Page 54 of Fall Fake-Out

“I don’t think Ryan was commenting on the length of the church pews.” Sadie doesn’t look up from her nails.

“I was commenting on the fact that you were sitting with a girl—and her family—at church.” Ryan pump fakes but doesn’t throw. “Never seen you do that before.”

“I’ve never seen you sing in a choir before.” Sadie grins.

I return the smile. “I’m branching out.”

Mom glances over from the swing set. “I thought Ari looked lovely.”

Of course she did. My mother has never met a woman she didn't immediately want to adopt for her next daughter-in-law.

“And, Wade”—she gives Mia another push—“I was so proud to see you singing with the choir. You looked so handsome up there.”

“Higher!” Mia squeals.

“You can get three twelve packs of soda for twelve dollars.” Dad shakes his head. “Can you believe that?”

Ryan holds his hands up like he’s ready for my next pass. “Ari’s the one girl around here you haven’t already sunk your teeth into.”

That’s because Ari isn’t on the same level as the other girls.

I point at him with the football. “I hope you don’t mean that literally.”

He laughs. “You tell me.”

“Boys, that’s terrible,” Mom chides.

“That’s true about Ari.” Sadie holds her fingers out in front of her, examining her work. “She’s never been interested in you. How did you finally convince her to date you?”

“Who says we’re dating?” I call as I run a post route. Ryan fires the ball, connecting with me.

Technically, I should tell them we’re dating to bolster the fake-dating rumors, but my family would never really believe it. I don’t date seriously, and they know that. So in this case, keeping them guessing is better for everyone involved.

Sadie finally looks up from her nails. “So if you’re not dating, then you’re just flirting?”

It’s Ryan’s turn to run a route. “He flirts with every woman.”

“Not every woman,” I defend before throwing the ball.

Sadie laughs. “Most women.”

“Some women.”

“Enough women to get a reputation,” Ryan argues. “Yet, somehow, Ari Langford wasn’t on anybody's bingo card.”

“That’s because Ari has common sense,” Sadie teases.

Dad flips a page in the coupon circular. “Chicken breast is on sale too.”

Nobody acknowledges him.

Ryan catches another pass. “So are you going to explain the football game?”

There it is.

I knew we’d get there eventually.

“Can you believe that win?”