"And that's the plan," Charlie finished, and Simon gave him a sceptical look. He was beginning to doubt if it was a good idea to agree to this.

"Have you ever done this before?" he asked, taking turns to look at the two guys in front of him. 

"Of course we have," Jeff confirmed immediately, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. "With our experience, we could start a detective agency."

Simon's expression didn't change, instead he switched his gaze to Charlie and asked him with a look if the blonde was serious. 

"We have a lot of friends and we can be low profile," he assured him. 

"I'm still not sure if this is a good idea," Simon voiced his concerns aloud. It sounded like a great plan when he was drunk, especially when Charlie made it sound easy. But now he was beginning to doubt that it would work, now he knew the details. Besides, he still wasn't sure if Charlie could be trusted, let alone Jeff, whom he'd met half an hour ago. 

"You have nothing to worry about," Charlie assured him. "Until we've completed all 5 steps, we'll stay away so Max has no idea you know us. Jeff and I will take care of everything and you just have to pretend that everything is fine." That was the hardest part of the plan for Simon. Every time Max kissed him, Simon wondered how many other men he had kissed that day. Every time Max told him he loved him, Simon wondered who else he was making such empty promises to. And every time Max crossed the threshold of their apartment, even if it was just to go to the shop near their building, Simon couldn't stop thinking that he was going to jump into someone else's bed again.

"How much longer do I have to pretend?" he asked, barely holding back a sigh. 

"Hard to say," Charlie admitted. "It'll take a few days to get enough evidence and then we'll see." That could mean a week, but it could also mean a month. A month of lying in the same bed as that cheating bastard. 

"It'll be fine, Simon," Jeff chimed in. "You can tell him you joined a book club, or you took on more shifts at work so you can take him on holiday. You don't have to spend time with him if you don't want to."

Those were the words that finally calmed him down, at least a little. "All right." He could finally take a deep breath and think clearly. "I can do that."

"Great." Jeff gave him an encouraging smile. Although he was nice to him, Simon felt strange in his presence, knowing that he would be the next person Max would cheat on him with.

"Then it's settled," Charlie said, pulling Simon out of his gloomy thoughts. "Jeff will go out with him and I'll take a picture of them. In the meantime, we'll keep an eye on him and try to catch him with the other side pieces."

"I'm sure they're no match for you," Jeff interrupted, having noticed the expression on Simon's face when Charlie said that. "You're hot as fuck." 

Simon rolled his eyes at his obvious exaggeration, but Jeff's attempt to cheer him up was successful as a smile appeared on his face. 

"He's right, you know. You're way out of his league," Charlie added. 

Simon shook his head in amusement. They were clearly determined to do whatever it took to make him feel better, and he had to admit it was working. However, he still planned to go home and cry into his pillow afterwards, because it was impossible to forget a year-long relationship thanks to a few jokes.

"No, no, no, no sad expression." Jeff immediately noticed his smile fading. "He's not worth it."

"I know," Simon admitted in a quieter tone. "It's just hard." He and Max had been together for a year, half of it spent living together. Simon had been over the moon when Max had asked him to move in with him so they could spend more time together, and now he couldn't wait to get out. What an irony. 

"Don't think about the good stuff," Jeff advised him. "He definitely has some bad habits that get on your nerves. Focus on them." And it really did the trick. Over the next few days, Simon began to notice all the things that he had overlooked or had chosen to sugar-coat. Max's off-key humming of songs suddenly wasn't cute, but annoying, because it ruined his favourite songs. His penchant for buying different types of cereal because he didn't know which one he would be in mood for the next morning was no longer funny, but childish and greedy. His loud laughter at the shows was no longer charming, it was annoying, and Simon didn't realise until now how much he was missing from the shows because Max was laughing so loudly that he couldn't hear the actors. Suddenly he was living in a different world.

"Everything all right?" Max asked him, throwing his arm over the couch behind him.

Simon turned to him with a smile that couldn't have been more fake and gave him an even more fake answer. "I'm just tired. It was a busy day at work." 

Max's expression changed to one of concern and one of his hands landed on Simon's cheek, cupping his face in a gentle gesture. "Do you want to rest? We can move this to bed and I'll give you a good dose of cuddles. 10 out of 10 doctors recommend."

Once upon a time, Simon would have agreed without hesitation, but now he had to remind himself that, despite what Max might sound like, he didn't really care about him. At least not as much as he deserved. 

"I'm fine." Simon smiled at him. "No need to interrupt the show. I know how much you wanted to watch the new episode." If Max could play a loving and caring boyfriend, so could he.

"No show is more important than you," Max assured him, still looking worried. It was moments like this that made Simon want to shout at him that he knew everything and ask him how he could do this to him. But he couldn't. Well, he could, but it would be stupid. He had no choice but to count on Jeff and Charlie.

"I'm really fine. I just need to get some sleep and I can't do that if I feel bad about you missing your show." Simon smiled gently at him and put a hand on his thigh. 

The last thing he wanted was to cuddle with him in bed and think about how many other people he'd done it with. So far he had always managed to fall asleep before Max went to bed, and he didn't want to mess that up now.

"You're too kind, you know that? I have no idea what I've done to deserve you." Max ran the hand that was on his cheek into his hair and stroked it gently. He looked at him almost affectionately, and Simon almost doubted that he had really seen right that day. It was time to end this conversation.

"I don't know about kind, but I'm definitely very tired." He got up before Max could protest. "I'm going to bed, and don't you dare come to me before your show's over." He pointed a warning finger at him, and although he said it with humour, he hoped it would work.

"Your wish is my command," Max replied with the same wit in his voice. But before Simon could leave, he took Simon's hand in his and planted a kiss on the back of it. He was truly charming and no one could blame Simon for falling in love with him.

"See you in the morning." Simon gave him another soft smile, but this time he had to fight to keep it on his face as gloomy thoughts began to consume him. 

"I'll surprise you with breakfast in bed," Max promised and Simon rolled his eyes. He could afford to do that now, so he took advantage of it.

"It's not a surprise if you tell me in advance," he pointed out and Max laughed.

"So I'll come up with another surprise. Plus breakfast," Max promised, and Simon decided it really was time to leave the room. He faked a yawn, and Max's gaze immediately softened and he let go of his hand. "Go to bed, babe. I'll be there before you know it." 

Simon just nodded silently, turned on his axis and without another word made his way to their shared bedroom. 

Tears welled up in his eyes, but he knew he couldn't let them fall with Max in the next room, so he just fell headfirst into the bed and buried his face in the pillows.

He honestly had no idea how much longer he could do this.