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It's a game. A fun, silly game or at least it was meant to be. Robby couldn't remember who started it. They had both been blind drunk the first night they played.
Ever since then over the years whenever they went to a new bar or restaurant the rare time they both had the same day off, they'd pretend to be a couple.
Sometimes he and Dana would fake argue. Loud and annoying. Both trying to come up with the most embarrassing thing to accuse the other of. Dana usually won those games and took great delight in watching his face turn bright.
Other times it was who could be the most convincing spouse. Dana won those games a majority of the time too. After all she had plenty of experience being a wife whereas his relationships fizzled out before it got that serious.
Yes, it was fun or had been until now. It had been somewhere between the first drink and Dana ordering carbonara when it hit him that he was in love with her.
It's why his relationships don't last long, because none of those people are her.
“Benji wants to have another kid,” Dana dropped on him while he was trying to come to terms with what he felt for her. He couldn't think of anything he'd rather speak about less than this subject right now.
“Do you?” Robby asked, forcing himself to speak before taking a sip of his beer. He wanted her to say no. He couldn't bear to watch her go through the same hell she did last time.
“Last time was a nightmare,” Dana shrugged, pushing food around her plate. It isn't until now he's realised he hasn't touched his food at all. “I love my kids but having another one I think would push me over the edge. But Benji has his heart set on having more. Sorry, I'm ruining our night out. ”
Robby wished they were back at the beginning of the “date” when she had walked into the restaurant and for a moment he couldn't speak because she looked beautiful. He had been ignorant of his own feelings then.
“You're not ruining anything,” Robby said, he put his hand on her arm to offer reassurance. “As your fake husband for the night, screw what Benji wants. As your friend, screw what Benji wants. And as a Doctor, well once again screw what Benji wants.”
“You make such a good fake husband Robinavitch,” Dana teased, moving her arm away. He mourned the loss of being able to touch her. “Okay let's get back on track you want to end this night by arguing or walking out as a loved up couple.”
“I like this place, so loved up couple. I still can't go to my favourite Sushi restaurant after our argument there,” Robby complained, his face turning a mild pink remembering how she publicly declared he had a fish fetish.
He can tell Dana was remembering that incident too by the grin on her face. Robby would go through a million humiliating situations for her to continue to smile like that.