Danny had been in some questionable situations before—accidentally sending a text to his professor that was meant for Sophie (in his defense, “I want to die” is a pretty universal college experience), getting stuck in a bathroom stall because the lock broke (Sophie still wouldn't let him live that one down), and, of course, the absolute slow-motion train wreck that was his love life.

But this?

This was a new kind of stupid.

Because he was about to seriously consider fake dating his only functional dating app match.

And honestly?

It wasn’t the worst idea.

Which was concerning.

“So let me get this straight,” Leo said, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair. “You’re convinced your best friend is acting jealous, but instead of actually addressing it like a mature adult, you’re thinking of… what, ignoring it?”

Danny scowled. “I never said jealous.”

Leo raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So what’s the issue then?”

Danny opened his mouth. Closed it.

“…He’s been acting weird,” he admitted.

Leo snorted. “Uh-huh. And ‘acting weird’ means…?”

Danny sighed. “I don’t know! It’s just… the mood swings, the weird comments about my dates, the sudden obsession with wearing my hoodies like I’m his personal clothing subscription service—”

Leo held up a hand. “Pause. He steals your clothes?”

Danny rubbed his face. “Constantly.”

Leo whistled. “Damn. That’s some rom-com bullshit.”

Danny groaned. “It’s not—”

“Bro.” Leo leaned forward. “Have you seen a rom-com?”

Danny glared.

Leo grinned. “This has got ‘unspoken sexual tension’ written all over it.”

Danny picked up a sugar packet from the table and threw it at his face.

Leo cackled.

Danny took a very long sip of his iced coffee, trying to avoid eye contact.

“Okay,” Leo said, smirking. “What’s your plan?”

Danny blinked. “Huh?”

“You’re clearly trying to make him realize something,” Leo said. “So what’s the move? More dating apps? Public displays of flirting? Start casually dropping ‘Oh my god, my date last night was so amazing’ in every conversation?”

Danny winced.

Leo caught it immediately.

“Ah,” he said, eyes twinkling. “So you do want him to realize something.”

Danny groaned. “Shut up.”

Leo smirked. “Make me.”

Danny threw another sugar packet.

Leo dodged it.

Then, after a long beat, he hummed and tapped a finger against his coffee cup. “You know, we could make this a lot more interesting.”

Danny squinted. “What?”

Leo tilted his head. “You want him to wake up, right? You want him to feel that little tug of ‘Oh shit, what if I lose Danny?’”

Danny stiffened.

He hated that Leo understood him this well.

Leo grinned. “So. What if we fake-date?”

Danny choked on air.

“No.”

Leo laughed. “C’mon, think about it. We go on a few dates, post some cute couple selfies, make him see that you’re a hot commodity—”

Danny stared at him.

“You cannot be serious.”

Leo shrugged. “I mean, half-serious. But, like, wouldn’t it be funny?”

Danny scowled. “This isn’t a sitcom.”

Leo pointed at him. “Says the man living a ‘best-friends-to-lovers’ plotline in real time.”

Danny groaned. “I hate you.”

Leo smirked. “You love me.”

Danny rolled his eyes.

But.

But.

There was a tiny, stupid, dangerous part of him that wondered.

Because if Jake was acting weird—if there was even the smallest chance that maybe, maybe, he wasn’t as straight as Danny had always assumed—

Would this work?

Would it force Jake to finally get his shit together?

Would it make him realize that Danny was done waiting?

Danny shook his head. No. No way.

Absolutely not.

…Right?

“I see that look on your face,” Leo said, grinning.

Danny scowled. “Shut up.”

“You’re thinking about it.”

“No, I’m not.”

Leo leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. “Okay. Then explain why your brain is short-circuiting.”

Danny groaned, shoving a hand through his hair. “Because it’s stupid.”

Leo shrugged. “Maybe. But is it stupider than waiting around for a guy who has been emotionally attached to you since high school?”

Danny froze.

Leo grinned. “Exactly.”

Danny hated how much sense he was making.

“Fake dating never works,” Danny argued weakly.

Leo wiggled his eyebrows. “Only one way to find out.”

Danny groaned.

He wasn’t seriously considering this.

…Was he?

Danny wasn’t going to do it.

He was not.

Nope.

He had more self-respect than that.

(…Probably.)

He was just going to keep texting Leo like normal.

Maybe be a little more obvious about it in front of Jake.

Maybe mention their coffee date just loud enough for Jake to hear.

Maybe…

Just maybe…

See what happened next.

Because if Jake was acting this weird already?

Danny had a feeling things were about to get a whole lot more interesting.