Alex held up the phone and stared at it. His heart was beating fast. "Dinner tomorrow?" Sophia's text lit up on the screen.
He just told Ethan that he was leaving. faked that he liked Sophia. I saw his best friend's face light up when he heard the news.
"What are you smiling at?" Ethan asked as he put the pizza box on the couch table.
Alex quickly put his phone away. "Nothing. "Just a text from Sophia."
"You really like her, huh?" Ethan grabbed a slice of pizza and took a big bite.
"Yeah," Alex lied. "I do."
Olivia came back from the kitchen with plates. "So tell us more about her, Alex. What's she like?"
Alex made up things as he talked, building a picture of Sophia that wasn't real. Nice smile. Smart. Funny. Good listener.
The last part was true, at least. Sophia had listened when he told her his secret about loving Ethan.
"You should bring her to dinner this weekend," Ethan said. "My parents are coming to town to celebrate our news."
"Maybe," Alex said, not meeting Ethan's eyes.
That night, Alex couldn't sleep. He stared at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of Ethan and Olivia talking softly in the living room. Their happy voices made his chest hurt.
He texted Sophia: "Can we meet for lunch instead of dinner tomorrow? I need to talk to you about something important."
Her reply came right away: "Sure. Noon at the café?"
"Perfect," he typed back.
The next day, Alex sat across from Sophia at a small table by the window. He played with his coffee cup, not sure how to start.
"You look awful," Sophia said. "Didn't sleep?"
Alex shook his head. "Ethan and Olivia got engaged."
Sophia's eyes went wide. "Oh, Alex. I'm so sorry."
"I told him I'm moving out. And..." Alex took a deep breath. "I told him I liked you. That we might be dating."
Sophia raised her eyes. "That's quite a story you made up."
"I know, I know. I'm sorry for pulling you into this."
Sophia sipped her coffee, thinking. "Actually, I have an idea. What if we did date?"
"What?"
"Not for real," she explained. "Just pretend. It would help you get some space from Ethan while you figure things out. And honestly, it would help me too."
"How would it help you?" Alex asked.
Sophia leaned closer. "My parents keep trying to set me up with guys they pick. If I tell them I'm seeing someone, they'll back off for a while."
Alex thought about it. A fake relationship. It seemed crazy, but also... helpful.
"Okay," he said finally. "Let's do it."
Three weeks later, Alex and Sophia sat in his parents' living room. His mother smiled as she passed around cookies.
"I'm so happy you two found each other," she said. "Sophia, your parents are lovely people. We've known them for years."
Alex's dad nodded. "Good family. Good values."
Sophia squeezed Alex's hand under the table. Their plan was working perfectly. Their parents were happy about their relationship, and Alex had found an apartment. He would move out next week.
The only trouble was Ethan. He had been acting strange ever since Alex announced he was dating Sophia. Sometimes he was too happy, laughing too loud. Other times he was quiet, watching Alex with a look Alex couldn't understand.
"So when will we meet Ethan's fiancée?" Sophia asked, playing her part correctly.
"Soon!" Alex's mom said. "We're having a dinner next month for both couples."
On the way back to Sophia's place, they talked about their plan.
"This is working better than I expected," Sophia said. "But how long do we keep it up?"
Alex sighed. "I don't know. A few months? Until I get over Ethan?"
"Will you ever get over him?" Sophia asked softly.
Alex didn't answer.
When he got back to the flat, Ethan was waiting for him. Alone.
"Where's Olivia?" Alex asked, hanging up his jacket.
"At her sister's," Ethan said. "We need to talk."
Alex's gut dropped. "About what?"
"About you and Sophia." Ethan's voice was serious. "It's all happening so fast. Dating her, moving out. Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Alex lied. "I'm sure."
"You never even mentioned her before that coffee date. And now suddenly you're crazy about her?"
Alex felt his face getting hot. "What's your point, Ethan?"
"My point is, I don't believe you!" Ethan stood up, his eyes flashing. "I've known you my whole life. I know when you're lying."
"You don't know everything about me," Alex shot back.
"Then tell me the truth!" Ethan moved closer. "What's really going on?"
