The warm air from the heater washed over Misha as he stepped through the glass doors of the brewery. His eyes scanned the renovated fire station, looking for his date. He wore a quarter-sleeve Henley shirt with jeans, his hair freshly washed and left to freely form gravity-defying waves without gel weighing it down. He had also completely shaved his long-grown beard. It would grow back to mature density by Thanksgiving.

They agreed to meet at a brewery in St. George because Misha didn’t want her to think he was too serious. After all, this was another set up from his mother, and he knew she wouldn’t be too keen on his inevitably incompatible views on parenthood, among other things. She was a senior at the college in town, so at least she wasn’t fresh out of high school like the last attempted match and could legally drink.

In all honesty, if Kayden hadn’t riled him up at the Halloween event, he would have cancelled this date the second he got her number from his mother. Even though he knew he wasn’t going to marry anyone Daria sent his way, he could use a distraction.

He found her at the bar, straight honey-colored hair cascading down her back over a sweater dress. She already had a cocktail in hand.

The music was loud, but not obnoxious. He stepped up beside her and placed a hand between her shoulder blades. “Cassidy.”

Her hair whipped around her as she turned her face to look up at him, beaming. “Misha! Hi!” She sprang to her feet and wrapped him in a warm hug. “How are you? How was the drive?”

His smile lacked enthusiasm. “Good. It was nice and quiet.”  He left out the part about his head being overwrought with his earlier conversation with Kayden and how he worried he may have upset her. She had looked almost terrified after his lecture. He shouldn’t have even lectured her at all. Then again…she’s his student. Or were they friends, now? Friends express concern for each other. No, he had been distancing himself from her for good reason. Student.

“That’s great! You wanna get a drink? I don’t recommend any beer. It’s weak.” She scrunched her nose.

He chuckled. “That Utah for you.” He raised his hand to the tender and requested a Jack and Coke before turning back to Cassidy. “Are you not going home for the break?”

She sipped her fruity beverage. “Oh, I will, just not this weekend. I just wanted to party a little bit.” She nudged her hip against his thigh. “You know, you’re cuter in person.” Her thumb grazed his jaw line. “And you look even better without that beard.”

He dropped his head with a bashful huff and leaned his elbow on the countertop. “Well, thank you.” He debated whether or not to compliment her back. She was beautiful, but he didn’t intend to see her more than once, or for this date to last longer than necessary to appease his mother. He didn’t get a chance to decide before she rested her hand on his forearm and peered up at him with brown eyes.

“Can I say something a little…uncouth?”

He held her gaze with a neutral expression. “Please do.”

“I’m not really…looking for anything serious. Despite what my family might say.”

His heart jumped. Another rebel like him? A genuine grin spread across his lips. “That is probably the most couth thing you could have said tonight.”

***

The next morning, he found himself fumbling around Cassidy’s kitchen, trying to find cookware to prepare breakfast. Her organizational system was dreadfully lacking, but he managed to dig out a skillet and a bowl in which to scramble some eggs. In her freezer he discovered cheap frozen waffles: the quintessential food stock item for a college student. He placed two in the toaster while he whisked eggs.

He wondered what he would’ve found at Kayden’s house since she couldn’t eat wheat. The thought made him mentally punch himself.

An exaggerated yawn appeared behind him as Cassidy shuffled into the kitchen, wearing only a night shirt. He couldn’t complain; she had nice, slim legs. Plus, he was standing in her kitchen in only boxer briefs.

“Mornin’,” she moaned, adjusting her glasses on her face.

“Good morning.” He blinked at her a few times in confusion. “You wear glasses?”

She climbed into a stool at the island and slumped over the counter, resting her cheek on the heel of her palm. “Yup. Was wearing contacts last night.”

“You look good in them.”

She smiled, eyes squinted with hangover. “Aw, you’re so cute.”

“How is your head?”

“Fuzzy.” She rubbed her eyes.

“Told you to stop drinking.”

“Yeah yeah.” She yawned again. “So, listen, I was thinking…”

His shoulders tensed. Oh no, here it is. The inevitable: changing her mind after sex. He kept his focus on the skillet in front of him, plopping a tablespoon of the margarine he found onto the heated surface.

“What if we have a fake relationship?”

