Page 24 of Fall Fake-Out

Ari’s shoulders lift. “Yeah, I wasn’t planning on coming back home, but I guess it’s good to be here.”

“See?” I grin back at her. “This place is already rubbing off on you.”

“Hardly.”

“Sadie, I wanted to talk about my wedding cake with you. We had someone in Burlington scheduled to make it, but now I’m considering Keller’s Bakehouse.” Landrie points to Barb Langford. “Do you mind if we go chat with my mom for a second?”

“Sure, I’d love to.”

As they walk away, Ari turns to me. “Wade Stevenson at church. I never thought I’d see the day.”

“You’ve been gone a long time. It’s you I never thought I’d see here.”

“Yeah, well, I guess we’re both full of surprises. And talk about an entrance.”

“I like to make a big scene. Announce my presence.”

“I noticed.”

“Besides, church is a safe place. Lisa and Ashtyn Ellis don’t attend.”

“Not surprising, I guess.”

“So, I Googled that name you called me, Mary Kay Letourneau—tough name to spell. Anyway, I’m officially offended by that reference.”

“Why?” One brow lifts in the cutest way.

“I’m no Mary Kay who has an affair with one of my students. And did you know there’s a Netflix movie about her? I watched it last night. With all this new information, I’m freaking out about my situation.”

“As you should be.”

“I have a plan.”

“I thought we already came up with a plan.”

“You’re right. We did.”

“I did.”

I love how invested she is.

“Whatever. The plan was that I needed a girlfriend. But I thought about it, and it can’t just be any girlfriend; it needs to be someone that Ashtyn sees me with, or else it won’t work. It needs to be someone at the school.”

“Please, don’t tell me you started dating Mrs. Albany over the weekend.”

“The secretary?” My lips twist. “Ew. No. But I did come up with the perfect person.”

“And who would that be?”

I roll my hand out in front of her. “You!”

Ari’s face scrunches in disgust, and she turns to leave.

Not the response I’d hoped for.

When she suggested I get a girlfriend, she was the only woman who came to mind—the only person I trust with this mess. Plus, I want to spend time with her, but I don’t want all the hassle of being in a relationship. It’s just not how I’m built. This little fake romance solves everything from Ashtyn Ellis to my desire to hang out with Ari without all the pressure. It’s a win-win.

I grab her arm so she can’t leave and make her face me.