Page 35 of Fall Fake-Out

The visitor bleachers are full of parents and students who traveled the half hour to the game because there’s nothing better to do in a small town on a Friday night. I find a secluded spot to sit at the top so I can lean comfortably against the back. I haven’t seen Wade in a while. He went to make the rounds and talk to the home team principal. Who knew school administration was so political?

“Some first date you’ve turned out to be,” I joke as he climbs the stairs to me.

“I know! I’m the worst, but hopefully this makes it up to you.” He swings his arm from behind his back, revealing two hot scones with sides of cinnamon honey butter.

My entire face lights up. “Scones at a high school football game?”

“The band sells them for a fundraiser.” He hands one to me, and I can immediately feel the warmth from the paper plate and smell the cinnamon deliciousness.

“Mmm.” My eyes close as I savor my first bite. “You’re forgiven for being an absentee date.”

“I’ll go get you another one if it means I get a goodnight kiss.”

“I’d have to be remotely attracted to you first, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up.” I grin at him.

He laughs in his easy way. “Noted.” After a few seconds of eating in silence, he says, “Earlier, you said that you’re being set up left, right, and center. What did you mean by that?”

“Between my mom, Maggie Devens, and the Ednas, it seems like everyone is trying to find me a husband.”

“You’re in trouble if the Ednas are in on it.”

“Tell me about it. They’ve mentioned twice now that they have some new dentist they want to set me up with. Practically cornered me at church. It’s part of the reason I left this place.”

“The Ednas?”

“No,” I laugh, “just everyone in general being too invested in each other’s lives.”

“See, you look at it as a negative thing, but I look at it like connection and caring.”

“Since when is trying to find me a husband labeled as connection and caring?”

“You have to look at the intention behind what they’re doing. Why does everybody think they need to find you a husband?”

I shrug as I drag the corner of my scone through honey butter. “For my mom, she just wants grandchildren. Everyone else is uncomfortable with the fact that my little sister is getting married before me.”

“Are you uncomfortable with it?”

The usual flirty gleam is gone from his eyes, replaced by something real. I blame his realness for answering the question honestly.

“I’m happy for Landrie, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little jealous of her.” I tilt my head, rephrasing, “Or at least jealous of how put together her life and future are when I feel like mine are falling apart.”

“That’s not entirely true. Things are looking up for you. You have a great new job.” His shoulder nudges mine. “And a very attractive new boss.”

“Very annoying new boss,” I correct. “Still, it’s not enough to overtake Landrie and Jaxon’s fairy-tale wedding. I wouldn’t be surprised if they left this town for their honeymoon on a float.”

“Were you jealous of Landrie before all the wedding stuff?”

“No,” I answer a little too immediately.

But the truth is, she was always the golden child. Despite being a few years younger than me, she’s always had a better relationship with my mom. Conversation comes easily between them. They have more in common, more things to bond over. I’m just the third wheel, lingering in the background. It’s hard to compete with that. So I didn’t. I left nine years ago and never looked back.

“If it makes you feel any better, I like you better than Landrie.”

“You don’t even know Landrie.”

“What are you talking about? We dated for, like, two months. I think I know her well enough.”

I sit up straight. “You dated Landrie?”