Chapter 27 A Huge Favour
Corran
I pace outside of April’s door nervously. I need to ask her something, but I don’t know how. I have been invited out for dinner and drinks next week with an old friend. The only problem is that he wanted to set me up on a blind date. I told him I was already dating someone, which is a lie. I didn’t want to be set up with some stranger. I don’t want to date, especially a woman I don’t even know. Now that I have lied to him, I need to find someone to come with me. The only person I can trust to come with me and know it isn’t a real date is April. I don’t know if she will want to help me out, though. She did mention pretending to have a girlfriend after everything that happened at work the day she showed up at lunch time. I am sure she didn’t mean herself, but I really don’t know what else to do. I agreed to go, and it has been a while since I spent any time with my friend in question. He moves away not long after Edin’s death. He tried his best to be there for me, but then he had to leave in a matter of weeks after the funeral. We were really close once. I didn’t want to tell him no, plus, I really need to stop isolating myself so much.
I haven’t seen April in a couple of days. The last time was the morning I showed up with breakfast, and then it felt like she needed some time alone, time without me, so I gave her the space, and she hasn’t come to me either, which is fine. I don’t expect us to see one another every day.
I sigh and shake my head, walking away because I can’t do this. It is a lot to ask from April, even if it will only be an act. I can cancel or tell them my date is sick. I will come up with something. I reach my door, ready to open it, but change my mind and return to her front door. With a deep breath, I knock loudly, hoping she will answer.
I rock slightly on my heels as I wait. I can feel the warmth gather in my palms, and the heartbeat in my chest seems more frantic than normal. I am nervous, so very nervous. I wait patiently, and after a moment, the door opens.
“Hello, Corran.” She greets with a smile.
I rub the back of my neck. “Hello, April.”
She raises her brow at me. “Are you okay? You seem nervous?”
My eyes divert to the ground. “Um, I am because I need a favour. If you don’t want to, it is okay because it is a lot.” I reply, letting her know straightaway my reason for being here.
My answer seems to make her nervous, but she nods and moves aside, allowing me to come. I have no idea how I am going to start this conversation. April closes the door behind us and motions me to follow her to the sofa, both taking a seat.
“You are making me nervous. What is going on?” she sounds worried.
“I promise it isn’t bad, but it is a big ask, and as I said, you can tell me no.”
April seems to relax when I inform her it isn’t anything bad.
“What do you need?”
I rest back on the sofa and run my fingers through my hair, taking a deep breath before I begin to talk. “An old friend reached out this morning. I am meeting him and his fiancée next week.”
April smiles. “That is good that you are reconnecting with an old friend. What does it have to do with me, though?” Her brows furrow as she asks.
“Um, he wanted to bring a blind date for me. I may have blurted out that I am already dating someone because I didn’t want to be on a date with some stranger. I didn’t think before speaking. I blurted it out. He told me to bring her with me, and instead of coming up with an excuse, I said yes.” I groan, shaking my head.
I have no one to blame but myself. There is a reason I try not to lie because I am terrible at it. I don’t like lies! I am all for honesty, no matter if the truth hurts. Though asking April to lie with me sort of disregards what I am saying.
“Oh, okay. And you want me to pretend to be that person? Or is it something else?”
Thank God she picked up on where I was going because I really didn’t want to have to ask her outright.
“Yes. If you don’t want to, it is okay. I will come up with an excuse.”
I tap my fingers on my knee, waiting for her reply. April reaches over and places her hand over mine, stopping the tapping. “Sure. I can pretend for one night.”
“Really? Are you sure? Don’t feel like you need to.”
I don’t want her to think that because I am here in front of her, she needs to tell me yes.
April laughs. “Relax, Corran. Yes, it is fine. It is only dinner and drinks.”
“Thank you. It means a lot. I am not ready to be set up with some woman I don’t even know.”
“Then you won’t need to. You have me.” She beams.
I nod. “I owe you one. If you need anything for the date, like a new outfit or anything like that, I will get those for you. I will also, of course, pay for everything on the night.”
April is doing me a favour. She shouldn’t need to use any of her money.
“I am sure I have something in my closet I can wear.” She smiles.
“If you can’t, please let me know. Thank you so much, April. This means more than you will ever know. I will let you be.” I say and stand.
April glances up at me. “You don’t need to leave. You are here now.”
I nod and sit back down. I won’t keep her long. I do have some work to do from home, so I will need to leave soon. I feel more relaxed now knowing I don’t need to show up alone at dinner. Hopefully, April and I can make it work and do well at pretending like we are together.