I looked down and realized I was stroking his hand with my thumb and then squeezing it with my other fingers. “I didn’t even realize I was doing it. I was trying to focus myself,” I laughed. “I guess we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into.”
“I knew it would be hard, but not this bad.” He sounded frustrated.
“Sorry that I’m so difficult,” I told him angrily. As we reached the car, I broke away and got into the passenger seat, slamming the door.
Devin climbed in and sighed. “We said we would talk openly. If this is going to work, we have to talk.”
“Fine,” I conceded only because I knew he was right. “Do you remember when you said you would always tell me the truth?”
“Yeah, I said I’d always give an honest answer to whatever question you ask, no matter how ridiculous.”
“Why are you angry with me? I mean, I get that it will take time to get used to this,” I motioned to us, referring to our fake relationship, “but why is it so much more difficult with me?”
Devin sighed and shifted to face me. “Because I know you, Chris. You’re my best friend’s little sister. You’re also one of my closest friends. It’s that much harder because I know what I’m getting myself into. Now it’s your turn. Why did my comment upset you so much?”
“I don’t want you doing this because you pity me. I thought you were upset because I wasn’t good enough somehow,” I said, defeated. “Maybe I wanted this to be easy between us and, when you said that, I got scared that you would put an end to it.”
“It is going to be easy. It will be like we’ve been together forever. You will learn, and I will help. And together we’ll be like clockwork, seamless and in sync. It will be like we’re truly in love.”
I smiled. “So we’re already in love?”
“Hmm, maybe I love you but I’m waiting for the perfect time to tell you,” Devin said. “How about this, since people will probably start to ask, we started dating after the Christmas party last year.”
“And you love me? Do I love you?”
“We haven’t said it to each other, but maybe you are starting to realize just how much you actually do love me.”
“This could almost be true,” I smirked. “It sounds so real.”
“All right, so we have it figured out? We can play the rest out by ear.”
I nodded my head.
“Good, now remember we’re a real couple in their eyes,” he pointed outside to a group of people walking by, “and in our own eyes as well.”
“No backing out. No giving up. I got it, Dev.” I smiled. “So let me ask you again, what’s on the agenda tonight?”
“How about we pick out a movie and then we can watch it while we eat leftovers? How does that sound?”
“Do you treat all your dates to leftovers?” I asked, smiling at him.
“Just the ones I plan on keeping around for a long time,” he said as he continued to watch the road ahead of him.
We drove to the video store just down the street from the house.
“You know what you want, CJ?” Devin asked.
“Yeah, some of the girls in the office were talking about one the other day,” I said as I looked on the shelf where it would be. “This one!” I declared triumphantly.
“This one, really?” He sounded skeptical. “You do realize this is a horror film. And when you say the other day, do you really mean like a long while ago?”
“So I haven’t been to the movie store in a while. Besides, I don’t keep up with what comes out when. I hardly ever have time to watch movies. What with school and work.”
“I guess it works out for me that you are so free and available now.” He smiled as he grabbed the movie out of my hand. “You’re really sure about this? You wouldn’t like a nice comedy or chick flick?”
“No, I want to watch this one. And I’m assuming you’ve seen it already?”
“You know me. I try to catch everything. I guess this works better though because now I can tell you when to close your eyes.”
Let me just say, it really was good that he had seen it and really could tell me when to close my eyes.
“I told you this was going to be scary,” Devin said as I huddled next to him on his recliner. He had refused to move to the couch, where we would at least have room to move. But actually, the chair wasn’t bad either. I pulled the blanket over us and leaned into Devin. I mean, he said we had to pretend to be a couple, right? I decided I had to practice at home so when we were in front of others it would be more natural.