Page 106 of Fall Fake-Out

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I don’t want to know all of your weird details about wanting a fake relationship.” Then Jaxon adds quietly, “But I will say, just because the relationship started out fake doesn’t mean you two aren’t perfect for each other.”

I scrub a hand over my face.

“See?” Jaxon points. “That’s the face.”

“What face?”

“The face that says you’re in trouble.”

“I’m not in trouble. I’m just…” I don’t finish because I don’t know what I am.

“You’re just what?”

I glance over my shoulder, making sure we’re still alone.

“Yes, it started out fake. Like a game. But now I can’t stop thinking about her. I’m not sleeping at night because I’m thinking about every conversation we had during the day. I look for her everywhere. When something happens, good or bad, she’s the first person I want to tell. I’m excited to hang out with her. I never get sick of being with her, and I have more fun with her than any other woman I’ve ever been with.”

Jaxon grimaces. “Well.”

“Well, what?”

“You're falling for her.”

I laugh. Hard. Because that’s absurd. “I don’t fall for women.”

“Apparently, you do.” Jaxon lifts his cider like he’s toasting me. “Welcome to the club of being head over heels for a Langford woman.”

I shake my head as my eyes drift toward Ari. She’s showing her dad the perfect sear of a marshmallow.

Falling for her? Pfft.

“So the real question is”—Jaxon’s brows lift—“if you’re falling for her, what are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing,” I scoff. “Because I’m not falling for her.”

I shake my head as I walk away because Jaxon just said the most ridiculous thing.

I can’t be falling for Ari.

I’m the one who said this would all be fake.

Ari

BY THE TIME Wade wanders back toward the fire pit, everybody has settled into their chairs. Mom sits beside Dad. Landrie and Jaxon share a blanket across from them. The empty camp chair beside me creaks as Wade lowers himself into it.

Immediately, he looks at me, leaning close like he wants to say something but can’t think of what.

I smile.

He smiles back.

Then his eyes drop, and he pulls away, sitting back into his own chair.

Huh.

That was weird for Wade. It was almost like he was nervous.