My Fake Fling

“Fuck that,” I said. “She owns the house?”

“Yes. My dad helped her with the down payment, but it’s hers.”

“She should sell it and move out of the city,” I said. “Or at least move somewhere that can’t dictate what she does with her own property. That’s bullshit.”

“I’m not sure if you noticed, but she bought that place cheap because it needs a lot of work done,” he said. “To sell it for any real money, she’d have to put some work into it. With things the way they are right now, even if she sold it for double what she paid, she’d never be able to afford to buy another place.”

“And if this asshole somehow makes her get rid of those dogs, do you really think she would take a hit on the house and move?”

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation. “Without a doubt.”

“Where would she go?”

He laughed and hit another ball. “Knowing Thea, she’d live at the shelter.”

“Dude, speaking of the shelter, have you been there?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “What kind of question is that?”

“That neighborhood is dangerous. I almost got mugged leaving the place. I bet she would have much better luck adopting those animals out if people didn’t have to risk their lives to visit the place.”

He smirked. “Aren’t you the one that gave her that building?”

“Yes, but the area wasn’t that rundown then,” I replied. “We thought it would improve, not turn into a total shithole.”

“She doesn’t mind it, but yeah, I know what you mean. It’s rough.”

“She told me she takes Kona with her to the shelter when she works late,” I said. “Kona is the kind of dog she needs protecting her. That neighbor of hers is a dick. She can’t get rid of the dog.”

“The other two are technically fosters,” he said. “She calls them fosters, but we all know they are hers. They have checkered pasts and to get them adopted would be next to impossible. I don’t see her willingly putting them in the shelter to wait to be adopted. Thea is stubborn and a fighter. She’s not going to just walk away.”

“Then we should fight for her,” I said.

He laughed like he thought I was joking. I was definitely not joking. “What are you talking about?” he asked. “Fight for her? Like beat up her neighbor? I’ve already offered. She isn’t going to let that happen.”

“I’m sure there has to be a loophole,” I said. “A solution to this problem. Maybe I can buy out her neighbor.”

“I think that might be a little too late now that he’s got the neighbors involved,” Rich said. “Besides, why do you care? You two have hated each other for years. Why would you want to go to bat for her?”

I ignored the question and reached for another ball. I swung and watched it fly. Before answering, I grabbed another ball.

“Reese?”

“Yes?” I asked like I didn’t know what he wanted.

“Why do you care?” he asked again. “A month ago, you guys were going out of your way not to talk to me about each other. She hated you and you were doing your best not to say her name. What changed?”

“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “We get along.”

“What does that mean?”

“We get along,” I repeated. “We never really fought or anything like that. It’s been nice getting to know her again. We actually get along like old times. There’s a little more teasing and jabs, but it’s been fun. Good. Really good.”

“You’re describing an actual date,” he said. “Are you thinking of these arrangements as actual dates?”

“No. But it’s not like it’s a bad thing we’re getting along, right?”

“No, but you’re acting weird,” he accused.