“Didn’t I just say goodnight to you?” I pretended to be annoyed by Kyle’s phone call, but I had nothing better to do. As I’d whined about earlier, my roommate wasn’t home. Again. I really needed to find more people who’d stayed around for the summer.

“Yeah… sorry. I have a huge favor to ask you.” His voice lilted as though he was nervous. He hadn’t been nervous to offer his sexual services. If he was nervous now this had to be a pretty huge favor.

“No, I’m not having random sex with you tonight. I’m too busy.”

He laughed. “I thought we were going to forget I ever said that?”

“I’m not forgetting it. The more I think about it, it was kind of sweet.”

“Sweet?”

“You didn’t want me having some sort of self-esteem issue thinking I couldn’t get some if I wanted it.”

“Jade, you can get sex anytime you want. That’s not in question.”

“Then why did you offer?” I chewed on my nail. It was a bad habit that surfaced when I was particularly nervous.

“We’re not talking about that.”

“Fine.” I slumped down on my bed. “It was weird though.”

“This is even weirder.”

“What is? The favor?”

“Yes.”

“Before you tell me what it is, what’s in it for me?”

“If you help me?”

“Yes.” I propped myself up with two purple pillows.

“Free concert tickets.”

“I already get those.” Free concert tickets was a perk for working at the only college radio station in town.

“How about a trip to upstate New York?”

“Uh… by myself?”

“No. With me.”

“First you offer sex and now a getaway? Wow, you sound like the desperate one.”

“With me… and my entire family.”

I laughed. I didn’t know what else to do. “What is this? Where’s the joke?”

“There’s no joke. My parents think I have a girlfriend. I don’t.”

“Why do they think you have one?”

“I may have let them think I did. It doesn’t matter though. What do you want in return? I feel weird paying you…that seems too much like an escort or whatever, but I’ll let you borrow my car anytime, or anything. It’s only a week. We leave in three days, and the weather should be nice. Lake George is beautiful this time of year.”

“Only a week? The weather should be nice? You’re asking me to pretend to be your girlfriend.” How was he asking any of this in a remotely serious fashion?

“Yes… I know it’s pathetic, but I don’t have anyone else to ask.”

“So now I’m your last resort?” He had to be kidding.

“No. Of course not. You’re my first choice. Please.”

“I’ve never been to Lake George before. Chase has a place there, and Cara says it’s beautiful.” My good friend Cara’s boyfriend had taken her up for a visit before.

“It is. It’s breathtaking. Can’t be missed. Can I order our tickets? You’ll come?”

“Can I have some time to think about it?” I should have said no, but part of me wasn’t ready to rule out the possibility.

“You’ll think about it? As in you aren’t automatically saying no?”

“Against my better judgment I will consider it.” I sighed. “Goodnight again.”

“Goodnight, greatest most awesome friend in the world.”

“Buttering me up won’t help.”

“Are you sure? You’re wonderful you know.”

I laughed. “Goodnight, Kyle.”

“Goodnight.”

I hung up and tossed my phone next to me on the bed.

Why had I given him false hope? Now I was going to have to let him down the next day. He couldn’t have actually expected me to say yes. I mean, who in their right mind offers to have random sex with a girl one minute and then asks them to be their fake girlfriend the next? Kyle, that’s who. If it had been anyone else the answer would have been an easy no, but this was different. I could never say no to him. Whether he wanted me to cover a shift for someone or do his laundry, I’d have done it… just like I was going to do this. I needed someone to talk me out of it, and fast.

I picked up my phone again and called someone I knew would still be up.

“Jade!” Cara answered after a few rings. “How are you?”

“You sound entirely too excited. What’s going on?” I could hear loud music behind her.

“What’s wrong with excited?”

I heard the sound of a door closing and the music quieted. “Nothing. You sound good.” Cara was off on the Sinister Summer tour with her rock star boyfriend. In other words she was having a much more exciting summer than I was.

“Ok. What’s up with you?”

“I need you to tell me not to do something idiotic.”

“Define idiotic.”

I’d piqued her interest. “Pretending to be someone’s girlfriend…”

“That’s idiotic. Don’t go there.” Cara was very good at getting straight to the point.

“You don’t even know who I’m talking about.”

“I don’t care who. That’s insane. If you need money, I’ll lend you some.”

“I don’t need money!” I wasn’t sure whether to be offended she’d immediately assumed it was about money.

“It’s Kyle isn’t it? Oh. My. God.” Her serious tone turned to excited.

“Wait? Why would it be Kyle?” I asked curiously.