Relieved but also astonished, his brows scrunched together as he slowly pivoted to stare at her. “Pardon?”

She slumped further onto the cold surface, resting her forehead on her forearm, her voice muffled. “Yeah, like, make our parents think they were successful.”

Frankly, he was mad he’d never thought of that. He poured the liquefied eggs into the skillet. A smirk formed as he glanced over his shoulder at her coyly. “To be fair, they technically were successful.”

She let out a chuckle. “Okay, but beyond sex.”

“What exactly would the parameters be?”

She snorted, the sound echoing off the countertop. “The parameters? It’s not that deep, dude. We just tell them the date went well, we’re going to see each other again, and every once in a while tell them we went out again.”

He scraped egg around with the spatula, pensive. It wasn’t a horrible idea, but then again, it couldn’t work for very long. People who got together via the Network usually married quickly. “How long do you think we could pull that off?”

“I dunno. Probably a couple months, at least. Maybe even until I graduate this year.”

He scanned the cabinets above his shoulder for plates, finding two plastic ones and plopping them beside the stove. “What would our reason be for breaking up?”

“Do we need a different one from the usual disagreement or fight or something?”

The eggs and waffles went onto the plates, which he presented to Cassidy at the counter. She reluctantly sat upright.

“Well, my parents didn’t exactly marry for love.”

She winced. “Oh. Good point. Well. Mine did. So, you can just blame the breakup on me. Say something like ‘oh these younglings want a fairytale instead of reality’ or something.”

His whole body nearly cringed at that, a scowl carved into his face. “Geez how old do you think I am?” She grinned impishly at him. “Besides, I’m already likely to disappoint my parents by wanting to marry for love. So it would surprise no one.” He leaned his elbows on the counter, perched on the stool next to her, and they both began digging in.

It really wasn’t the worst idea he’d ever heard. As he shoveled breakfast into his mouth, he ruminated over the logistics of the scenario. Would they have to post pictures together on social media? He didn’t even have a Pictogram, so it wouldn’t matter too much. How far would they have to take it? Would they have to pretend they’re considering moving in together?

“It’s not a bad idea, but I think it’s only fair you hear the real reason we would break up if we truly dated.”

“What do you mean, the real reason?” She brought her glass of water to her lips for a greedy gulp.

“I mean, the reason I keep rejecting other women from the Network.”

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. “…okay…”

“I will not be having any children.”

“Pfft!” She wiped her wet lips, eyebrows nearly grazing her hairline. “Yeah, that would definitely be a deal breaker.”

“I have told my mother this a million times but she keeps using the Network to set me up with a partner in hopes I’ll change my mind.”

She stabbed a chunk of waffle and stuffed it into her mouth. “We can just say that, then.”

He smirked. Good. If others started spreading the news that Misha wasn’t compliant, he’d finally stop getting dates with Network members. “Deal.”

***

As they settled into a booth at the pizzeria, Andrei gave Misha a suspicious look from his deep-set blue eyes. “So. Mom is very excited that you’re seeing someone that she set you up with.”

Misha sighed. “I was just about to bring that up.” He held the menu in his lap. “It’s a farce.”

The younger brother’s shoulders relaxed as a grin replaced his glare. “Oh good. I was worried for a second.”

An eyebrow perked. “You didn’t think I lost my conviction so easily, did you?”

“Not a chance. That’s why I was worried.”

“Honestly, it was her idea, and I’m ashamed I didn’t come up with it myself sooner.”

He shrugged. “Like any other Network match would’ve ever agreed to it. Would’ve been too risky for you to suggest it first.”

He stroked the returning beard on his chin. “I have to confess, though…we have slept together.”

His little brother’s eyes shot up from his menu, wide and twinkling. The corner of his open mouth crept upward along with the pitch of his voice. “You naughty dog, you.”

The waitress interrupted and they ordered drinks before she went on her way.

Misha crossed his arms defensively. “It’s just sex. I know how to have a no-strings-attached relationship.”

Andrei perked a doubtful eyebrow at him. “You know how many romcoms say otherwise, don’t you?”

He rolled his eyes. “You watch too many. I hardly know her.” He recounted their initial meeting and explained the origin of their scheme. Andrei’s skepticism grew, plastered all over his face.

