Page 39 of The Game We Played

I’m not in trouble. I’m trying to stay out of it for the first time in my life. I thought I’d be bored to death. But nothing is boring with Alaia around.

“I’m cleaning up my act.”

“Do not make me sue you for defamation!” Siena shouts.

My feet carry me to Alaia before I realize I’m moving. I push her behind me. No one shouts at her. I don’t care who they are. “Don’t you dare shout at her.”

Alaia peeks around me. “I can fight my own battles.”

Maybe she can. But it’s my job to protect her.

Siena smirks. “Is this yourboyfriend? The goofball player?”

“Who are you calling a player?” Alaia tries to push past me but I wrap an arm around her. As much as I enjoy her defending me, I won’t allow our relationship to ruin her friendships. Especially since our relationship has a time limit. I’ll be gone at the end of the summer.

My stomach drops. I don’t want our relationship to end when summer does. I don’t want this relationship to be fake either.

I like Alaia. She’s smart and serious. But has a whimsical side that makes me laugh. She asks me questions about my life and is interested in my answers. No one besides the press listens to me. And they only listen to sell their next story.

I’ve never wanted a relationship before. Never dared to trust a woman. But Alaia is different.

“Let me go.” Alaia squirms and I release her. “I set out to cover a minor transportation incident involving local seafood distribution. Instead, my friend is now threatening to sue me for words I haven’t even written yet. Let’s go. I suddenly have a craving for a crab sandwich.”

I catch her hand. “I could eat.”

Chapter 13

BREAKING: TANNER LONG CLAIMS VICTORY – AND A KISS Fairness of race questioned

Alaia

I open the door and smile at Tanner. My heart stutters when he smiles back at me but I ignore it. There will be no heart stuttering for my fake boyfriend.

“Happy Fourth of July!”

He kisses my cheek and I notice his hands are full of brown paper grocery bags. My brow wrinkles.

“Did you bring supplies?”

His cheeks darken. “I was taught never to arrive at someone’s house with empty hands.”

“What did you bring?”

“A six-pack of beer for your dad. A bottle of wine for your mom. And two bottles of moonshine for your twin sisters.”

“And what did you bring me?”

His face pales and his jaw drops open. “I… um…Shit. I’llbe right back.”

He whirls around to leave but I catch his arm. “I was joking, Tanner.”

“But I didn’t bring you anything and you’re my girlfriend.”

Not his girlfriend, I remind myself. Tanner Long doesn’t do relationships.

“Fake girlfriend.”

He scowls. “Still.”