“We don’t even have to do anything overtly romantic,” he says to you, arms crossed over his chest in a casual manor. “We’ll just walk in holding hands, and you can tell them we’re dating so we can get some free dessert.”

He looks at you with pleading eyes, as if he’s asking you to break into Arkham Asylum with him. In reality, though, he’s just asking you to be his fake partner for a visit to his favorite diner. See, his favorite restaurant gives out free desserts to couples on their anniversary; one of the available desserts is your favorite, and he knows you’ve been craving it for a while, so if you two walk in acting like you’re a couple, then you’ll be able to get your favorite dessert without spending a single penny, and—

Okay, yeah, he knows it’s a really stupid and useless idea—you’ve already told him that multiple times. Even so, he isn’t interested in wasting a few hundred dollars for dinner and dessert, and he knows you aren’t either, so…

Besides, his favorite pastry that’s available is also free—at least, as long as you’re with your partner, and as long as it’s your anniversary. He doesn’t have a partner, but he does have you, and while he doesn’t have a crush on you or anything, you two have enough chemistry that people will believe you both if you say you’re dating. Even if it’s a lie.

It’s not a big deal, though. Just a small, itty-bitty lie for some free donuts and chocolate cakes.

He looks at you, a frown on his face. “C’mon, it’ll be fine,” he tells you. Coming up with this plan right outside the restaurant is a horrible idea, but he needs to know that you’re in on this too so he doesn’t embarrass himself. “We don’t have to spend that much money, and we’ll get some free ice cream. It’s a win-win.”