“Sounds like you might end up actually liking this chick.”

He huffed in response. “Sure I like her well enough, but she definitely wants children. I don’t. I haven’t even told her about my vasectomy. We aren’t behaving like a couple. I’ve only spoken to her twice since last week.”

With pursed lips, he nodded studiously. “Well, good work, sir. I expect regular reports on your progress.”

Misha snorted. “And what about your progress?”

He sighed, “I broke up with Erin.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. Why?”

“Just wasn’t working out,” he said with finality, setting down his menu. He scanned the restaurant, combing his fingers through his long, wavy light brown hair.

Misha knew that look: time to drop the topic altogether. So, instead, he shifted gears to talk about his dog. After all, Andrei was the reason he even had the high-energy Staffordshire terrier in the first place. Andrei was the reason he had to take a chainsaw to his recently-completed house wall for a dog door and build a sturdy chain link containment structure off the side.

Oh yeah and run concrete three feet under each side so the dog couldn’t dig out.

“Have you grown to love the mutt yet?”

His disgruntled expression softened. “Yes, actually. When he has all his energy burned off and isn’t itching for a fight, he is the sweetest dog on the planet. I even let him on the couch with me, now.”

Andrei’s blue eyes went wide, stunned. “No way. Damn, I’m impressed. See? I’m a great matchmaker, after all.”

“Well after Cassidy and I break up, why don’t you take over the matchmaking in that department and get Mom off my back?”

He smirked. “We’ll see.”

***

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long before Misha suspected Cassidy actually might grow to like him.

They had begun to text more frequently in the following weeks, and even met for dates. Though labeled “fake” dates, there wasn’t much to distinguish them from actual dates. The second week, they went indoor rock climbing. This week, they’d gone ice skating in order to post pictures to Cassidy’s Pictogram, but the night ended with the use of another condom.

He’d never confused casual sex with romance, but this was starting to feel like a real budding relationship. He’d even caught himself reaching out to her first and thinking of her in his free time.

The next morning, Cassidy was much more affectionate than the first time they’d hooked up. He knew he had to nip it in the bud; they had only known each other three weeks of this multi-month pact, and the last thing he wanted was for them both to get attached when they definitely didn’t see eye-to-eye on a crucial relationship component.

After brushing his teeth and getting dressed, he began slipping into his shoes at the front door. Cassidy frowned at him from her place at the stove. “Leaving so soon?”

Shoes snug, he stood, reaching for the keys on the entrance table. “Yep. I have a dog to feed.”

There was a moment of silence. He dared a glance to her across the tiny living room. Arms crossed, she stared at the skillet, eyebrows furrowed. She grumbled, “But what about breakfast?”

“Cass. We made a deal. Casual. No commitment. A fun time without longevity.”

She neutralized her facial expression with a few blinks before meeting his eyes. “Of course.”

When her eyes darted quickly away, he felt a twinge in his chest. Oh no. This shouldn’t have happened. He sighed. “Listen. How about we remove sex from the equation.” Less of a question, more of a demand.

Her shoulders rolled forward slightly, as if trying to hide. Her bottom lip jutted out. “But I like the sex.”

So do I. Without kicking off his shoes, he crossed the carpet and rested a hand on her island counter, trying to get her to meet his gaze. “It’s not a good idea, clearly.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you trying to say? That I’m getting attached?”

“I’m saying that attachments are likely with our current arrangement.”

“Oh, what a diplomatic answer.”

He kept quiet as she stirred the food in the skillet, peeking daggers at him. His expression remained detached. He wasn’t about to let her know he was growing fond of her, especially when about half of him was still holding a candle for Kayden.

Ultimately, she sighed and capitulated. “Okay, fine. You’re right. I don’t want to fall for a guy who’s so determined not to be marriageable.”

The corner of his lip dipped in his crooked grin. “Great. Let’s not actually see each other for a while. Final exams are this week, then winter break. And I think you should go on dates. With someone else.”

She fought a playful grin with a raised eyebrow. “Are you fake breaking up with me?”

“I’m fake opening our fake relationship.” With a good-bye smirk, he tapped his knuckles on the cold counter before pivoting on his heel and heading out the door.