NIALL

I was nervous introducing him to my family. I wasn’t sure if he’d be convincing enough. I felt really guilty that I was putting him in this position. But I honestly didn’t know what else to do. I couldn’t come clean to my family. Not after everything that’s happened in these couple of years. They’d definitely find it concerning that I had lied about something like this. I didn’t want them to worry even more about me.

But my nerves were calmed as soon as Trent and I arrived at my parents place. My parents liked him immediately and my mom was basically attached to him the whole night.

I couldn’t help smile seeing them so happy and seeing how happy they were for me. My dad even gave me an approving look.

It made me ache inside. I wished it was true. I felt so guilty having them feel this was real when instead I hadn’t gotten better. I was still the broken guy who lost his fiancé.

But I pushed those feeling aside and tried to enjoy the night.

Trent and I helped my mom prepare dinner and we had a lot of fun cooking together. He was so easy to talk to. He had a way of just brightening the room. And he made me and my mom laugh. For a moment I could almost imagine it being real.

But I chastised myself for thinking that. He was just my counsellor. He didn’t have feelings for me and more importantly I didn’t have feelings for him.

When my mom was out of the kitchen for a little while Trent and I were still busy preparing the food, when our eyes suddenly met.

I don’t know why but I got lost in his eyes in that moment. He suddenly came closer and for a moment I thought he was going to cup my face and kiss me. But instead he rubbed something off my cheek.

“You got a little bit of sauce on your cheek,” he said his voice low still not breaking eye contact with me.

“Oh,” I said breathless. “Th...thanks.”

He nodded and as my mom came back in the room I tried to catch my breath.

What was that?

And why did that make me feel butterflies in my stomach?

TRENT

It was a warm summer evening when Niall's parents invited me over for game night with the whole family. I had met them once before, and their warm reception was both comforting and overwhelming. Niall had introduced me as his boyfriend, and his family seemed thrilled about it. The guilt inside me gnawed at my conscience, as I knew it was all a charade to protect Niall from his family's expectations.

As I arrived at their house, I couldn't help but feel nervous. I kept reminding myself that this was just a favor to a friend in need, and nothing more. My best friend, Mark, had warned me about the complications of this situation, but seeing Niall struggle with the weight of his grief and the pressure from his family, I couldn't find it in my heart to turn him down.

The evening started with laughter and joy as the whole family gathered around the dining table for dinner. Niall's sister, Bailey, was there with her husband and their adorable kids. They all welcomed me warmly, treating me like a part of their family, and I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of happiness and guilt.

During the game, we all sat in the living room, and Niall and I ended up sitting next to each other. As we played, our eyes met a few times, and at one point, we both accidentally drew the same card at the same time. We exchanged a shy smile, and my heart fluttered, but I quickly dismissed any feelings. It was wrong for me to be attracted to him in this situation, and besides, Niall needed a friend more than anything else right now.

In a quiet moment away from the group, I found myself reflecting on my decision to play along with this pretend relationship. I knew it was challenging to balance my personal feelings with my professional responsibilities as his group counsellor. I had to keep things strictly professional, and the thought of being with him romantically was out of the question. Niall was still grieving, and it would be unfair to both of us to rush into anything.

As the night went on, I did my best to be there for Niall, providing comfort and support whenever he needed it. But at the same time, I maintained a careful distance, making sure our interactions remained appropriate. I focused on being the friend he needed, even though it was hard to deny the chemistry that seemed to exist between us.

After the game night, as I drove back home, I couldn't shake off the mix of emotions swirling inside me. On one hand, I felt an undeniable attraction to Niall, but on the other hand, I knew it was essential to be patient and respectful of his healing process.

All I could do was to be there for Niall, guiding him through his grief, and hoping that someday he would find happiness again – whether it was with me or someone else.

NIALL

The cold air stung my cheeks as Trent and I stepped onto the ice skating rink. It was a picturesque scene – families gliding gracefully, laughter echoing in the air. But my heart was racing, not just from the chill but from the tangle of emotions I was feeling for Trent.

As we skated hand in hand, I couldn't help but marvel at the ease with which he glided across the ice. He twirled me, and I giggled like a schoolboy, momentarily forgetting the weight of my grief. We bumped into each other playfully, sharing an affectionate smile that spoke volumes without words.

But as the joyful moment subsided, Trent excused himself to sit on the sidelines, joining my mother. I continued skating, trying to shake off the mix of emotions swirling inside me. I never imagined I would find myself in such a situation – pretending to be in a relationship to avoid disappointing my family and friends.

My thoughts were interrupted when I noticed Trent and my mother engrossed in conversation. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. My mother was happy to see me with Trent, thinking he was my new boyfriend, but the truth was far from that.

As I watched them talking, I felt torn. On one hand, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for Trent's willingness to go along with this pretense and support me. But on the other hand, I couldn't deny the growing feelings I had for him, feelings that were complicated by the promise I made to my late fiancé.

I knew I needed to be careful with my heart, but I also couldn't deny the connection I felt with Trent. For now, all I could do was cherish the moments we had together, knowing that the path ahead was uncertain and filled with challenges we both needed to navigate.

As we resumed skating, I glanced at Trent, the weight of my emotions almost overwhelming. But in that moment, as we continued to hold hands and skate side by side, I found solace in the fact that, at least for now, we had each other to lean on.

TRENT

The sun was shining brightly as Niall and I took his sister's children to the zoo. The little girl, Lily, held my hand tightly, and the boy, Ethan, ran ahead, eager to see all the animals. I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm, but my gaze kept drifting back to Niall.

He had a way with kids that was heartwarming. He was talking to Lily and Ethan about the animals, making funny faces, and telling them stories that had them giggling uncontrollably. My heart swelled with affection as I watched him interact with them, seeing the genuine joy on his face.

As we strolled through the zoo, I couldn't help but notice the way Niall would occasionally steal glances at me, a soft smile playing on his lips. It warmed my heart, but it also left me feeling a little unsettled. We had both agreed to pretend to be in a relationship for the sake of his family, and yet, there was an undeniable connection between us that made me question our charade.

On our way back to Niall's sister's house, the kids dozed off in the backseat of the car. Niall and I found ourselves in a comfortable silence, the air thick with unspoken emotions. I could feel the tension building, the desire to bridge the gap and explore what was growing between us.

At a red light, Niall turned to me, his eyes searching for something he couldn't quite put into words. In that moment, it felt like the world around us faded away, leaving only the two of us in the car. The desire to lean in and kiss him was overwhelming, and I could see a similar longing in his eyes.

As our faces drew closer, the traffic light turned green, breaking the moment. We moved away quickly and pretended as if nothing happened.

Niall had a faint blush on his cheeks and looked visibly embarrassed.

We drove, both lost in thought. I could feel the electricity in the air, the unspoken words hanging between us like a delicate thread, waiting to be acknowledged.

But as much as I wanted to give in to my feelings, I knew we needed to take things slow. Niall was still healing from the loss of his fiancé, and I didn't want to rush him into anything he wasn't ready for.

As we arrived back at his sister's house, I helped carry the sleeping kids inside. Niall thanked me with a warm smile, and for a moment, it felt like everything was right in the world. But deep down, I knew we were walking on a tightrope of emotions.