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She bites her lip. “Now we’re adding ‘fake relationship’ and ‘staged PDA’ to the plot? Oof, I don’t know.”
I smirk. “Come on, Reed. What’s the worst that could happen? You afraid of falling for me?”
“Ha! More like, what willyoudo on a date if you have to stay fully clothed?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
She rolls her eyes playfully and nudges me again. “You should check that,” she offers, effectively changing the subject when my phone vibrates a second time. I pick it up and sigh before showing the group text to Loren.
Ethan R
so uncle blake
wanna tell us about your new gf
“Ethan knows something’s up. He and Caidence saw us, um, interacting last night,” I explain.
“Oh. Well, why don’t you have some fun with it, since we want them to think I’ve seduced you anyway, right?” she offers with a laugh, but her expression falls when she sees my face.
“I think you underestimate the unkind things people will say once they find out about us, even if we convince them we’re a real couple.”
She stares for a second before she brushes her hand over mine, and her lips curl up into a sad smile. “You know I couldn’t care less about what everyone thinks, right?”
“Still, I wish I could save you from all that. I guess I never thought my reputation would hurt anyone else, but now I’m afraid I was wrong.”
“All right, I get it. You’re worried some of your exes might come after me,” she says and lets out an exaggerated groan.
I can’t help but smile, even as I roll my eyes. “I’m much more concerned about the Camellia rumor mill.”
“Hey, I’m not afraid of a little gossip, all right? I can handle myself. And we’re equally culpable in this situation.”
I nod. “You’re right. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you practically begged me to show you my spicy abs,” I say, flexing for her.
She cackles out loud. “Yourwhat, now?”
“You don’t remember?” I ask, and she shrugs. “Right before we kissed, you paid me a whole list of compliments. According to you, my best qualities include my hair and my ‘spicy abs.’”
Loren’s jaw lowers. “I said no such thing! I wouldnever.”
I flash her a cocky smirk. “Oh, honey, but you did. Youdefinitelydid.”
“Okay, but I hadn’t seen you shirtless since, what, high school? How would I have rated your abs before I even knew they existed? I don’t believe you.”
“First of all, why would you bother to remember something like that from high school?” She doesn’t answer, but her face flushes. “Secondly, you said, and I quote, ‘I bet you’re hiding a set of spicy abs under that shirt.’ So it’s even worse—you basically admitted to thinking about what I might look like topless, dare I say fantasizing about it.”
She covers her face with her palms. “Look, as the coach’s daughter, I was often stuck at football practice against my wishes. And it’s not my fault that teenage boys love being topless.”
“Why do you think I was so eager to walk around without a shirt at practice?” She groans from behind her hands, and I chuckle. “Do you really not remember our conversation from that night, though?”
She sighs and brings her hands down. “To be honest, I still only remember bits and pieces. And stop pretending you noticed anything about me in high school besides my GPA.”
I cock an eyebrow at her. “You used to sit and wait for your dad and Landry in that shady spot under the press box. But you were always too distracted by a book to notice me parading around with my baby abs out,” I tell her, and she blushes again. “And I’m forgoing the opportunity to comment on what I recall about your ‘bits and pieces’ to apologize again for initiating something while you weren’t sober enough to remember it. Although I’d be lying if I said I had any regrets, given the outcome.”
“Stop apologizing, Blake. I’m a grown woman. I remember enough to know you didn’t take advantage of me. And regardless of our history, I know there’s no way you ever would have. I trust you. I’m just choosing to believe that I would never use the term ‘spicy abs.’ At least, not to your face.” She presses her lips together and suppresses a smile as my phone buzzes again.
JD
Uh, WUT?
