"So, do you honestly think this beast is going to make it to Leavenworth and back?"

Bryce looked at the sad little civic with a look of confusion and shock. Michelle rolled her eyes at him.

"Well, Mr. I don't need a car in Seattle, do you have another option?"

"No, but I am afraid," Bryce joked. "How long is the drive?"

"Two hours, give or take," Michelle replied. "So, we have plenty of time to talk and get to know each other."

"Sounds like a plan, beautiful," Bryce said.

They got into Betsy and started to drive, glancing over at each other occasionally.

"So, do your roommates know about me?"

"Magda calls you 'Mr. Caliente', and they think you're just a guy I am sleeping with."

"Except they are wrong," Bryce said. "I'm your platonic husband to be. But I like the nickname."

"It suits you," Michelle said, laughing. "So, anything you want to know about your bride?"

"How about everything? Favorite sports, bands, what it's like to be a millionaire.... All the details, basically."

"Ok, let's play a game," Michelle said. "We'll ask each other twenty questions, taking turns. You can pass if you want, but let's try and be honest with each other. Sound good?""

"What are you, the interrogation specialist?"

"No, I just like games," Michelle said. "See, you already know one more thing about me."

"Ok, I will go first," Bryce said. "Tell me about your one boyfriend, the one who you said left after you guys..."

"Oh, him," Michelle said. "Long story short, we dated for a while. We went all the way, and I found out he just wanted to be with me because I was rich. He was always asking me to pay for things, and he told his friends he didn't even think I was pretty. It hurt, but he was using me the entire time."

"What? Is he blind?"

"No, Bryce. He saw me for what I am, and he moved on. It hurt, because I thought I loved him. But he wanted someone better, I guess."

"Well, he is a moron," Bryce said.

"It's my turn," Michelle said. "Ok, since we're on this train, have you ever been in love before?"

"Not really," Bryce said. "I mean, I've dated a lot of girls. And I lived in a frat house last year, which meant I had a lot of hookups..."

"Wow, I am marrying a frat boy," Michelle said. "I didn't think you were the type."

"Well, my best friend made me join. It was fun, but I want to buckle down this year. I need to work hard to get into med school."

"I see...so no serious girlfriends?"

"Not yet," Bryce said, glancing at Michelle.

He was trying to be upfront with her, tell her the whole truth about the women he'd been with. It was what it was, and Bryce was just not the kind of guy who'd been in a serious relationship before.

"So, how many siblings do you have?"

"Three, all older sisters, two of them married."

"Ok," Michelle said. "I'm an only child."

"So Michelle, why do you want to be a lawyer?"

"I just want to do something that I'd be good at, and I think I'd be a good lawyer."

"Well, that was a passionate response."

"Well, at some point you have to pick something. You can't just wait for passion to happen."

"Yesterday, you talk for twenty minutes about how you made the perfect Crème Brule using Magda's cooking gear. I think you're passionate about food."

"Yeah, but I can't become a cook..."

"Chefs can make a lot of money, you know..."

"Well, I am declaring pre-law, and I can cook on the weekends. Are you honestly passionate about pre-med?"

"Yes," Bryce said. "I want to help people, besides, I find the human body oddly fascinating. My sister cut open her arm when she was a kid, it happened on some weird slide incident. Anyway, when my mom was about to puke, I held her hand while she got stitches. I was morbidly fascinated by the wound."

"You sound like a serial killer now. Maybe I should turn around..."

"I'm the opposite," Bryce said. "I am the healer, darling. And someday, this doctor might end up needing a trophy wife."

"Well, you'll have to ditch me, because I won't be any man's accessory."

"It's your turn for a question, Michelle... Although, at some point we'll need to discuss the whole 'private eye moonlighting' thing."

"I take photos of cheating husbands," Michelle said. "It involves a lot of sitting in a van."

"Ok," Bryce said. "Asked and answered. I guess I can't really judge you. To be honest, I've been working as a campus janitor to pay the bills."

"I wondered what you did," Michelle said. "But I don't mind, trust me, there's no judgment from the diner queen."

There was a silence while Michelle thought of her next question.

"Favorite ice cream flavor?" Michelle asked.

"Cookie dough," Bryce said.

"Me too," Michelle asked. "Biggest pet peeve?"

"Smoking and cell phone people," Bryce said. "What's the craziest thing you've ever done?"

"Other than crashing my dad's wedding, nothing," Michelle said. "I'm a big fat boring clean slate."

