Scarlett POVAt the hospital, I slipped into girlfriend mode without missing a beat.Ryan’s grandfather was laughing within minutes, calling me sweet the same way Christina used to.I caught myself thinking that even if this arrangement was fake, the skill set would still be useful with a proper partner’s family someday.When we left, Ryan glanced at the sky.“No need to go back to the office. I can take you home. Or…”“Or what?”“Dinner. Work dinner.”I couldn’t find a reason to say no.He picked a quiet place nearby.The server assumed we were a couple again.I was used to it by now, so I leaned into the joke.“I’m ready. Anything else you want, boyfriend?”I’d expected him to laugh or roll his eyes.His expression flickered for a second before settling into a small, unreadable smile.Heat licked low in my stomach before I could shut it down.I treated it as a failed joke and moved on.We mentioned movies, random things, nothing that mattered, and somehow everything that did.By the
Last Updated : 2026-10-07 Read more