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“I
didn’t know that Kurt had made it public yet.”
    “The point is,” Raven said, trying to get
off of the subject, “I’m scared about what’s going to happen.   I’m worried that I won’t be able to
handle it.”
    “You’ll be able to,” Jake said.   His hand gently slid to her shoulder,
down to her bicep and up again.
    “Don’t do that,” Raven whispered.
    “Don’t do what?”
    “The way you’re touching me.”
    “We’re out in public, that’s part of the
deal.”
    “Nobody’s even watching us right now,”
she said, gesturing to the nearly empty restaurant.
    “We’re in public,” he said, “so
technically we’re on a date.”
    She nodded, accepting that he was right.   But it was hard to sit there and allow
him to touch her shoulder, to caress her so softly, when she knew it was all a
lie.   Raven hadn’t quite anticipated
how it would feel in reality.
    Raven took a bite of her burger and
chewed, and Jake sat with his arm over her, eating with his free hand.  
    The same woman at the bar who Jake had
told not to shoot video took her camera out again and began filming.   This time, Jake didn’t tell her to stop.
    Instead, he snuggled closer to Raven,
nuzzling his head against hers.   “That chick is filming us,” he whispered.   “So make it look good.”
    Raven was angry with him suddenly.   Why was all of this so easy for
him?   How could he do these sorts of
things with her and never develop any feelings, never want a real relationship?
    “I can make it look better than good,”
she said, turning her face into his so that their lips were practically
touching.
    “You talk a big game,” Jake said, licking
his lips.   “I want to see it.”
    “Maybe you’re the one who can’t handle
it,” Raven whispered, smiling.   Their lips moved closer and closer.
    “Raven,” he said.   One hand touched her cheek as he pulled
her body even closer in the booth.
    She looked at him.   She could feel his skin against hers,
could feel his beard stubble on her cheek.   Their faces were touching, everything was right for a real kiss, but
somehow neither of them went for it.
    And then he broke away, smiling
sheepishly.   “We should get back to
the hotel,” he said, checking his phone.   “Business awaits.”
    “What kind of business?” Raven asked,
trying to smooth her hair.   She felt
completely undone by his nearness, by how close they’d come to kissing.
    “The kind that’s none of yours,” Jake
said.
    “Great,” she said, feeling angry
again.   Somehow everything Jake did
made her crazy.   She couldn’t keep
him straight at all.
    They headed back outside into the madness
of Times Square, and instantly were enveloped by the crowd again.   People were surging towards them,
yelling things, swearing , begging Jake for autographs.
    It was getting scary.
    “There’s too many people,” she yelled to
Jake over the noise.
    Jake grabbed her hand and pulled her into
a waiting sedan nearby.   People
pounded on the doors and windows, but the driver was experienced and knew how
to get out of a tight jam.
    Soon, they were driving and leaving the
crowds in the distance.
    “You planned to have this car waiting for
us outside the restaurant?” Raven asked him.
    Jake opened a mini fridge, pulled out a
tiny bottle of water and had a sip.   “Of course I did, I’m not completely new to this game.”
    “Maybe from now on you could include me
in your plans—let me know what we’re doing and what I should expect.”
    “No,” Jake said, smoothing the crease in
his pants.
    “No?”
    “It’s more real when you’re just
reacting,” he told her.   “You’re not
an actress,” he said.   “I can’t plan
everything out with you in advance or it’ll come off fake.”
    “And I suppose this is all just acting
for you,” Raven said, folding her arms.   “Nothing’s real.”
    “Isn’t that the point?” he said,
laughing.
    “I guess it is,” Raven replied.   She