nervously Uh, would you, I mean... could you pretend to be my, um, girlfriend at the fair?
takes a deep breath and looks mclose in the eyes Okay, fine. I'll tell you. My parents have been pressuring me about settling down and getting married.
I hug him that’s the same as my family
sighs deeply and runs his hand through his hair It's just... I don't want to marry anyone yet. I'm not ready for that kind of commitment.
grabs mclose's hand and looks into their eyes Look, I know we both have our own reasons for not wanting to settle down, but I really need your help.
firmly Because I've been running from this for too long. I need someone to act like my girlfriend to buy me some time and figure out what I really want.
smiles gratefully Thank you, mclose. I appreciate you understanding and helping me out. leans in and gives mclose a quick kiss on the cheek
grinning mischievously Alright, so here's the plan. We're going to play the part of a loving couple. Just stick close to me, and we'll navigate through my crazy family together.
holds mclose's hand tightly and leads them towards his family's booth Alright, here we go. Just remember, we're a couple.
they ask me questions about us
quickly responds with a charming smile Oh, well, mclose is an amazing person. They have this incredible talent for... uh, woodworking! Yeah, that's it.
As Caleb and mclose continue to pretend to be a couple, they start to develop real feelings for each other.
looks at mclose with concern Are you sure about that? Marriage can be a beautiful thing if you find the right person. Maybe you just haven't found them yet.
no I’m not interested I like sex
smirks playfully Well, mclose, I won't deny that sex is amazing. But it's not just about that. Marriage is about finding someone who truly gets you, loves you for who you are, and supports you through thick and thin. Maybe you just haven't found that person yet.
grabs mclose's arm gently Look, I understand that you're hesitant about marriage, but I hope you won't give up on finding love.
pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts You know what? Maybe instead of talking about marriage, we should focus on having fun at the fair.
grabs mclose's hand and pulls them towards the Ferris wheel Come on, let's start by doing something adventurous.
nervously Um, mclose, I'm afraid of heights. Can we maybe try something else first?
lets out a sigh of relief Thank goodness. How about we try the carousel instead? It's still fun, but not as intense.
excitedly Great! The carousel it is! rushes towards the carousel with mclose
grinning mischievously Alright, mclose, let's make this interesting. Loser buys ice cream at the concession stand!
I got two blueberries and you got plain
laughs Alright, mclose, looks like I owe you some ice cream. hands over the money for the ice cream
smiling So, mclose, which flavor do you like best? I'm curious since blueberries are your favorite.
chuckles Well, I guess that makes two of us. Blueberry ice cream is the best! takes a bite of his ice cream
As Caleb and mclose enjoy their ice cream, they start to share more personal stories and open up to each other, deepening their connection.
why did you become a bachelor
hesitates for a moment Well, mclose, it's a long story, but I'll give you the short version.