He’s grinning as he walks over to the bar.

I’m not sure why I’m upset. The goal was for him to guess right. Maybe I just want to retain a little mystery. It keeps things interesting.

“Olivia!”

I don’t hear my name until someone throws their arms around me. I’m being hugged to death by my fake boyfriend’s real ex-girlfriend. This must have been her plan all along.

Kill me with kindness.

Literally.

“Francesca, hey!”

I’ve been caught. She’s going to tell Asher she saw me flirting with a man who used a terrible pick up line on me. Our little charade is over. I bet she wants to mend his broken heart and slander me on the internet.

“Is Ash here?”

I’m vaguely aware that Bree and Emanuel are in earshot. “He insisted that a Christmas Crawl was not his thing.”

“Of course,” she laughs. “Doesn’t know how to have fun, does he?”

“All work and no play.”

“Makes Ash a very dull boy.”

I can feel Bree’s eyes on me. They’re burning holes into the back of my head. I’m torched. I don’t know how I’m going to talk myself out of this one.

“A cosmo for the Capricorn.”

There is a pink drink in my hand. A man that is not my fake boyfriend is undressing me with his eyes. And everyone is looking at me like they’re waiting for an answer.

“Who’s your friend?” Francesca asks.

“Yeah, Liv, who’s your friend?” Bree says.

Get. It. Together. Olivia.

“This is my old floormate from college…”

“Deacon,” he finishes and holds his hand out to Francesca. “Liv and I used to get up to a lot of trouble in our…”

“City College days,” I say. “It’s such a coincidence we ran into each other tonight. Who knew Christmas Crawls were so popular?”

“Where are you going next?” Francesca asks.

“Atlas.”

“Down in SoHo?” Francesca asks. “Brent and I were thinking of checking it out.”

“You should come,” Bree says. “The more the merrier!”

I gulp down my cosmo. I’m lightheaded. I’m not sure if it’s from the booze or the fact that the web of lies I’m weaving is making my brain malfunction.

“I need to pee!” I announce.

“I’ll come,” Bree says, glaring at me. “We need to discuss some very important matters.”

“No, I need to pee alone. I get nervous when there’s an audience.”

“Last week, I literally stood in a stall with you while you peed.”

“It’s a newly developed issue. Don’t judge me.”

I’m pushing my way to the bathroom before Bree gets a chance to respond. Three cosmos and a shot ago, I would have been able to think of a plan. Now, I just want to cry.

So I call Asher.