Sam hadn’t spoken to me when I got home from teaching. When I hadn’t been paying attention, one of the kids managed to stick a pencil up their nose and the class had to be supervised while I took the annoying boy to the nurse. I, of course, was blamed, and got a right earful from the kid’s parents.
“Sam?” I said, opening the door. He didn’t look up from the T.V., where (for once) he wasn’t watching Doctor Who.
“Please talk to me!” I begged, kneeling down in front of him and blocking his vision. He leaned around me and continued watching. I glared at him before standing up stiffly and switching the T.V. off.
“Hey!” cried Sam indignantly. “I was watching that, you know!”
“You’re not anymore,” I said flatly. “We need to talk, Sam. Now, please.”
“No,” he said simply.
“I’m breaking up with Raj tonight,” I said quietly. “I mean – no, shut up for a second, Sam. Yes, I like him but no way is he getting between you and me. I’m sorry I upset you. I didn’t mean to.”
His expression softened slightly but he didn’t utter a word. I continued.
“He’s probably not the one, because if he was... fate wouldn’t have me breaking up with him, would it?”
That was precisely what I had been thinking about when little Jimmy was jamming a pencil up his nostril.
“Okay, Kat,” he said finally. “You don’t have to –“
“But I do,” I interrupted, smiling. “If this bothers you so much, I’m hardly going to go ahead with it, am I?”
“Kat, I’m sorry...”
“It’s fine,” I said, shrugging. “Now can I have a hug?”
He grinned and then opened out his arms. I let him envelope me with his arms willingly.
**
“How are you going to break up with him?”
“I don’t know,” I repeated for what felt like the millionth time. Five minutes hadn’t gone by where I hadn’t been asked that question. It was like we were stuck on ‘replay’.
“By text?”
“No!” I said, surprised. “I have a little more manner that that, thank you very much.”
“Do you have to dress up?” he asked glumly.
“Yeah,” I replied, eying the red dress with a frown. It wasn’t very flattering at all. It showed way too much cleavage and wasn’t really my colour.
“You look fine,” he said without me even having to ask. “Stop fussing, you always look amaz- whatever. Anyway, just stop fussing.”
I grinned.
“What was that? I always look what? Amazing, did you say?”
His cheeks turned pink.
“No,” he mumbled.
YOU ARE READING
Imaginary Boyfriend
Roman d'amourKatrina's 26 and single - and her parents never let her forget it. After suggesting an arranged marriage, her best friend offers to pretend to be her boyfriend to keep them happy. Could he be the one, or will their relationship remain imaginary?