"Oh, well, impromptu wedding to a guy you just met is exciting," Bryce said. "Besides, the wedding night could be pretty exciting if you let it happen."

"No," Michelle said. "I think the wedding is enough excitement."

"But we're practically dating. I like you Michelle, you're easy to be around. And you're sweet, not mention sexy..."

"You do realize you'll need more to like about me than my looks," Michelle said.

"Well, I think we have something here."

"I think you're just a horn dog," Michelle laughed.

"Ok, fine, but I will wear you down."

"You keep saying that, but so far, I am still doubtful."

"Listen to your friends, I am Mr. Caliente."

"Yep, sure," Michelle said. "Any exciting ideas for our fake proposal?"

"You'll see," Bryce said. "You'll see."

***

They got to the hotel and checked in, noting how nice the lobby was.

"Did you spend all of your money on this?" Bryce asked.

"No," Michelle said. "I spent five hundred on the hotel, and I have an extra three hundred for festivities. I don't want to explain what I had to do to get the money from my stepmother, but it was awful. So I hope we have fun, because you only get one fake honeymoon/wedding."

"Yes dear," Bryce replied. "I promise to show you a good time."

They went up to the room and threw their bags off to the side. Michelle decided to sit down on the bed, noticing how fluffy and soft it was.

"Oh," Michelle said. "I didn't even think to get double beds. You're not offended, are you?"

"No, but I am a little excited," Bryce said. "I guess sharing a bed, technically, is a good way to get used to each other's presence."

"Ok, no big deal. Besides, I share a bed with Magda all the time."

"I think I might react a little differently to you than Magda does."

"It will be fine," Bryce said. They sat down, and smiled. After talking over the car ride, they both felt more at ease. The situation was strange, however, and that couldn't be denied. He was proposing later, and they barely knew each other.

"So, my plans start with dinner," Bryce said. "Until then, what do you want to do?"

"They have games and ping pong here," Michelle said.

"Or..."

"Bryce, what is on your mind? You only give me that look when you're about to get yourself in trouble."

"I was just thinking, you know, we probably need to get used to each other. I want pictures of us kissing from our fake wedding and fake honeymoon, and we'll have to ask others to photograph us. How awkward will it be if Joe tourist notices us having an uncomfortable and hesitant kiss."

"I see what you're saying," Michelle said. "It's like we're playing a role, and we need to rehearse."

"Yes," Bryce said, leaning over and staring at Michelle. "So, care for a rehearsal?"

He winked just to add the effect, and Michelle busted up. He was nothing if he wasn't charming and silly, which lightened up Michelle.

"Fine," Michelle said. "But remember the first base rule, ok? Keep it PG-13."

Bryce didn't respond with words, but picked up Michelle and placed her head back on the pillow, giving her a look that said a million things. He hesitantly kissed her, just brushing her lips at first. Then, once the barrier was broken, he kissed her more zeal and passion. Michelle suddenly lost all thought, focused only on his lips and his overall feeling. She loved having him close, near her. She shouldn't have felt these things, because it was dangerous to want your husband so much in a soon to be fake marriage. Still, Bryce didn't relent, pushing into her and causing Michelle to spread her legs instinctively. He let his hands play with her hair as they got lost in each other's touches. Bryce pulled back, just slightly, and licked her bottom lip.

"I've wanted to kiss you so much since we first met," Bryce said. "You're so beautiful, Michelle."

"Thank you," was all she managed to reply.

"We should go," Bryce said. "I could kiss you all day, but then we might end up breaking the first base rule."

"Ok," Michelle said, sighing.

Secretly, she wanted to break all of her rules, but she knew better. The only way this could work was for them to be level headed and rational. But when Bryce kissed her once last time, his lips teasing hers for just a moment, she forgot all about rational and let her mind wander to some very dangerous places.

***

Bryce phone rang and he saw his older sister Lila's number on the screen. He glanced at Michelle, who was getting ready in the bathroom, fretting over her hair for some reason.

"Lila," Bryce said. Michelle glanced over when she heard a female name. "How's it going, big sister?"

"It's been better," Lila barked. "Mom came to picked up the kids, and she was livid. Did you text her to say that you're going on vacation with some girl you just met."

"Yes...but Michelle is amazing. Lila, she's the one. I've fallen in love."

"You can barely commit to a brand of juice, you're not in love."

"Yeah, well, this is different," Bryce said. "Michelle is different, Lila. I think you'll love her, which is good since she'll be around more."

