12. Hunter

Playlist: Oontz | MICHELLE

“Hunter, what’s your love language?” Kelsey’s question feels like it comes out of left field.

I look at Jo. Jo looks at me. We’re over two weeks into our fake relationship, and the four of us are sitting at a fancy, barely lit steakhouse in midtown. Kelsey had texted me earlier today telling me she and Becky were meeting with Jo for lunch to talk about initial plans, and that I should surprise her and make it a double date.

I, obviously, immediately texted Jo to tell her to work on her surprised face, instead of the look of pure horror that she’d worn when I surprised her at the bistro.

Instead of looking like someone had pulled out a machete in front of her and told her they were killing her entire family like last time, Giovanna blinked three times at me before saying, “Oh, wow! It’s Hunter! I didn’t know Hunter was coming here!” in the most flat tone I’ve ever heard in my life.

I clear my throat in response to Kelsey. “Why?”

Kelsey shrugs her shoulders. “I was thinking, I know Jo’s are quality time and physical touch.” She looks between Jo and I, a skeptical expression on her face. “Well, it was physical touch when we were together, maybe not anymore.”

Becky is in the bathroom, otherwise I would have punched her jerk of a fiancée. I want her to see it when it happens.

“Mine is words of affirmation, and Giovanna is so good at affirming me,” I say instead of resorting to physical violence. I take my fake girlfriend’s hand beneath the table, squeezing gently. I reach for a dinner roll with my free hand, and only let go of Giovanna’s hand to butter the roll. I wordlessly offer her half of the roll as a consolation prize. She takes it tentatively, worriedly glancing at Kelsey out of the corner of her eye.

“Love languages don’t usually change from partner to partner,” Kelsey says coolly.

I force a smile. “Okay.”

“I’m just…I’m worried Jo doesn’t feel comfortable to be herself with you, Hunter,” Kelsey tilts her head to the side, a small smile on her lips. “No offense.”

“Much taken,” I say, popping a piece of roll into my bread. “Like, there’s no way that statement couldn’t be insinuating something unkind about me, so why wouldn’t I be offended by that?”

Kelsey blinks in surprise, and I raise a challenging eyebrow. Blondie must not be used to someone who bites back.

She composes herself and looks at Jo, reaching over to her and clasping her hand. I feel a volcano of envy bubbling beneath my surface. “I know things ended weird between us, JoJo—” Giovanna inhales sharply at the familiar nickname. “—but I still care about you. If you ever need to talk, I’m always here for you.”

I feel bile rise in my throat. I’m getting to know Jo. Not as well as, and not in the way I'd like to, but enough to know she subconsciously still wants Kelsey’s approval.

“Thank you, Kelsey,” Giovanna answers, eyes pinned on the carpet. “But um…” She lifts her eyes to mine, and I smile encouragingly. “I think Hunter and I are just fine.”

I want to scream. Jump on the table and cheer because I know how hard that must have been for her. I make a mental note to grab her a bottle of that merlot she’s so into on the way home.

“I want you to be as happy as you were last year, as happy as I am now.” Kelsey says innocently, hand still on Giovanna’s.

Damn, homegirl isn’t backing down, and it’s pissing me off. Giovanna isn’t mine, but she also isn’t Kelsey’s and it’s fucking weird that Kelsey is trying to show ownership over her ex while her fiancée is in the bathroom.

I take Giovanna’s hand in mine under the table again, this time intertwining our fingers together. I squeeze her hand, and though Giovanna’s eyes stay on Kelsey, she squeezes back.

“I think I’m learning that happiness doesn’t look the way I thought it would,” Giovanna answers, turning her head to look at me. There’s a half smile on her face, just for me.

I lift our entangled hands to my mouth and press a kiss to the back of her hand. I can feel Kelsey’s eyes on us, and I know that’s the point. For her to see and to make her believe that this is real.

But this moment is solely for Giovanna, and I hope she can feel that.

“What did I miss?” Becky says, sliding back into the booth next to Kelsey.

“Not a thing,” I say, winking at Giovanna. Her half smile becomes a three-quarter smile, at least.

No one can ever say I wasn’t a good roommate, and like any good roommate, I will have my praises sung by historians in the future for being such a devoted friend. And I’ll shake my fist at them from hell for getting it right for once.

Damn, I’m still alive and I’m already angry at hypothetical historians for interpreting my fake relationship correctly.

Jo reaches for and takes another roll from the basket, Kelsey’s eyes following her. I know she’s biting her tongue to keep from saying what she wants to, to keep from saying bullshit about Jo’s food choices.

I like knowing this discomfort exists for her.

After our fifteen million year-long business lunch with the brides from hell, Giovanna and I are outside the restaurant. I’m surprised when she starts walking with me to the subway instead of going with Becky and Kelsey towards their office.

“You’re not going back to work?” I ask.

“I actually have therapy today.” She’s staring down, like she has a crucial exam on the exact coordinates of each crack in this damn sidewalk. “Can I hold Dolly during my appointment?”

I bite my lip to keep from giggling. Giovanna still likes to pretend that she hates Dolly Parton, but I’ve caught her holding her while singing “Jolene” multiple times in the morning. She’s even fed Dolly her buggy breakfast. She’s like a dad who swears up and down he doesn’t want any pets, and then is obsessed with them when you actually bring home said pet.

“Of course you can,” I say as we continue to walk to the subway station. I’m grateful I’m with Jo, because public transportation and the different subway lines are still overwhelming.

“It doesn’t mean I like her,” Jo says, and I’m unsure if she’s trying to convince herself, or me.

I try to fight my grin, and fail spectacularly. “Of course it doesn’t.”