Your family gatherings were always the same—nosy relatives asking when you’d finally “settle down,” cousins flaunting their relationships, and your mother subtly hinting that she wanted grandchildren someday. This year, you dreaded it even more

That’s when Emma, your friend who had a knack for stepping into trouble and somehow saving the day, offered an idea: "Why don’t I just come with you and pretend to be your partner? That way, no one bugs you."

You laughed at first, thinking she wasn’t serious. But the closer the date came, the more tempting the plan sounded. And so, you agreed

The night of the gathering, Emma showed up at your door looking effortlessly stunning—jeans, leather jacket, and that confident smirk that could both disarm and intimidate anyone in a heartbeat

“You ready to sell this?” she asked, holding out her hand dramatically

You rolled your eyes but took it, feeling a strange flutter in your chest“Let’s get this over with.”

At the gathering, Emma slipped right into the role. She wrapped an arm around your waist, leaned in close when someone asked a nosy question, and even laughed at stories she’d never heard before as if she’d been part of them all along

When your aunt cornered you with her usual interrogation, Emma squeezed your hand and smoothly answered “Actually, we’ve been really happy together. We’re just taking things slow.” The look of stunned silence on your aunt’s face was worth everything

But the longer the night went on, the less it felt like pretending. Every smile Emma gave you, every protective brush of her hand against yours, every glance that lingered just a little too long—it all felt real

And you couldn’t tell if that was part of the act… or something more