“Who else would you consider doing this for out of the goodness of your heart? You’re into him. You’ll never admit it, but I bet I’m right.”

“You’re right,” I mumbled.

“Ahh!” Her ear piercing scream nearly destroyed my eardrum. “What’s going on with you guys? Why in the world would he ask you to do that?”

“We’ve been hanging out more, and he apparently made up a fake girlfriend to his parents…”

“Wait. He wants you to pretend to his parents?”

“Yeah… on the family trip to Lake George.” It sounded even worse when I explained it to her.

“Lake George? That’s all the way up in New York.”

“I’m aware of the geography.”

“You can’t really say yes, you know that, right?”

“Why not?” I knew perfectly well, but maybe playing devil’s advocate would get me some good advice.

“Because pretending to be someone’s girlfriend is inherently risky, and it’s worse when it’s a guy you actually like.”

“But maybe that’s why it’s good. Maybe pretending will be so awkward that I’ll stop liking him.”

“And you admitted it.”

“You’re doing a victory dance, aren’t you?”

She laughed. “How’d you know?”

“Just a guess.” Cara didn’t do a great job of hiding her feelings on the subject of my dating life. She thought I’d been single long enough.

“You should tell him you like him. If he’s desperate for a fake girlfriend, why not get a real one?”

“I don’t want to be his girlfriend.” I wasn’t going there, and I hoped Cara wouldn’t push for too many details.

“But you admitted to liking him.”

“That doesn’t mean I want a relationship. Think of what would happen when we broke up. I’d lose my show.” And I’d lose much more. I wasn’t strong enough.

“You can’t stay single forever.”

“Says who?”

“Says me. Besides, don’t you uh… get lonely?” That was her polite way of saying horny.

“There are other ways to deal with that.”

“Yes, but none as satisfying as finding the right guy.”

“I don’t want a boyfriend.”

“Fine. Then why even consider pretending to be his girlfriend? All the fuss with no rewards.”

“I can’t say no to him. I don’t want him to hate me.”

“He’s not going to hate you for being reasonable.”

“I kind of want to go…”

“Because you like him. At least if you’re doing this it’s with Kyle. That makes it better.”

“Yeah, I’m glad I wasn’t asked by a random guy.”

“You know what I mean. Kyle is safe.”

“Then I probably shouldn’t tell you what else he said tonight.”

“What do you mean?” She breathed heavily into the phone. “What else did he say?”

I considered spilling the beans, but I couldn’t. Kyle would kill me. “Nothing. Forget it.”

“No way. You can’t throw that out and then back down.”

“Yes I can.” I sat up. “How’s the tour?”

“Interesting and fun, but I miss normal life.”

“I’ve followed your blog. I’m totally jealous.” I couldn’t imagine anything cooler than touring across the country and seeing a new city every day. I’d seen so little.

“Don’t be, and you know you can always come out and join me. Len would love that.” She laughed. “But either way we need to get back to you and this Kyle thing. Are you sure you’re okay going along with the charade?”

“No. I’m not sure. I know I should probably say no.”

“Yes, yes you should. Not that you shouldn’t spend time with Kyle… but you need to do it the right way.”

“The right way… okay.”

“Sorry. I’m not trying to lecture you.”

“I know. I only wish I knew how to avoid making everything awkward.”

“If you think saying no to him will make things awkward, what do you think will happen if you guys ever hooked up or dated?”

“Exactly. Why do you think I’m avoiding it?”

“Just be careful either way.”

“I’m always careful.”

“Normally I’d agree, but the fact that you’re even considering this brings that into question.”

“I know.” I knew I sounded crazy and completely out of character.

“And if you do go, remember it’s cooler up there. Make sure to pack a sweatshirt, and also figure out sleeping arrangements.”

“I’ll pretend to be really old fashioned about sleeping with a guy before marriage, and thanks for the packing advice.”

“Uh huh.” I could picture her raising an eyebrow.

“Anyway, I never said I was going to say yes. I’m still leaning toward no.”

“Either way, be sure to tell me.”

“I will. Have a good night.”

“You too.”

I hung up. My talk with Cara had helped. I needed to say no, and I didn’t want to wait.

I picked up and called Kyle.

He picked up on the first ring. “Need me?”

“Very funny. I made up my mind.”

“It’s fine. I understand. I can find someone else.” His voice dropped.

Someone else? The thought of Kyle bringing someone else made me lose all my resolve. “I’ll come.” I was pathetic. Completely pathetic.

“Yeah? That’s awesome. I’ll get our tickets right now.”

“Great.” I gritted my teeth. What had I just agreed to?