"Uh-huh," her brother confirmed with a straight face and slurped the last of his milkshake.
Dumbfounded, Kimberly shifted in her seat so she would face him. "Matthew, you are aware that I'm your sister, aren't you?"
Matthew gave a chuckle, finding her bewilderment amusing. "I'm sorry, I wasn't clear enough before. What I meant to say was that I want to take you out on a series of pretend dates."
"Pretend dates?" she echoed, the excitement and consequent shame his offer had incited in her abating.
"Yeah. Remember that night you said that the idea of dating stresses you out? That you find it difficult letting guys in? I want to help you out. Let's work on it."
Kimberly took a second to consider it. She was somewhat relieved yet also unsettled upon realizing that in some sick way she was