"Bryce, I am sure she is very pretty," Lila said. "But mom is freaking out. She found something on the computer, were you googling "ways to propose" at their house?"

Whoops, Bryce thought absently.

"I can't really discuss this," Bryce said. "I'm taking Michelle for dinner and a carriage ride, it's going to be a very important night."

"Bryce, are you serious? Don't get engaged, you're way too young."

"You were young, Lila. You've been married for six years now..."

"I knew Daryl since I was eight. We waited ten years to get Engaged, not two weeks!"

"It's my life Lila," Bryce said. "Kiss the kids for me."

Bryce hung up and shook his head.

"Everything ok?" Michelle called out.

"Yeah, my family is freaking out because they think I'm going to propose. They're going to flip when I come home married."

"Well, it is a shock. But hey, we know what were doing. This is a business arrangement, and we get along great. I can already tell our fake marriage might be better than most peoples real marriages."

Bryce just smiled. Secretly, he was thinking about how sacred his family considered marriage. In three generations, not one Santiago couple had gotten divorced. Not a single one. But divorce was their plan, because otherwise getting married was insane.

Bryce watched Michelle put on her heels with a smile and felt his body relax, somehow attracted to her and calmed by her bubbly demeanor. Sure, they had agreed to divorce originally. But he had four years to see if he could really love her, and if he decided he did, maybe he could convince her to make their marriage last forever.

***

"Dinner was amazing Bryce," Michelle said. "I loved the band playing beside us."

They walked outside beside the shops, just as the sun was setting. Bryce had taken advantage of being in public, and held Michelle's hand happily. When she didn't expect, he'd try to sneak a kiss here and there. They turned the corner and he'd reached his perfect place, where a man with a horse drawn carriage was waiting. Michelle gave him a look that said "really. This is your plan?" Bryce smiled.

"I'm a bit traditional, some might say cheesy," Bryce said. "But, nevertheless, your chariot awaits madam."

Michelle giggled and got in, and Bryce followed. He wrapped his arms around her, noting how nice it felt to hug her tight.

"So how long have you two lovebirds been together," the carriage driver asked.

"Not long," Bryce said. "But I'm already in love. This girl is my future."

Bryce had rehearsed the line, but he secretly knew he didn't have to embellish that much. He liked Michelle, the sound of her laugh, the way she looked when she smiled. And the little things, the kindness you could hear in her voice and the way she talked about her friends. Bryce had never believed in love at first sight, but he wondered if it was possible to know you were going to fall for someone instinctually. It was like seeing a preview to a movie, and you instantly knew it'd be your favorite before you could watch the ending. The carriage driver was talking about his wife, and Bryce hadn't heard a word. Michelle seemed to be enjoying the ride, watching the night sky with bright eyes. Beautiful, Bryce thought to himself.

They got out afterwards, and Michelle had asked if she could pet the horse. Bryce took a picture of her and the horse on his phone, and another one she she fed it a carrot and laughed. Bryce asked the driver if he would take a picture of them together, and winked at him. Secretly, he'd paid the driver ahead of time to video tape the entire thing.

Michelle knew that any minute it would happen. They agreed to get engaged publicly, and to photograph it. The night was beautiful, with the sun dipping behind the mountains and the lights in the center of the town. People hustled about, and Michelle felt her pulse racing. It wasn't real, so why was she so nervous. Perhaps it was the lingering looks Bryce keep giving her or the kisses they'd shared earlier. Maybe it was what he'd said to his sister on the phone. "I met the one, I've fallen in love. It's fast, but it's right..."

They sounded convincing, and Michelle wondered if there was anything to them. God, she needed to get her head on straight, it was just a business deal. What had she called the idea, a glorified roommate arrangement? That was all. But as Bryce got down on one knee and took her hand, it started to feel different. People stopped and smiled, wanting to share the happy moment with the young lovers.

"Michelle," Bryce said. "We are young, we're broke, and I have socks I've known longer than you. But ever since I met you, I feel like I am better. When I am with you, I feel like it's going to be ok. Sure, we have a lot to learn about each other, but I already know the most important thing. I love you Michelle, truly and deeply, I am taken with you. I want to spend my life taking care of you, and being the family you didn't always have. I just hope you'll let me show you how much I love you. Michelle Silas, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?"

"Of course," Michelle said, shrieking.

Applause sounded from the crowd, and Bryce grabbed Michelle and kissed her until all thoughts disappear and she felt nothing but bliss. But it wasn't real, so why did she feel so overwhelmingly happy?