Page 66 of Fall Fake-Out

“MOTHER.” My head falls back in exasperation.

“What?”

I straighten, looking directly in her eyes. “Repeat after me: ‘My daughter, Ari, is already dating Wade Stevenson.’”

“Oh, but, honey, Wade’s not marriage material. So how can I stop trying to find you a good man that you can marry?” Her expression relaxes into something more vulnerable. “Don’t you want to get married?”

“Obviously, I do.”

“Then why won’t you let me help you? That’s what moms are supposed to do.”

“Because you’re not helping. You’re inserting yourself into my life in ways I have repeatedly told you not to.”

“Ari, this doesn’t have to be a fight. Look at your sister.” My stomach tightens, bracing myself for whatever is about to come out of her mouth. “Landrie doesn’t fight me on every idea I have.”

“She actually just fought you on your idea to have the ceremony in front of the stable.”

She shakes her head in frustration. “You know what I mean.”

Sure, I do.

Landrie is easy, while I’m difficult. This isn’t a new development. I’ve known this my entire life.

Landrie pauses in front of Keller’s Bakehouse. “Can we please not talk about this right now? Wedding planning is supposed to be fun, remember?”

Mom’s whole tone softens, and a smile hits her lips. “You’re right, honey. This is your day. Let’s just focus on wedding stuff.” She pats Landrie’s cheek before pulling the door open.

Every day is Landrie’s day.

Redact that thought.

I’m not mad at Landrie. I love my sister. She’s an innocent bystander and the sweetest person ever. I can set my feelings about my mom’s meddling aside and be here for her.

The bell above the door rings as we walk inside. My nose goes on the most delicious journey as it picks up hints of maple-cinnamon sticky buns, apple-cider donuts, and who knows what else. All I know is that it smells good.

I lean over the glass case, searching for the maple cream puffs Wade’s constantly eating. I’ve been secretly dying to get a taste of one.

Sadie Stevenson comes out from the back room, wearing a white apron over her clothes. There’s a split second of embarrassment when I see her. Not once since the bleacher scandal or the start of this whole fake-dating fiasco have I thought about what Wade’s family would think of me. Of us.

Oh, gosh. I can’t believe I’m an “us” with Wade.

It’s going to take a minute for my mind to wrap around that.

“Hey, ladies.” Sadie’s smile is immediately warm, even when she glances my way. I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised. She’s probably used to copious amounts of rumors flying around about her brother’s dating life. I’m nothing out of the ordinary.

“We came to talk wedding cakes,” my mom says with a bright smile.

“Okay, let me grab our sample book with pictures.”

“Actually”—Landrie grimaces—“we came in here last week, and Patty showed us the cakes she can make, and I didn’t love any of them.” She holds up her phone. “But I did find one from Pinterest that I love. I was going to see if you could do something like this.”

Sadie leans over the counter, taking a closer look. “I love that.”

“Right?”

She pulls back, glancing over her shoulder to the door that leads to the kitchen. “Patty Keller is pretty strict about her menu and what she bakes. I don’t think we could bake that particular cake for you.”

Landrie smiles. “What about you? Could you maybe bake the cake, like, on the side? Is that allowed?”