AN: Short chapter here, but sets up more fun things to come. Thanks to my friend Sarah for giving me the idea for this!

Chapter 4

For one whole day, things were going fine. Jed and Abbey didn't have to do much acting, beyond hiding Jed's true career ambitions. They behaved just as they always did, talking and joking with each other, sitting together at meals and spending their free time just being together. They didn't really have to pretend that they were actually dating, and no one would have ever guessed otherwise about them.

And that made Jed worried. Everything with Abbey was all just so much fun, so engaging and effortless. He wanted her to be happy, and he enjoyed watching her with her family and being a part of it. He just wanted to spend time with her and talk to her and just be with her. But when they went back to Notre Dame on January 2nd, she would go back to having a different date every other day and he would return to his preparation to join the priesthood. And that was fine. That was the plan. They were friends. That's how it was supposed to be.

So why was he enjoying the pretending so much?

Jed had done a very good job playing the part of devoted boyfriend. He said all the right things. Abbey was so proud as he spoke to her father at the dinner table on their first night.

"So tell me about your academic ambitions, Jed. Abbey's told us you're very smart and you get very good grades, but I can't recall if she told us what you're studying," Dr. Barrington inquired.

"I'm an American Studies major," Jed replied, just as he and Abbey had rehearsed. "I'm particularly interested in early American history, during the time of the Revolution."

"But that's mostly because of your namesake," Abbey interjected with a knowing smile.

Jed's cheeks became a little pinker. "Well, yes. My ancestor, Josiah Bartlett, signed the Declaration of Independence," he explained.

During all this, Kate Barrington carefully watched her sister. Abbey looked at her boyfriend with an expression she couldn't quite place. It wasn't just pride. It was more than that. Abbey hung on every word out of Jed's mouth like it was dripping with gold. Her entire being seemed to light up when he talked about her or to her. Kate wasn't sure what she was watching, but there was more there than met the eye. And never being one to simply let things be, Kate started scheming ways to figure out what was really going on between Jed and Abbey.

The first true test arrived on Christmas Eve. The whole family was heading out for mass, which Jed quite enjoyed. His family was of split faith; Jed only ever went to mass with his mother because his father and brother weren't Catholic. But as the Barringtons were on their way out the front door, Abbey's sister, Kate, stopped everyone before passing through the entryway. She cleared her throat and pointed up with a devilish glint in her hazel eyes. She'd hung mistletoe off the doorjamb.

Roberta chuckled merrily and congratulated Kate on her plan as she walked under the mistletoe without stopping. Dr. and Mrs. Barrington stepped under the doorway and shared a sweet kiss, happy smiles on both their faces. And then it was Jed and Abbey's turn.

Abbey felt like she was about to throw up. Her stomach was in knots and her heart was racing. She glanced at Jed, trying to silently ask how the hell they were going to do this. His blue eyes were wide with terror.

"Oh go on, dear, you needn't always be so reserved around us. We know you two have been together a while. A small show of affection won't be too scandalous," Mrs. Barrington insisted.

With a very forced smile, Abbey turned to her 'boyfriend' and stepped closer to him. As she nervously leaned in to peck him on the lips, he turned his head and instead kissed her softly on the cheek before walking out the door after Abbey's parents.

Abbey stood slightly stunned for a moment. They'd gotten through that debacle easier than she had expected. And they hadn't needed to actually kiss. And for some reason, Abbey felt disappointed.

Jed tried to strike up a conversation with Roberta. "You know, this might be the nicest sweater I've ever had. I really like it," he commented, referring to the blue knitted creation he wore.

"Oh good, I'm so glad!" Roberta went on to describe exactly how she had chosen the yarn and the pattern she had used and so forth.

While she spoke, Jed tried to focus on what she said and not on the terrifying thoughts flowing through his mind. He had come up with a way out of an awkward situation by avoiding kissing Abbey. Properly kissing her, anyway. But what terrified him wasn't how close they had been to kissing but the fact that he really, really wanted to.