For a second, Alex thought about telling him everything. About the years of love he'd hidden. About the pain of watching Ethan with Olivia. About the letter he'd torn up.
Instead, he said, "Sophia asked me to marry her. And I said yes."
Ethan's face went white. "What?"
"We're getting married," Alex repeated, the lie burning his throat. "In six months."
Ethan stepped back like Alex had hit him. "Six months? That's... that's crazy, Alex!"
"Why? You and Olivia got engaged after six months of dating. Why can't I?"
"That's different!" Ethan ran his hands through his hair. "We've known each other for a long time. You just met Sophia!"
"I love her," Alex maintained. The biggest lie yet.
Ethan stared at him for a long moment. Then he said, "Fine. If that's what you want, I'll back you. I'll even be your best man."
"Thanks," Alex said, his voice hollow.
The next day, Alex called Sophia in a panic. "I told Ethan we're getting married."
"You WHAT?" Sophia nearly shouted.
"I know, I know! It was stupid. He was pushing me, saying I was lying about us dating, and I just... said it."
There was a long silence. Then Sophia said, "Maybe this isn't such a bad thing."
"How is this not bad?"
"Think about it. If we're 'engaged,' our parents will be even happier. And we can have a long relationship, like a year. That gives you time to truly move on, find your own place in the world without Ethan."
Alex thought about it. It wasn't the worst plan. And maybe seeing him plan a wedding would finally kill any feelings he had left for Ethan.
"Okay," he said. "But we'll need a ring."
That weekend, they went ring shopping. They found a simple metal band with a small diamond. When Sophia put it on, it looked real. Like they were really in love, really planning a future together.
They announced their engagement at a dinner with both their families. Everyone was thrilled. Alex's mother cried happy tears. Sophia's father made a toast. They set a date for six months later, in the spring.
As the days passed, Alex threw himself into wedding plans. He picked colors, tasted cakes, toured venues. He moved into his new flat and filled it with new furniture. He tried to build a life that didn't have Ethan at the heart.
But every night, he dreamed of Ethan.
One month into the engagement, Ethan showed up at Alex's new apartment, soaking wet from the rain.
"Can I come in?" he asked, water dripping from his hair.
Alex stepped away, his heart racing. "What's wrong? Is Olivia okay?"
"She's fine." Ethan paced back and forth. "Everything's fine. Except me. I'm not fine, Alex."
"What are you talking about?"
Ethan stopped moving and looked directly at Alex. "I can't let you marry her."
Alex's breath caught in his throat. "Why not?"
"Because..." Ethan's voice broke. "Because I found the letter."
Alex felt the room spin. "What letter?"
"The one in your trash can. I was looking for my phone charger in your room the day you said you were moving out. I saw torn pieces of paper. I was curious, so I... I put them together."
The letter. The one Alex had torn up. The one where he declared his love for Ethan.
"You read it?" Alex whispered.
Ethan nodded, his eyes never leaving Alex's. "Every word."
"That letter was old," Alex said quickly. "From years ago. It doesn't mean anything now."
"Doesn't it?" Ethan stepped closer, close enough that Alex could feel his breath. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me anymore."
Alex opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Tell me you love Sophia," Ethan pressed. "Tell me this wedding is real."
"I..." Alex started, but couldn't finish.
And then Ethan was kissing him, hard and desperate, his hands gripping Alex's face. The kiss Alex had dreamed about for years.
When they broke apart, gasping, Ethan whispered, "Don't marry her. Please."
Before Alex could answer, his phone rang. It was Sophia.
"I have to take this," he said, his voice shaking.
He answered the call, turning away from Ethan.
"Alex?" Sophia sounded upset. "My parents just told me something crazy. They said they arranged this whole thing. That your parents and mine have been planning for us to get married since we were kids. Did you know about this?"
Alex froze. "What? No, I had no idea."
"This isn't just a fake proposal anymore, Alex. This is a planned marriage. What are we going to do?"
Alex looked back at Ethan, who was watching him with hope in his eyes. Then he looked down at the fake engagement ring on his finger, suddenly feeling its weight.
"I don't know," he whispered into the phone, stuck between the truth of his heart and the chains of family duty.