Fake Love

7

As the evening approached and dinner reservations loomed, Ben and Miranda took the opportunity to dress up for the occasion. Miranda slipped into a sleek cocktail dress, while Ben opted for a crisp button-down shirt and slacks.

They admired each other's outfits in the mirror. Miranda couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of facing Tucker and his girlfriend again. "Well, at least we'll look good while we endure the evening,"

Ben laughed "True. But I think we might need a little liquid courage to get through the night,"

Miranda grinned, nodding in agreement. "Definitely. Let's make sure to order a bottle of wine... or two," she replied, her tone light and playful.

"Maybe not two" He chuckled and opened the door for her

Tucker stood in the doorway of his room, he couldn't help but feel a surge of bitterness as he watched Ben and Miranda stroll down the hallway, hand in hand. The sight of them together, their easy camaraderie and shared laughter, filled him with a sense of envy and resentment.

With a scoff, Tucker shook his head in disbelief, unable to comprehend how Miranda had moved on. She didn't have time for him but was suddenly making time to go on a vacation with this new boyfriend of hers. The image of her hand intertwined with Ben's only served to fuel his frustration and anger. Something wasn't right here and he was determined to call Miranda's bluff.

Ben noticed Tucker staring at them from his doorway, he felt a surge of defiance rise within him. Determined to show Tucker that he wasn't affected by his presence, Ben decided to play along with the charade.

With a sly grin, Ben discreetly placed his hand on Miranda's butt, giving it a playful squeeze, before shooting Tucker a wink.

Miranda couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions at Ben's bold gesture. Deep down, she couldn't deny that a part of her liked what he did, but she also couldn't shake the feeling that Ben was getting a little too comfortable with their charade.

"Ben, what was that?" Miranda asked

He glanced at her, his expression sheepish. "Honestly, Miranda, I noticed Tucker staring, and I just wanted to... I don't know, show him that we're not bothered by his presence," he admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I get that, Ben. But I just worry that we're starting to blur the lines between reality and this... pretend relationship," she confessed

"Right, I will be more mindful" He put some space between them as they continued to walk

Ben couldn't shake the feeling of awkwardness that lingered from his impulsive gesture towards Tucker. A part of him had acted on instinct, wanting to assert his presence and show Tucker that he wasn't intimidated by him. But another part of him couldn't deny the truth: he had enjoyed the opportunity to be close to Miranda, even if it was just for show.

As they entered the restaurant, Ben couldn't help but feel a sense of unease gnawing at him. He knew that his actions had been driven by a mixture of motives, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had overstepped his bounds.

Miranda, I... I'm sorry about earlier," he began, his voice hesitant. "I know I probably made things awkward with my little stunt. I guess I just got carried away."

Miranda looked at him with a gentle smile, reaching out to place a reassuring hand on his arm. "It's okay, Ben. I understand,"

They settled into their seats at the restaurant, they braced themselves for the inevitable arrival of Tucker and Jessica. It wasn't long before the couple joined them, taking their seats at the table with forced smiles. They ordered and each person wondered what conversation to start, or if they should talk to each other at all. Even as their food came they still did not engage with each other. Finally, Jessica spoke.