Page 76 of Fall Fake-Out

My head rests in my hands when I hear Archer say, “You two are weird.”

“Very weird,” Sadie agrees.

Jaxon puffs out a laugh. “Yeah, they are, but at least they’re having fun together.”

I sit up and look at Ari. She’s wiping the tears from her eyes from laughing so hard. For the first time tonight, neither of us is trying to win. We’re just two people cry-laughing together, and that’s when I realize this is the most fun I’ve ever had with a woman in my entire life.

Now I crave more moments like this.

“I like whatever is wrong with you,” I say.

Her smile grows. “I like whatever is wrong with you too.”

Wade

The mayor is halfway through thanking the volunteers who helped organize the party when Ari leans toward me and whispers, “We’re at seven meaningful looks at Lisa Ellis, four for Sharon Price, and only two for Genevieve Hazleton. If Mayor Monroe wants to keep the rumors alive that he’s dating all of these women, he’s going to have to spread the wealth a little better.”

We started keeping score halfway through his speech, once we realized Mayor Monroe was subtly flirting with half the women in the audience from the podium.

I choke on a laugh.

Unfortunately, the sound carries.

Mayor Monroe pauses mid-sentence and looks at me.

“Oh, dear,” Ari whispers. “That’s one meaningful look for Wade Stevenson. I didn’t know you were in the running for the mayor’s heart.”

I laugh again. This time, half the room spins to look at us before turning back to the speech.

“We’re going to get kicked out,” she mutters while trying not to move her lips, and it’s kind of cute what that does to her expression.

Mayor Monroe finally finishes, and the party begins to break apart around us. But all I can think about is how I don't want to get caught talking to random people. Or to my brother Ryan, and his wife, Lily, who just walked in the back.

I just want to spend time with Ari. Alone. Leaving the party isn’t the smartest thing for our fake-dating arrangement, but who cares?

I stand, holding out my hand to her. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Ari looks up. “Where?”

Before she can argue, I grab her hand. Not because anyone’s watching. It just feels like the fastest way to get her moving. She lets me pull her from her chair. We weave through the crowd, saying quick goodbyes to people we can’t avoid on our way out.

The cool September air hits us the second we step outside.

“I love this time of night.” Ari takes a deep breath, her head falling back as she looks at the stars. “It’s so peaceful.”

The night feels softer than it did earlier. The town square glows beneath streetlights. Music from the party drifts faintly through the open activity-center doors.

I shoot her a side smile. “Is it the time of night? Or is it distinctly Autumn Ridge that’s so peaceful?”

She smiles. “Maybe a little of both.”

Our hands separate somewhere between the church steps and the sidewalk. I don’t even notice exactly when. Ari starts toward my truck parked across the street. I catch her elbow and tug her the opposite direction.

“Where are we going?”

“How about a walk?”

For a second, she just studies me. Then she lifts her shoulders. “Okay.”