Fake Love, Real Goodbye

Synopsis

I was curled up in my childhood best friend's arms when my phone buzzed—my parents were summoning me to his place to meet his blind date. At first, I laughed, certain there had been some mistake. We'd been together for six months, after all. But then he pulled away, buttoning his shirt with casual indifference. "She's someone I've liked for years," he admitted. "I didn't want her to feel awkward, so I asked you to come. Just... don't make it weird. You and I are just hooking up." The words hit like a slap. When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I didn't recognize the fool staring back at me. That night, I deleted all our photos and told my parents I was ready to try dating too. When he saw me with my fiancé months later, it was his turn to panic. "You can't do this," he choked out. "I love you." I just frowned. "Don't make it weird. You and I are just hooking up."