could ask you the same question,” I turned the spotlight on her. “How come you don’t have a boyfriend?”
“I’m a loser, and no guy has ever wanted me?”
Her words broke my heart, and I forced her to look me straight in the eye. “Romai… I need you to listen to me. You need to stop calling yourself a loser. Did you see how the boys on the team were giving you so much attention? I nearly wanted to punch all of them.”
She blushed, looking down. “You’re just saying that because you got jealous.”
“I did,” I admitted for the first time.
“Don’t you think that’s a little weird?” she prodded. “I mean, one moment you say you don’t want a girlfriend, the next moment you’re getting all jealous. Where’s your head at?”
“Romai…” I sighed, feeling obliged to be honest since she was being so sincere. “I haven’t quite figured out what my feelings are for you yet. I just…”
“It’s okay,” she smiled, “I know you say that you avoid relationships only because you’re too focused on your athletics, but I think it’s deeper than that.”
“God,” I laughed. “There she goes, miss therapist.”
“I’m serious,” she chided. “Your parents had an awful marriage. I don’t blame you for being scared.”
I considered her words for a long moment.
“Maybe you’re onto something, Romai,” I said, holding her hand again. “But I’m not ready to get over my issues just yet.”
She seemed disappointed but nodded nonetheless. “Fake it till you make it?”
I burst out laughing and kissed her on the top of her head. “Fake it till you make it.”
“Maybe we’ll get there someday.”
“Knock on wood, baby,” I laughed, feeling a sense of ease being with her.
Things with Romai were really good. And in a lot of ways, this fake relationship was one of the best things that had ever happened to me.
I wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.
Chapter 22
Romai
Boys are weird. That was the conclusion I had come to after ‘fake’ dating Bryan for a few weeks now.
Bryan was coming over to pick me up for date night any minute now. And if you’re confused why Bryan was making an effort to bring me to dates if we weren’t even dating, then I’ll tell you now that it is all for show. His friend Jake had suggested that we all go out, and Bryan agreed.
Finally, I heard his car pull up in my driveway and went down to see him.
“Hey, stranger,” I greeted him warmly as I got into his car.
“Hello, girlfriend of mine,” he grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at me in a dramatic manner.
“Cut it out,” I laughed, “We’re not even there yet. You don’t need to act like Mr. Perfect Boyfriend right now.”