"Jasper, I need your help," I said on a Friday morning. My phone was pinched between my ear and my shoulder as I cracked open a can of Inky's favorite wet food. He let out a little meow and launched his body onto the counter, not waiting for me to scoop it out into his bowl.

"You must have a sense for inconvenient timing," my cousin groaned on the other line. "Zara and I have some issues to handle. A press conference and all that, can this wait?"

I felt my eyebrow raise. "Since when do you go to press conferences?"

"I mostly just stand there and look pretty. Realistically she doesn't need me there because she's the powerhouse, but I like to support her. What kind of husband would I be if I let her take all of the heat alone?"

I ran my fingers over Inkwell's back absently. "Good for you two. Now, about your help, I need you to look up someone in the system for me."

As much information as I had, it was hard for a normal citizen to keep track of someone who had seemingly fallen off the face of the earth while still being right under my nose.

"I don't have time and you don't need to know anything more than you already do."

"I think I have a lead."

"Alligator, I told you that you don't have to solve this." As if Dexter hadn't reminded me enough.

"But if I can, why not take the chance?" I pressed. I hoped I sounded innocent enough because the wheels in my head were already turning at full speed. An opportunity was before me, but knowing Jasper, it would take some careful footing. "I just need you to look something up in the computer system."

"Christ, I'm not even near my laptop and I don't have time—"

"I know you're busy and I don't want to keep calling you for things like this, but I need some information to hopefully push this along. I mean, if there is a real threat, wouldn't we want to nip it in the bud?"

"I know what you're doing, London."

Of course, he did. I could sugar coat it, I could play dumb, but he would always see right through me. It's who he was a human being. How was I supposed to manipulate the master manipulator?

"I honestly need this for the task. I'm looking for someone in particular, but I think Dexter is protecting them so I can't ask him and I haven't had contact with them for years at this point."

In the background, I could barely make out a voice that could only be Zara's before Jasper released a sigh. "Alright, I'll bite. I'll put in a request to have a laptop sent to you with basic clearance access."

"What if I need—"

"Then I guess I'm going to have to make time for you. I'm not playing this game with you. Basic clearance into the federal database will give you enough access to solve this if you feel so inclined, but I'm not dumb enough to think that you have gotten over searching for you mother yourself. Basic access, alligator. And I'm going to be watching your history so nothing sketchy, okay?"

I knew that I could not squeeze blood from this stone. "Alright Jasper. Thanks."

The laptop arrived a few days later. I only had time to open it, power it up, and connect to the correct server before there was a knock on my apartment door.

Inky darted off, behaving more like an excited dog than the typical aloof cat. When I opened the door to let Dexter in, my cat perched on his back legs like a meerkat. A moment later he was scooped up into Dex's lean arms.

"What do you think of my outfit?" I asked, giving him a spin, though all I wanted to do was sit down and rummage through the database. "We have gone to so many fancy places now, I feel out of place wearing ripped jeans and sneakers."

Dex ran his eyes over me and the malleable part of my brain thought there was heat in his gaze. I squashed the idea, knowing that he had always looked at me the same way and that I was only imagining the lust now. Our heated moments had not changed our relationship at its core. "That's a bold statement coming from a girl who eats mozzarella cheese with her bare hands at midnight."

"I was drunk," I defended.

"You were sober as hell and don't act like it was once," he shot back, revealing his teeth in a gorgeous smile. "But you look great, Lonny. You can pull off a ballgown just as well as you can wear ripped jeans. But, speaking of drinking, there is going to be beer tonight. Have you had water today?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes, knowing full well that I was three coffees in but hadn't had the proper amount of water since my work out that morning.

"If you want to drink tonight, you need to drink some water first."

I did as he asked because I had a weakness for local craft beers and knew that he would stay true to his words. Always the protector. Inkwell was deposited back on the floor and he was protesting our departure before I even pulled my jacket. Unfortunately for him, we were on a mission and left anyway, stopping only to pick up burritos that disappeared the second they made it into the van.

The event was something completely in the norm for Dex, something that would help solidify our fake image as a couple. I couldn't just accompany him to big formal events in hopes of selling our relationship. Like a true couple, we had to share hobbies and interests, and take time out of our day to focus on small outings. Naturally, a movie premier about a young mountain biker who tragically lost his life, was something that was right up Dex's alley. The funds from our tickets would support the mountain bike community and we would get to watch the story of a young man who changed the realm of downhill mountain bike racing forever.

I had never partaken in any part of Dex's mountain biking life. I frequented the shop he worked at, sat in the stands at the race tracks, spent time with his family, but had somehow avoided this part of his world. That meant that the brewery was filled with people I had never met and that I was forced to shake hands with a dozen people, tossing them my best grin despite the fact that I really only split them into two categories: those that were wearing plaid and those that had beards. Unfortunately, they were not exclusive.

But one man stood out as he clapped Dex on the back. "So this is the girl you've told me about. London, right?" His hand shot out towards me and I took it without a second of hesitation. "I was wondering when you and him would finally get together."

"Oh, you know, these things take time," I said, but my eyes flashed to my date whose face was already flaming. Assuming that Dexter hadn't really talked to this person since mountain bike season, my name must have been mentioned months before Jasper had put me on this assignment. Did that mean that Dexter had said something that would lead this man to believe he wanted to be romantically involved with me? Or was this just a case of someone assuming people of opposite genders couldn't be friends?

"Either way, I'm happy for you both. You want a drink, London? They're serving a seasonal cherry and raspberry sour if you're interested."

I darted off to follow him, thankful for the distraction.

Once I had grabbed myself a few beer options, there was no time for idle chatter before the movie began. I wasn't sure if that was a win or a loss because my mind was whirling away with the man's statement. Had Dexter talked about me? Did I want him to? Was there a chance of a chance that he had actually wanted to be with me back then or now?

No, it wasn't possible. We had been friends for too long. Nothing more, nothing less. If he wanted something more, he would have verbalized it by now.

But he wasn't much of a talker. And I had never given him much of an opening.

Not that it would matter. We were two different people. He had the freedom to quit his job, spit on his schooling and do whatever he wanted. He lived this carefree life, carving out a place for himself in the world. My place had been designed for me, a neat little desk in the Calgary branch office with a simple calendar, no business cards, and infinite amounts of structure.

A gentle touch on my bare skin startled me out of my thoughts. Dexter's thumb swept over the exposed skin on my thigh, finding the rips in the jeans.

No, this couldn't go any further, but the acting was certainly nice.

~~~Distraction Section~~~

Thank you all for sticking with me through tax season! I appreciate all of you. As I have mentioned before, I will be doing a giveaway when we hit 10,000 followers. We are so close. I would recommend following my Instagram now as it is where I will be posting my giveaway when the time comes!

Question of the Day: Would you rather win the lottery or work the perfect job?